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The 2023 Writers Strike, which lasted for five long months before concluding in September 2023, had a profound impact on the entertainment industry, particularly in Hollywood. During this period, the usual sounds of creativity, like the clickety-clack of keyboards and hushed discussions in boardrooms, were replaced by the passionate chants of protest at the studio gates.
Why should this strike matter to you, you might wonder? Well, whether you’re an avid fan of Marvel movies or enjoy indulging in prestigious drama series, the repercussions of this strike will touch your entertainment experiences. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the details of the 2023 Writers Strike, exploring its origins, the writers’ demands, and the extensive list of TV series and movies affected.
Why Did the Writers Strike Occur?
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) initiated the strike because its members believed that recent transformations in the entertainment industry posed a grave threat to the very existence of professional writing. They were deeply concerned that certain companies aimed to establish a gig economy within a unionized workforce, exacerbating the challenges writers face in earning a living. Additionally, there were apprehensions about the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) to generate scripts and its potential impact on the industry.
In the words of the WGA, “Driven in large part by the shift to streaming, writers are finding their work devalued in every part of the business. While company profits have remained high and spending on content has grown, writers are falling behind. The companies have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay and separate writing from production, worsening working conditions for series writers at all levels.”
What Were the Writers’ Demands?
The writers’ primary demands revolved around improved compensation and greater job security. They argued that several entertainment companies had witnessed surges in profits in recent years, but writers had not seen a corresponding increase in their earnings. Additionally, the WGA sought to establish policies concerning the use of AI in scriptwriting.
When Did the Strike Commence?
The 2023 Writers Strike officially began on May 2, following failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
TV Series Affected by the Strike
- 911 season 7
- Abbott Elementary season 3
- A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms
- American Dad! season 20
- American Horror stories season 3
- American Horror Story season 12
- A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight
- Andor season 2 – continuing filming without active writers on set
- Big Mouth season 8
- Billions season 7
- Blade Runner 2099
- Bunk’d
- Cobra Kai season 6
- The Conners season 6
- Daredevil season 4
- Days of Our Lives – will continue to air pre-recorded episodes for now
- Euphoria season 3
- Evil season 4
- Emily in Paris season 4
- Étoile season 1
- Family Guy season 22
- FBI: Most Wanted season 5
- General Hospital – will continue to air pre-recorded episodes for now
- Good Omens season 2 – Neil Gaiman will not be promoting the show
- Good Trouble season 5
- Grey’s Anatomy season 20
- House of the Dragon season 2 – scripts complete and filming moving forward but no rewrites
- Hacks season 3
- High Potential season 1
- Late Night With Seth Meyers
- Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
- Loot season 2
- Night Court season 2
- Not Dead Yet season 2
- The Penguin
- Password season 2
- Power Book II: Ghost season 4
- Power Book III: Raising Kanan season 3
- Pretty Little Liars: Summer School season 2
- P-Valley season 3
- Jimmy Kimmel Live
- The Chi season 6
- The Last of Us season 2
- The Daily Show
- The Good Doctor season 7
- The Old Man season 2
- The Handmaid’s Tale season 6
- The Mandalorian season 4
- The Really Loud House season 2
- The Rings of Power season 2 – production moving forward without showrunners
- The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
- The Rookie season 7
- The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
- The White Lotus season 3
- The Upshaws season 3
- Stranger Things season 5
- Saturday Night Live
- Sinking Spring season 1
- Severance season 2
- Station 19 season 7
- The Venery of Samantha Bird
- Yellowjackets season 3
- Uncoupled season 2
- Unstable season 2
- While You Were Breeding season 1
- Will Trent season 2
- Wonder Man
- Zero Day
Movies Affected by the Strike
- Blade
- Thunderbolts
- Good Fortune
- Spider-Man 4
- Unstoppable
Conclusion of the Strike
The 2023 Writers Strike concluded officially at 12:01 am PT on September 27, 2023, after a tentative agreement was reached. The Writers Guild of America described the agreement as “exceptional” with significant benefits and safeguards for writers across the industry. This outcome marks a substantial victory for the WGA, and it is expected to secure the future of writers with improved working conditions and fair compensation.
In light of the strike’s significant impact on the industry, viewers and fans may need to explore classic shows and films while the industry returns to normalcy. Luckily, there’s a list of the best action movies and top horror series to keep you entertained in the meantime.