Stranger Things, Daredevil, and every other show and film affected by the writers' strike

Eleven and Doctor Brenner stare at something off screen in Stranger Things season 4 volume 2
Stranger Things' final season has been hit by the 2023 writers' strike. (Image credit: Netflix)

The 2023 writers' strike is showing no signs of slowing down – and Hollywood is really feeling the effects of the Writer's Guild of America's (WGA) disruptive industrial action.

For the uninitiated: the WGA has gone on strike after talks broke down with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). The WGA was negotiating with the AMPTP – and the world-renowned studios it represents – over better pay and working conditions for its members. Those same writers are worried that artificial intelligence (AI) programs, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, might make their roles redundant if studios start using AI as cheaper labor sources.

The AMPTP, though, refused to bow to the WGA's new demands, resulting in the industrial action. With Netflix reportedly having a big role in talks breaking down, numerous WGA members recently called on people to cancel their Netflix subscriptions as a way of supporting the strikes, too.

With WGA members picketing on both sides of the Atlantic – UK-based productions, including The Rings of Power season 2 and House of the Dragon season 2 have also been affected – production has ground to a halt on on numerous TV series and films. Major Studios, such as Marvel, Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime Video, are among those impacted.

So, which productions are no longer being actively worked on? In this guide, we've compiled a list of every movie and show (listed alphabetically) that's been affected. We're regularly updating this article with the latest news and impacted projects, so bookmark this page and come back periodically to find out what's new.

Abbott Elementary

A teacher gives a lesson in hit comedy-drama Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary season 3 won't be moving forward for now. (Image credit: Hulu)

The highly underrated ABC school-based mockumentary series was renewed for a third season in January. However, writer Brittani Nichols told news outlet Democracy Now (as reported by Collider) that script work had been halted on its next installment until the strike is over.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight

The next Game of Thrones spin-off, The Hedge Knight, has been impacted by the 2023 strike. In a blog post on his own website (as first noticed by Deadline), Game of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin confirmed the series' writers' room had been closed "for the duration" of the strike, with the author throwing his full support behind those calling for better working conditions in the industry.

Andor

Cassian Andor walks through a scrapyard in his self-titled Star Wars Disney Plus show

Andor season 2 is expected to release in August 2024. (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney Plus)

The second season of this critically-acclaimed Star Wars TV show isn't as affected as some of its peers. Scripts for Andor season 2 were completed long before the strike, but showrunner Tony Gilroy is not on set and won't perform any rewrites until the industrial action has ceased. That said, Gilroy is working on non-writing elements of the series, such as casting (per Variety), which is allowing production to continue in some guise. Gilroy still expects Andor season 2 to meet its August 2024 release date.

Big Mouth

Four characters talk in a hallway in Big Mouth on Netflix

Big Mouth's final season won't be coming anytime soon. (Image credit: Netflix)

Script work for the final season of Netflix's longest-running show was expected to be completed in August. However, as reported by Variety, Big Mouth's writers' room has paused work due to the strike.

Billions

The Wall Street-based Showtime drama is another show to be hit hard by the writers' strike. According to Deadline, WGA members were seen picketing around the set for several hours on May 4, which forced production to grind to a halt. Filming reportedly began later on the same day without its writing team on the set.

Blade

A screenshot of the updated logo for Marvel Studios' Blade movie

Marvel Studios' Blade had been delayed multiple times before the writers' strike. (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The forthcoming Marvel Phase 5 movie has already been beset by numerous setbacks, including the departure of its original director Bassam Tariq and subsequent production start delay. Those issues forced Marvel to completely rejig its Phase 5 release schedule in October 2022.

Filming was finally set to begin this month (May 2023), but the WGA's new strike has paused work on the Mahershala Ali-starring R-rated film (per The Hollywood Reporter (THR)). Expect Blade's launch date to be pushed back again if Marvel holds its annual San Diego Comic Con panel in July.

Other Marvel movies have been impacted by the strike, too. Captain America 4, Deadpool 3, and Fantastic Four are all at various stages of development, but the WGA's strike will pause work on all of them for the time being.

Cobra Kai

Daniel, William, Chozen, and Amanda stand in a line staring at something off screen in Cobra Kai season 5

Cobra Kai will eventually return to Netflix for its sixth and final season. (Image credit: Netflix)

The sixth and final installment of one of the best Netflix shows ever made has also been hit by the WGA's strike. Taking to Twitter, showrunner Jon Hurwitz said nobody wants to strike but "if we must, we strike hard".

