Because You Asked: Here’s What’s Going on with the Hollywood Writers Strike

The Hollywood writers strike is still ongoing as of June 24, 2023. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have been in negotiations since the Basic Agreement’s contract expired on May 1, 2023. The main sticking points in the negotiations are the issue of streaming and the writers’ share of profits. The WGA is demanding that streaming services be treated as traditional television networks, which would mean that writers would be paid residuals for their work on streaming shows. The AMPTP is resisting this demand, arguing that streaming services are a new form of media and that writers should not be paid the same way for their work on streaming shows as they are for their work on traditional television shows.

The strike has already had a significant impact on the television industry. Several shows have been forced to shut down production, including “Abbott Elementary,” “Stranger Things,” and “Saturday Night Live.” Late night talk shows have also been affected, with some hosts being forced to pre-tape their shows.

It is unclear how long the strike will last. Both sides have said that they are committed to reaching a deal, but they have also said that they are prepared to continue the strike if necessary. The outcome of the strike will have a major impact on the future of the television industry. If the WGA is successful in getting streaming services to pay residuals, it could set a precedent for other industries, such as music and gaming. However, if the AMPTP is successful in resisting the WGA’s demands, it could mean that writers will be paid less for their work on streaming shows.

The next round of negotiations between the WGA and the AMPTP is scheduled to take place on July 11, 2023. It remains to be seen whether the two sides will be able to reach a deal before then.

Productions affected

Films

The following section lists theatrical and direct-to-streaming films.

Blade Disney Pre-production paused ahead of a planned filming start in June 2023; production will resume upon the conclusion of the strike
Community: The Movie Peacock Filming expected to begin in mid-2023
El Muerto Sony Release date delayed indefinitely
Good Fortune Lionsgate Filming canceled by picketing on May 16–17, 2023, before being suspended indefinitely
It Ends With Us Sony Filming suspended until after the writers strike has concluded
Thunderbolts Disney Pre-production paused ahead of a planned filming start in June 2023; production will resume upon the conclusion of the strike
Untitled Spider-Man: No Way Home sequel Sony Developmental writing paused; will resume upon the conclusion of the strike
Unstoppable Artists Equity Filming canceled by picketing on May 31, 2023, before being suspended indefinitely

Television series

The following section lists television series and miniseries that follow a narrative structure.

1923 (season 2) Paramount+ Filming delayed indefinitely
9-1-1 (season 7) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Abbott Elementary (season 3) ABC Development paused; may result in delay or shorter season, depending on the length of the strike
American Dad! (season 20) TBS and Hulu Majority of writing completed prior to the strike
American Horror Stories (season 3) FX and Hulu
American Horror Story (season 12) FX
Andor (season 2) Disney+ Earlier reports erroneously indicated production was unaffected
Before Apple TV+ Production shut down temporarily before being suspended until the end of the strike
Big Mouth (season 8) Netflix
Billions (season 7) Showtime
Blade Runner 2099 (season 1) Prime Video Filming unlikely to resume until early 2024
Bunk’d (season 7) Disney Channel
The Chi (season 6) Showtime Production paused after two consecutive days of shooting were disrupted by the strike
Cobra Kai (season 6) Netflix
The Conners (season 6) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Daredevil: Born Again (season 1) Disney+ Production shut down repeatedly due to picketing before being suspended for the duration of the strike
Duster (season 1) Max
Emily in Paris (season 4) Netflix
Étoile (season 1) Prime Video
Euphoria (season 3) HBO and Max Premiere delayed to 2025
Evil (season 4) Paramount+
Family Guy (season 22) Fox Majority of writing completed prior to the strike
FBI: Most Wanted (season 5) CBS Production paused for several hours
The Good Doctor (season 7) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Good Trouble (season 5) Freeform
Grey’s Anatomy (season 20) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Hacks (season 3) Max
The Handmaid’s Tale (season 6) Hulu
High Potential (season 1) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason
Hysteria! (season 1) Peacock
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight (season 1) HBO and Max
The Last of Us (season 2) HBO and Max Premiere delayed to 2025
Little Sky Netflix Television pilot; ended production early due to picketing on June 13 and 15, 2023
Loot (season 2) Apple TV+
Metropolis Apple TV+ Series canceled due to the strike and increasing costs
The Mandalorian (season 4) Disney+ Filming delayed from September to November 2023 or later
Night Court (season 2) NBC
Not Dead Yet (season 2) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
The Old Man (season 2) FX
The Penguin Max Production shut down repeatedly due to picketing before being suspended for the duration of the strike
Power Book II: Ghost (season 4) Starz
Power Book III: Raising Kanan (season 3) Starz
Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (season 2) Max
P-Valley (season 3) Starz
The Really Loud House (season 2) Nickelodeon
Rick and Morty (season 9) Adult Swim Writing partially completed prior to the strike
The Rookie (season 6) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Severance (season 2) Apple TV+
Sinking Spring (season 1) Apple TV+
Station 19 (season 7) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Stranger Things (season 5) Netflix Filming postponed indefinitely
Uncoupled (season 2) Showtime
Unstable (season 2) Netflix
The Upshaws (season 3) Netflix
The Venery of Samantha Bird (season 1) Starz
While You Were Breeding (season 1) Freeform
The White Lotus (season 3) HBO and Max Premiere delayed to 2024
Will Trent (season 2) ABC Premiere pushed to midseason, with the possibility of a shorter season
Wonder Man Disney+ Filming paused in late May 2023; production will resume upon the conclusion of the strike
Yellowjackets (season 3) Showtime
Zero Day Netflix Filming postponed indefinitely

Talk shows

The following section lists late-night and daytime talk shows.

The Daily Show (season 28) Comedy Central Reruns of old episodes began on May 2
Jimmy Kimmel Live! (season 20) ABC
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (season 10) HBO and Max
Late Night with Seth Meyers (season 10) NBC
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (season 8) CBS
Real Time with Bill Maher (season 21) HBO and Max
The Talk (season 13) CBS Episodes completed prior to the strike aired on May 1–5, May 8, and May 11
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (season 10) NBC

Television programs

The following section lists television programs that do not follow a narrative structure.

Password (season 2) NBC
Saturday Night Live (season 48) NBC and Peacock Reruns of old episodes began on May 6; Pete Davidson–Lil Uzi Vert, Kieran Culkin–Labrinth, and Jennifer Coolidge–Foo Fighters episodes canceled
You Bet Your Life (season 3) Syndicated

Other

The following section lists other media events that do not fall into the categories above.

16th Television Academy Honors — Ceremony canceled by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences
2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards MTV Live in-person ceremony canceled following the withdrawal of host Drew Barrymore and other presenters
49th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute for Nicole Kidman TNT Ceremony postponed indefinitely by the American Film Institute
50th Daytime Emmy Awards CBS and Paramount+ Ceremony postponed by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
76th Tony Awards CBS and Paramount+ Televised ceremony will not be picketed by the WGA after acceding to the guild’s requested changes
83rd Peabody Awards — In-person ceremony canceled
PEN America’s Business Visionary Award for Ted Sarandos — Other honoree Lorne Michaels still to be presented with the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award

Jeopardy! (season 39) Syndicated Hosting duties assumed by Ken Jennings following the withdrawal of co-host Mayim Bialik