As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike enters its fourth week with no sign of resolution, the impact of the labor dispute is being felt across the United States.
This week, Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts were the latest major feature to be affected by the disruption. The superhero story’s scheduled launch in Atlanta, Georgia, starring Florence Pugh, was reportedly delayed until the end of the strike in mid-June.
Among the growing list of affected TV projects is JJ Abrams’ thriller series Duster for streamer HBO Max (now renamed Max), which halted filming in New Mexico until the end of the strike after it was suspended due to the Set workers’ refusal to cross the WGA led to temporary delays in picketing.
In California, filming of the second season of Jeff Bridges drama series The Old Man for FX has also been suspended pending the end of the strike.
Meanwhile, the California Film Commission (CFC) has confirmed that half of the 46 projects scheduled to begin filming in the next six months under the state’s tax incentive program have applied for “force majeure” waivers that would allow them to Postponing start dates while maintaining their filming incentives. Exemptions can be granted for a number of reasons, including “work stoppage”.
The California TV Series Filming Incentive Commission’s next allocation period is scheduled to begin June 5, but “may be delayed until the strike is resolved,” according to the CFC website.
Also in California, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences announced that it had canceled the Television Academy Honors ceremony scheduled for May 31. The cancellation, according to the Academy, comes “after discussions with the WGA and out of consideration for those affected by the ongoing event. Labor disputes.” The Television Academy awards are presented to television projects that “drive social change.” This year’s award winners include Amazon’s “As We See It” and the Netflix series “Mo”.
WGA pickets across the country were attended by celebrities and representatives from other industry bodies this week. In New York, Colin Farrell, whose upcoming Max series The Penguin is among projects hit by temporary strike-related closures, appeared at a WGA rally.
And in Los Angeles, Producers Guild of America (PGA) President Stephanie Allain joined WGA President Meredith Stiehm at a strike demonstration “in solidarity with striking writers,” according to the PGA, which is not aligned with the studios’ and streamers’ negotiating body , the Alliance, is affiliated with the Film and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The next big strike development could be the June 5 deadline for SAG-AFTRA members to vote on a strike permit before their guild’s contract negotiations with the AMPTP begin on June 7. The current SAG-AFTRA contract expires on June 30th.
AMPTP talks with the Directors Guild of America, whose contract also expires on June 30, are currently ongoing due to a media blackout.
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