Daredevil: Born Again

A close-up shot of Daredevil looking over his shoulder in She-Hulk episode 8 on Disney Plus

Daredevil's MCU TV series was recently shut down due to the strike. (Image credit: Marvel Studios/Disney Plus)

Daredevil's upcoming Marvel Disney Plus show, which began shooting in March, has been shut down temporarily due to the industrial action. Filming wrapped at 1 PM ET on Monday, May 8, but Deadline suggests the series will continue shooting today (May 9) despite a lack of WGA members being on location. The WGA East's Twitter account confirmed non-WGA members are refusing to cross the picket line, however, so it's unclear if principal photography will continue for much longer.

Other highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) TV shows are also affected, including Agatha: Coven of Chaos and Wonder Man, which are currently in the middle of filming.

Evil

The fourth entry in the hit Paramount Plus supernatural drama series has reportedly wrapped earlier than expected (per Deadline) after WGA and non-WGA staffers joined forces to shut production down.

Family Guy

The main cast of Family Guy standing in the street

Family Guy's 22nd season is not moving forward for the time being. (Image credit: 20th Century Television)

With Seth MacFarlane and his fellow showrunners joining the picket line (per Deadline), Family Guy season 22 is on indefinite hold. Another of MacFarlane's creations – American Dad! – is also not moving forward with its 20th season in the interim period.

Hacks

Jean Smart's Deborah looks solemn as Hannah Einbinder's Ava talks to her in Hacks season 2

Hacks has had its production halted amid the strike. (Image credit: HBO Max)

Hacks, one of the best HBO Max shows around, was in the middle of shooting its third season until the writers' strike. Deadline has confirmed, though, that filming has been halted in the interim due to the industrial action – co-creator Jen Statsky also tweeting "there was no other option here".

The Handmaid's Tale

Close up of Elisabeth Moss' face as June Osborne in The Handmaid's Tale season 5 episode 7

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 is on hold for the time being. (Image credit: Hulu)

Per Reuters, the sixth season of hit Hulu series The Handmaid's Tale is not currently being worked on. Co-showrunner and executive producer Yahlin Chang says filming was supposed to start in Q2 2023, but that won't be happening. Obviously.

House of the Dragon

Olivia Cooke and Emma D'Arcy in House of the Dragon

Work on House of the Dragon season 2 is ongoing despite the industrial action. (Image credit: HBO)

The hit Game of Thrones prequel series has been slightly affected. Filming is ongoing on House of the Dragon season 2 (and its Prime Video rival The Rings of Power season 2) in the UK, but it'll be slow going on the sets of both shows. Script rewrites and directors' notes are banned as part of the writers' strike, which will surely impact how some these shows' next slate of episodes will be shot and edited.

Good Omens

A promo image for Good Omens, on Amazon Prime TV

Good Omens season 2 is still coming this year. (Image credit: Amazon)

Good Omens, which is one of the best Prime Video shows, is due to return to our screens for its second installment in July. Work has been completed on it, so that remains the case, but Neil Gaiman – the series' showrunner and co-creator of the book it's based on (alongside the late Terry Pratchett) – suggested he may not be able to promote season 2 "as I had hoped" if the strike runs for longer than anticipated.

Loot

The Maya Rudolph-starring Apple TV Plus series will return for a second outing, just not for a while. Production has been halted on this show (via THR), with picketers disrupting filming on the comedy show.

The Mandalorian

Din Djarin stands in a desert location looking at something off screen alongside his fellow Mandalorians in season 3

The Mandalorian season 4 is yet to enter full production. (Image credit: Lucasfilm/Disney)

The fourth season of hit Star Wars show The Mandalorian will be impacted by the WGA strike. Its fourth outing hasn't officially been confirmed by Disney or Lucasfilm, but Deadline suggests filming was due to begin in September, with co-creator Jon Favreau having finished the scripts earlier this year. Depending on how long the strike lasts for, The Mandalorian season 4 might be put on hold.

