‘General Hospital’ Update: Filming Date Shoved to August – New Episodes Won’t Air Til Fall?

General Hospital planned to restart production this month, but the soap hit another snag. Now, we may not see new GH episodes until the Fall. Plus, the strict new rules due to COVID-19 are a financial burden on the soap that could have lasting effects. So, here’s the latest update on what to expect from the ABC sudser.

General Hospital Restart Moved to August?

GH followers know the ABC soap hoped to get back in the studio and start filming this month. However, they keep hitting bumps that slow them down. Now, a source from General Hospital says because of several issues, the cast may not get back to work until sometime in August. Also, they have a compliance inspection on August the 12th.

But, they could shoot earlier. Remember, Bold and the Beautiful remains at work, and Y&R just restarted. So, that gives GH fans some hope that they might be next. However, the guidelines they must follow now are strict and also costly. So, that is sure to cause some issues for the General Hospital crew. And with their safety plan reportedly problematic, they remain on hold.

COVID Precautions Straining GH Budget

As the General Hospital cast members and the crew ready to get back to business, some adjustments must be made. Recently, Bold and the Beautiful showrunner Bradley Bell said they’re outlaying big bucks to ensure cast and crew safety. And, he calls it a “financial strain.”

No doubt, GH may experience the same financial struggles because regular COVID testing is not cheap. However, they must adhere to the rules and want to keep everyone on the General Hospital set safe. But, to do this, they may need to cut costs in other areas that could greatly impact how GH operates.

General Hospital Looking at Cast Reduction and More?

As GH prepares to get back into operation, production faces major changes. As we know, soaps are already the costliest and lowest margin of daytime TV. So, to get back to business, they are anticipating cast cuts and other measures to offset costs. LA County just stated that only “essential” members of the cast, as well as the crew, can be on-set.

Plus, there should be no lengthy contact, and actors should even do their own makeup if they can. So, this is bound to be difficult for the General Hospital team. Hopefully, they will be able to get going again next month. But, for now, this likely means more re-runs are in store for GH viewers. Of course, we will keep you up-to-date as we know more.

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