With the Writers Strike about to enter its third week, it’s time to take note of the impact that the WGA has already had on production across the country, with picket lines forcing costly shutdowns that are surely driving studios and networks crazy.
It’s not just about the money that AMPTP members are hemorrhaging, it’s about what a pain in the ass it is, logistically, to reschedule everything, from actors’ schedules to location shooting. It’s a bummer for below-the-line workers, I know, but surely they can understand that it’s the WGA’s only move right now, and a necessary evil in order to not just win this war, but to get the AMPTP back at the negotiating table in good faith.
Remember, it’s important to keep in mind that the AMPTP has not been negotiating in good faith, and never planned to, which is why I know so many studio employees who are on vacation right now, whether they’re posting photos on Instagram or not.
The Teamsters have refused to cross picket lines, and those lines may soon grow longer, with the AMPTP’s contracts with both the DGA and SAG-AFTRA poised to expire soon as well.
It goes without saying that many artists are cutting back on doing press, or foregoing press altogether in solidarity with the writers. That includes Good Omens creator Neil Gaiman and Fool’s Paradise writer-director-star Charlie Day.
With all of that in mind, take a look below at the complete list of movies and TV shows that have been impacted by the strike so far. If you have any tips or information about the strike, feel free to email me at [email protected]. Thank you, good luck out there, and stay strong, no matter what line of work you’re in…
Movies and TV Shows Affected by the Strike
ABBOTT ELEMENTARY – The writers room has closed, so Season 3 will be delayed and likely shortened.
AMC – Scripts are finished for multiple Walking Dead spinoff shows as well as Season 2 of both Mayfair Witches and Interview With the Vampire, but the network isn’t able to put any of them into production now.
ANDOR – Tony Gilroy has ceased all writing and writing-related work, as well as all non-writing producing functions, impacting Season 2, which has been shooting in the U.K.
AVA DUVERNAY DRAMA – The Selma director temporarily halted production on the Starz series due to the strike. It has been filming in Wilmington, North Carolina since March.
BIG MOUTH – Season 8, the animated show’s final season, will be delayed, as the writers had only been working for six weeks when the WGA called a strike. They had planned to finish writing in August.
BILLIONS – Season 7 of the Showtime series has been significantly impacted by WGA picket lines, which cast and crew have refused to cross, forcing production to shut down multiple times.
BLADE – Nic Pizzolatto had been hard at work on a rewrite of Michael Starrbury‘s script when Marvel pulled the plug on pre-production. It had been slated for release in September 2024, but it won’t make that date anymore, which is why Warner Bros. just announced it would release Beetlejuice 2 on that date.
BUNK’D – Filming on Season 7 has been suspended due to the strike.
COBRA KAI – Another Netflix show that will be delayed, as the writers room for Season 6 has closed, and there are no writers on set.
DAREDEVIL: BORN AGAIN – Like Billions, Marvel’s Daredevil revival has been targeted by picketers, forcing production to shut down this week, just like another comic book series — Wonder Man.
EVIL – Production on Season 4 was forced to shut down on Friday, May 5 due to picketing.
FBI: MOST WANTED – The WGA’s Rapid Response Team forced the CBS series to pause production, though filming ultimately resumed in Brooklyn.
GOOD TROUBLE – Freeform was forced to shut down production of Season 5 for the day on Tuesday, May 9 due to picketing.
HACKS – Filming on Season 3 of the hit HBO Max series has been stopped due to the strike.
HOUSE OF THE DRAGON – EP Ryan Condal continues to work on the HBO series in a non-writing capacity since all Season 2 scripts were turned in prior to the strike. Condal remains on set in the U.K., where production is not expected to be affected.
JEOPARDY! – Production on Season 39 will continue, even though co-host Mayim Bialik has decided to step away from the game show in support of the strike, since Jeopardy! typically employs WGA writers. She leaves the podium to Ken Jennings, who will fill in for the rest of the season.
A KNIGHT OF THE SEVEN KINGDOMS: THE HEDGE KNIGHT – Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin, who co-created this prequel for HBO, has said that the writers room will be closed “for the duration” of the strike.
LATE-NIGHT SHOWS – Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers are all going on hiatus, and repeats will air in place of new episodes. John Oliver and Bill Maher‘s HBO shows were also shut down, while The Daily Show is going on hiatus on Comedy Central.
LOOT – WGA picketers in Bel-Air forced Apple to pause production on Season 2 of its Maya Rudolph-led comedy series.
MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS – Drew Barrymore bowed out as host and the red carpet was canceled after talent pulled out in support of the strike, forcing the show’s producers to pivot to a pre-taped ceremony heavy on clip packages.
NIGHT COURT – Season 2 of this NBC sitcom is expected to go dark during the strike, given the difficulty of mounting a multi-camera comedy without any writers.
P-VALLEY – Katori Hall, the Creator and Showrunner of this Starz series, said that production on Season 3 will not resume “until a fair deal is reached.”
POWER BOOK II: GHOST – Another series targeted by the WGA’s Rapid Response Team, which forced filming to come to a standstill in Tribeca.
POWER BOOK III: RAISING KANAN – The Starz series had been in production on Season 3 when the writers room was shut down.
PRETTY LITTLE LIARS: SUMMER SCHOOL – Production was temporarily suspended in upstate New York.
THE RINGS OF POWER – Season 2 is moving forward but without the services of EPs J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, who support the WGA.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – The last three episodes of Season 48 were canceled, with Pete Davidson, Kieran Culkin, and Jennifer Coolidge poised to host.
SEVERANCE – Apple has paused production on Season 2 of its acclaimed drama series due to picketing.
SINKING SPRING – This is another Apple series that was forced to shut down production for the day on Tuesday, May 9 due to WGA picketers.
STRANGER THINGS – Production on Season 5, the hit show’s final season, is on hold until the strike subsides, which could lead to churn at Netflix.
THE TALK – Production has been suspended on the daily talk show.
UNSTABLE – Season 2 began shooting in late March, though production on Rob Lowe‘s Netflix series has since been shut down.
THE UPSHAWS – Season 2 is still scheduled to premiere on Aug. 17, as production had wrapped on 10 of 12 episodes, though it has been suspended during the strike, so it remains to be seen what will happen with those last two episodes.
THE VENERY OF SAMANTHA BIRD – Likewise, this Starz series wrapped production (in Montreal) on six of its eight episodes, though it has since shut down, with two episodes left to shoot.
WONDER MAN – Another Marvel series that, like Daredevil: Born Again, was targeted by WGA picketers, forcing production to shut down for the week.
YELLOWJACKETS – The writers room had just reconvened for Season 3 when the strike was called, which means the Showtime series’ return will be significantly delayed due to the strike.