Night Court

NBC's latest big comedy hit is returning for a second season as well, but its launch is all-but-delayed due to the strike. Filming reportedly didn't take place last week (May 2 to May 5) due to a previously arranged week off, but it's unclear if principal photography will start up again this week (May 9 to May 12). Deadline suggests it won't.

The Penguin

Colin Farrell as Oswald Cobblepot/Penguin in The Batman

The Batman's first spin-off series has been hit by the strike. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

The Penguin, a Max spin-off series of The Batman, has suffered as a result of the strike. Per The Wrap, the TV show's scripts were completed months ago, but rewrites can't take place on set amid the industrial action. So, while production is ongoing, it'll be slow going on the filming front for a while.

The Rings of Power

Halbrand, now known as Sauron, smirks as he looks out onto Mordor and Mount Doom in The Rings of Power episode 8

The Rings of Power season 2 has almost finished filming. (Image credit: Prime Video)

As mentioned in our House of the Dragon entry, The Rings of Power season 2 is still being filmed in the UK amid the strike. As WGA members, showrunners JD Payne and Patrick McKay aren't on set, however, even though principal photography is due to wrap very, very soon.

Severance

Mark Scout sits on the edge of a Lumon desk with a plaster on his head in Severance season 1

Severance season 2's development has been impacted. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

One of the best Apple TV shows of all time is another popular show that's been impacted. Production of Severance season 2 has stopped in New York (per Deadline), with WGA members joined on the picket line by members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSA) and Teamsters unions.

Stranger Things

A screenshot of a Stranger Things 4 cast poster

Work on Stranger Things season 5 has been delayed. (Image credit: Netflix)

Stranger Things season 5 was another project reportedly set to start shooting in May. Taking to the Stranger Things writers' Twitter account, though, showrunners Ross and Matt Duffer issued a statement saying: "While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike." Don't expect the wildly popular show to return to Netflix in 2024, then.

Superman: Legacy

Superman smiles as he looks behind him in a cover image for Superman: Legacy

Superman: Legacy's development has been slightly affected. (Image credit: DC Comics)

The first DC Cinematic Universe (DCU) film of the James Gunn-Peter Safran era, which is currently slated to fly into theaters in July 2025, has been somewhat affected. 

The Wrap reported that the movie's first draft was completed by Gunn, who's on writing and directing duties, one week before the strike began. However, no script treatments can be performed during the strike so, while other production elements are ongoing (such as production and costume design), Superman: Legacy's script won't be looked over for a while yet.

Unstable

Rob Lowe's Netflix comedy show is due to return for a second season. However, despite script work beginning in March, pens have been put down as a result of the writers' strike (per Deadline).

Welcome to Derry

Pennywise smiles menacingly at the camera in 2017 movie It

Welcome to Derry will explore Pennywise's origins. (Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Welcome to Derry, the forthcoming prequel series to Stephen King's It novel (and subsequent movie adaptations) is reportedly in production for Max (via Collider). However, it's unclear how the WGA strike is impacting its shooting schedule.

Wonder Man

Wonder Man, another in-development Marvel Disney Plus series, began filming earlier this year. However, like many of its peers, its shooting schedule was impacted by picketers aiming to disrupt its production. Marvel hopes to continue work on the show until it wraps in early August, and make any necessary changes during reshoots.

Yellowjackets

Three girls dressed in bear clothing in Yellowjackets season 1

Yellowjackets season 3's development was over as soon as it had begun. (Image credit: Showtime)

The fan-favorite Showtime thriller series (and one of the best Paramount Plus shows on air) was just one day into development on its third season when the strike action was called, according to co-creator Ashley Lyle (as first reported by IndieWire). Expect Yellowjackets season 3 to be some way off landing on your screen.

Senior Entertainment Reporter

As TechRadar's senior entertainment reporter, Tom covers all of the latest movies, TV shows, and streaming service news that you need to know about. You'll regularly find him writing about the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Netflix, Prime Video, Disney Plus, and many other topics of interest.


An NCTJ-accredited journalist, Tom also writes reviews, analytical articles, opinion pieces, and interview-led features on the biggest franchises, actors, directors and other industry leaders. You may see his quotes pop up in the odd official Marvel Studios video, too, such as this Moon Knight TV spot.


Away from work, Tom can be found checking out the latest video games, immersing himself in his favorite sporting pastime of football, reading the many unread books on his shelf, staying fit at the gym, and petting every dog he comes across.

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