A number of television shows and movies are being affected by the writers strike after negotiations faltered between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
Writers have been picketing at locations across Los Angeles and New York City, as the guild is seeking viewership transparency from streamers, increased wage floor, and protections against mini-rooms and the use of artificial intelligence.
Following the first week of strikes, several scripted productions shut down, either by choice or due to disruption of either not having showrunners or writers on set or by picketers. Some of those impacted include Netflix’s Stranger Things, Apple TV+’s Loot and Marvel’s Blade.
During the last writers strike, which was 15 years ago, production on shows and movies faced similar shutdowns and delays. They, as well as the California economy, were also impacted financially by the WGA strike in 2007, which lasted more than three months — the fallout was around $2 billion (or $2.8 billion in 2023 dollars) and experts predict the financial toll may be even greater this time.
Although late night talk shows went dark quickly (as they’re written up to the moment of broadcast), it may take viewers longer to notice an impact due to the dramatically changed media landscape (most notably a stockpile of on-demand viewing options). Timing also plays a role, since it’s toward the end of the broadcast TV season, as well as studios have been quietly planning for the strike for months and taking measures in preparation.
Find a list of TV shows and films impacted by the writers strike below.
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‘Stranger Things’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Netflix Production on the fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things has been delayed by the labor unrest between the WGA and the AMPTP, creators Matt and Ross Duffer shared. Read more.
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‘Blade’
Due to the writers strike, Marvel Studios is shutting down preproduction on Blade, its vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali, which was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. Read more.
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‘Loot’
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ Production is currently on hold for Apple’s Loot. The show shut down after picketers disrupted filming of the comedy starring and exec produced by Maya Rudolph, sources told The Hollywood Reporter. Read more.
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‘Saturday Night Live’
The NBC sketch comedy show went dark because of the WGA strike. Pete Davidson, Kieran Culkin and Jennifer Coolidge were among those set to host the final weeks of the 48th season of Saturday Night Live. Read more.
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Late Night Talk Shows
Image Credit: Rosalind O’Connor/NBC;Scott Kowalchyk/CBS;Lloyd Bishop/NBC; ABC/Randy Holmes Late night talk shows are also impacted by the work stoppage, including ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!, CBS’ Late Show With Stephen Colbert, NBC’s Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night With Seth Meyers, Comedy Central’s The Daily Show and HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher and Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. Read more.
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‘The Talk’
Although the daytime landscape won’t be altered as much due to the writers strike, CBS’ The Talk, which does staff WGA writers, will stop production. Read more.