Breaking News: The Truth Behind the 2023 Writers Guild Strike - How Will Your Favorite TV Shows Be Affected?

The strike by the Writers Guild of America, known as the Writers Guild Strike, commenced on May 2, 2023. This industrial action, undertaken by screenwriters, has the potential to significantly reshape the future of major television shows. The Writers Guild of America is a labor union that represents both TV and movie writers on the East and West coasts of the United States. Its main objective is to safeguard the interests of its members by ensuring fair compensation and rights for their work in the film and television industry in Hollywood. However, the dynamics of Hollywood have undergone substantial changes over the years, particularly since the last agreement between the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Various factors have culminated in the screenwriters' strike in 2023.

The Hollywood Writers strike in 2023 had been brewing for some time. The Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers engage in negotiations for new agreements every three years. The previous agreement was formally signed in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although the negotiations went down to the wire, a new deal was eventually reached, preventing a writers' strike at that time. However, no such agreement was reached during the current round of negotiations, leading to the occurrence of the Writers Guild strike in 2023, which marks the first strike since 2007. The impact of this strike on Hollywood has already been significant, particularly with regards to television shows that have been confirmed to experience production delays while the Writers Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers work towards reaching an agreement. A comprehensive overview of the 2023 Writers Guild strike, including the affected shows and movies that have experienced halted production thus far, will be provided.

All The Shows And Movies Delayed By The WGA Strike So Far

Since the WGA strike began on May 2, 2023, numerous TV shows and movies have halted production, resulting in indefinite delays. It is difficult to predict which shows will be affected and how long the impact will last. However, it is generally expected that all TV shows in production will be impacted, unless they have already completed all episodes for the new season. Movies with unfinished scripts will also experience delays, although news of such delays may take longer to emerge for feature films affected by the WGA writers strike.

Streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, have been heavily impacted by the strike since they work on multiple shows simultaneously. A prominent example is the popular Netflix show "Stranger Things," as production for its fifth season will not commence until a fair deal is reached, as announced by the series creators, the Duffers, on May 7. While Netflix is said to be hindering the progress towards a fair deal according to the LA Times, it is their content that is being affected to a significant extent. Apple TV is also facing challenges due to the writers strike, with production for the second season of "Severance" being halted after a picket at York Studios on May 8.

Disney and its affiliated studios are experiencing significant negative impact, resulting in multiple movie and Disney+ show delays. While some delays may be attributed to other factors, such as the extended post-production of Avatar 3, numerous highly anticipated releases from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Star Wars franchise have become major casualties of the 2023 writers' strike. Notably, the Blade reboot, which has already faced numerous production setbacks, suspended pre-production on May 5 due to being targeted by striking WGA writers. However, LucasFilm executive Kathleen Kennedy firmly supports the WGA strike.

Furthermore, scripted TV shows across various platforms, including broadcast television and Paramount Plus, have also been forced to halt their development. The revival of the classic show Night Court on NBC ceased filming shortly after the start of the 2023 writers' strike. Another significant setback caused by the strike is the delay of the second season of 1923, led by Harrison Ford. The first season of this Yellowstone prequel spin-off garnered millions of views, and the second season was intended to be the concluding part of the story. However, the release of 1923 season 2 is now indefinitely postponed, and production will not resume until the conclusion of the 2023 WGA strike.

The WGA Members Went On Strike On 05/02/23

Contrary to popular belief, unscripted TV does not operate without the need for writers. In fact, the impact of the 2023 writers strike has been significant on various talk shows and popular series that rely on improvisation. Late-night programming has been particularly affected as these shows heavily depend on writers to craft their daily content. As a result, numerous talk shows ceased production due to the writers strike, with Saturday Night Live being one of the first to shut down on May 4. Viewers will have to wait for the return of shows hosted by renowned personalities such as Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert.

The current WGA and AMPTP contract was set to end on May 1, 2023, which served as the deadline to prevent a writers' strike. In anticipation of a potential impasse, WGA members had overwhelmingly voted in favor of going on strike if an agreement was not reached by that date. Consequently, the inability of WGA and AMPTP union leaders to reach a mutually satisfactory resolution signifies that further discussions regarding how Hollywood should treat its writers will not take place at this time.

WGA members voted overwhelmingly, with 97.9% in favor, to support a strike if a new contract was not reached by May 1. As a result, the 2023 writers strike is now in progress, placing immense pressure on the AMPTP, which represents major studios, streaming services, and broadcast networks, to resolve the contract dispute and bring an end to the work stoppage.

With each passing week of the WGA writers guild strike, the tension between studios and writers in Hollywood intensifies. During the sixth week, Ian Woolf, a producer at Lionsgate currently involved in the production of the upcoming 50 Cent series BMF, deliberately drove his car into a group of picketing WGA writers at a high speed, abruptly braking at the last moment. Writer Brian Egeston reported that Woolf allegedly stated, "I was trying to scare you!" In response, Lionsgate has suspended the TV producer while an investigation into the incident takes place.

Why WGA Screenwriters Are On Strike

The decision for WGA members to go on strike in 2023 is complex. Contrary to what some news outlets claim, the dispute extends beyond salaries. The main areas of contention during negotiations are working conditions, job security, and career longevity, rather than a specific salary amount. Although pay is indeed a factor, it is inaccurate to reduce the 2023 WGA strike to a mere desire for more money.

The primary issue preventing an agreement between the guild and studios revolves around the uncertainty associated with monthly paychecks. The divide between the two parties is not solely about the writers' compensation for their work. It is primarily about the current payment and working structure that Hollywood WGA writers currently operate within. To put it simply, screenwriting for TV in 2023 has adopted elements of the "gig economy" due to various factors like the emergence of streaming platforms.

The 2023 writers strike aims to address the challenges faced by screenwriters in Hollywood, particularly the instability caused by fluctuating income and financial uncertainty. Veteran screenwriters in the WGA recognize that these were not typical issues in the past. Previously, television followed a model where 22 episode seasons were common, and writers were compensated per episode. However, this has dramatically changed in recent years due to the emergence of streaming services and binge-watching trends. As a consequence, most streaming shows now consist of 6 to 13 episodes. The key objectives of the 2023 writers strike are as follows: