Writers Strike 2023: Which TV Shows Are Shut Down? And Which Shows Are Still Filming?

As the Writers Guild of America strike continues and hundreds of writers, showrunners, and actors take to picket lines to fight for fair pay, improved working conditions, and other crucial proposals, Hollywood is already being majorly impacted.

Since the strike began on May 2, dozens of television shows and films have experienced delays in filming or halted production entirely due to the absence of (and in some cases, in support of) their writers. The WGA strike affects everything from network shows like Abbott Elementary and late-night programming to highly-anticipated streaming series like Severance, Hacks, and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Night.

Wondering which shows have shut down production? And which series are still filming? Here’s a list of shows affected by the writers strike so far, which we’ll update regularly as new information becomes available.

• Abbott Elementary (ABC)

  Status: Following Abbott Elementary‘s Season 2 finale on April 19, the writers’ room was set to reconvene and start writing Season 3 on May 1, the same day the WGA contract expired. Instead, Season 3 writing is now on hold, and Abbott‘s writers (including Quinta Brunson) have joined their fellow creatives on strike. Ahead of the Season 2 finale, Abbott Elementary showrunners Justin Halpern and Patrick Schumacker spoke to Decider and shared thoughts on the strike and what it might mean for Season 3. “On a pragmatic level… [a strike] could affect the amount of episodes in the season. In the last strike, if I recall, the example is like Breaking Bad did seven episodes. But that strike lasted three months or something like that,” Schumacker said. “…If it has to happen, knock on wood that it can resolve very quickly, and we can go back in, and people won’t notice too much at home that anything different happened this year.”

• American Horror Story (FX)

  Status: American Horror Story‘s Season 11 finale aired in November 2022, and Season 12 was already in production at the time of the strike. Initial reports stated that Teamsters refused to cross picket lines outside AHS production, but Deadline reported that “filming did not stop, so AHS: Delicate may still be on track for a summer 2023 release.

• Andor (Disney +)

  Status: As of Sunday morning, Andor co-creator Tony Gilroy officially ceased all production on the Disney+ series due to the strike. “I discontinued all writing and writing-related work on Andor prior to midnight, May 1. After being briefed on the Saturday showrunner meeting, I informed Chris Keyser at the WGA on Sunday morning that I would also be ceasing all non-writing producing functions,” Gilroy said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. 

• Ava DuVernay Drama (Starz)

  Status: Ava DuVernay’s untitled half-hour romantic drama series for Starz’ — starring Lauren Ridloff and Joshua Jackson — is halting production in Wilmington, North Carolina because of the writers strike, Deadline reported.

• Billions (Showtime)

  Status: Like American Horror Story, Billions was temporarily impacted by the writers’ strike. Deadline reports the show shut down production for several hours on May 4 after cast and crew refused to cross the WGA picket line, but filming resumed later that day. On May 10, however, the WGA East Twitter account announced that production was once again shut down in Chelsea and Brooklyn.

• Big Mouth (Netflix)

  Status: Netflix dropped Big Mouth Season 6 in October 2022, and though the series has been renewed for Season 7 and Season 8, you may have to wait a bit longer to see the final season. Per Variety, Big Mouth writers were six weeks into writing Season 8 and were on track to finish by August.

• The Chi (Showtime)

  Status: The Chi is one of the latest Showtime dramas to be impacted by the WGA strike. Per Deadline, the series, which is currently filming in Chicago, canceled a location shoot on Friday, May 12 because of picketing.

• Cobra Kai (Netflix)

  Status: Season 5 of Cobra Kai premiered on Netflix in September 2022, but the writers’ room shut down on May 2, which means Season 6 will be delayed. “We hate to strike, but if we must, we strike hard. Pencils down in the Cobra Kai writers room. No writers on set. These aren’t fun times, but it’s unfortunately necessary. The moment a fair deal is in place, we’ll get back to kicking ass,” showrunner Jon Hurwitz tweeted.

• Evil (Paramount +)

  Status: Evil‘s Season 3 finale aired in August 2022, and though Season 4 production wrapped earlier than expected, it’s unclear if the strike played a part in an early shutdown. Per Variety, “the set faced disruptions by picketing Writers Guild members,” but a cast member also had to take “a leave of absence due to a personal family matter.” It’s unclear if the originally planned 10 episodes in Season 4 were completed prior to wrapping early.

• Daredevil: Born Again (Disney+)

  Status: Production for Daredevil: Born Again was already underway when writers went on strike, and though production was disrupted by picketers and filming shut down early after 1 p.m. on May 8, production was expected to resume on May 9. On May 10, the WGA East Twitter account announced that picketers completely shut down Daredevil production.

• Duster (Max)

  Per Deadline, J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan’s period drama Duster shut down production in New Mexico until the strike concludes.

• Etoile (Prime Video)

  A new Prime Video ballet drama from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel duo Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino planned to start production in France soon, but shut down until the strike concludes, per Deadline. You can learn more about the series here.

• FBI: Most Wanted

  Status: FBI: Most Wanted is yet another spinoff taken down by the WGA’s extremely successful Rapid Response Team. Deadline reports that the series resumed filming after temporarily pausing production. But is this the last delay the show’s seen? Who can say?

• Good Omens (Prime Video)

  Status: Good Omens Season 2 is still on track for its planned release in Summer 2023 since production wrapped ahead of the strike, but showrunner Neil Gaiman posted his support of the strike and said the Season 2 promotional rollout could look a bit different depending on whether or not the WGA reached a deal ahead of its premiere. “I’m in the Writers Guild of America. I wish this wasn’t happening and support it absolutely. When I wake up tomorrow I’ll be on strike. (To forestall the inevitable questions, Good Omens 2 is completed and handed in. Although I may not be able to promote it as I had hoped,)” Gaiman tweeted on May 2.

• Hacks (Max)

  Status: The Season 2 finale of Hacks premiered in June 2022 and Season 3 will likely be delayed, as Deadline reported production shut down on May 5. “We are devastated to not be with our incredible crew and cast right now, but there was no other option here,” co-creator and showrunner Jen Statsky tweeted. “Writing happens at every stage of the process – production and post included. It’s what makes shows and movies good. It’s what makes them possible.”

• House of the Dragon (HBO)

  Status: Filming of House of the Dragon Season 2 will continue as planned in the U.K. since scripts were completed pre-strike, Variety reported. Though writing normally continues on-set and is a crucial component in the production process, a major point the WGA is making during this strike (and one writer George R.R. Martin made in a blog post without specifically calling out House of the Dragon) showrunner Ryan Condal is reportedly moving ahead in “a non-writing capacity: no editing, no network notes, no writing.”

• Hysteria! (Peacock)

  Peacock’s Hysteria!, starring Julie Bowen and Anna Camp, also ceased production until the strike concludes, per Deadline.

• A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Night (HBO)

  Status: Speaking of Game of Thrones, co-creator George R.R. Martin announced that the writers’ room for the prequel series, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Night, is “closed for the duration” of the strike in support of writers.

• The Last of Us (HBO)

  Status: On May 11, Variety reported that The Last of Us team was gearing up to cast Season 2, but the series is now on hold as a result of the strike. The hope is still to begin shooting the sophomore season in early 2024, but there’s no telling how long the strike will last.

• Late-Night Shows

  Status: Some of the first major shows impacted by the strike were late-night television shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and The Daily Show, which shut down production immediately and began airing re-runs. Other shows including Saturday Night Live, Real Time with Bill Maher, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver were also impacted, but have yet to lay out future plans.

• Loot (Apple TV+)

  Status: The Apple TV+ comedy Loot, starring Maya Rudolph, paused production on its second season after striking writers picketed at the mega-mansion in Bel-Air where filming takes place. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Rudolph is said to have retreated to her trailer, unwilling to return to work.”

• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Prime Video)

  Status: The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power will continue filming Season 2 during the strike, but Variety reports the show will proceed without its showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, and other writer-producers who are supporting the WGA strike. As of the report, Season 2 had 19 days left in production.

• Night Court (NBC)

  Status: Night Court‘s Season 1 finale is set to air May 9, but Season 2 production was already underway when the strike began. As a result, the series is expected to shut down, as writers are essential to the production of a multi-camera sitcom.

• The Old Man (FX)

  Jeff Bridges’ FX drama series The Old Man suspended Season 2 production on May 22 and will not resume until the strike is over. Per Deadline, filming stopped after Epsiode 204.

• On Call (Prime Video)

  Status: Prime Video’s Dick Wolf-produced drama On Call suspended production for the day because of picketing, Universal Television confirmed to Deadline.

• P-Valley (Starz)

  Status: On May 10, P-Valley creator Katori Hall tweeted in support of the WGA strike and provided an update on filming. “Despite rumors, due to the #WGA #WritersStrike filming on #PValley has been postponed,” Hall wrote. “Like many of my fellow showrunners, I feel as though my writing & producing duties are inextricably linked. We will not be filming until a fair deal is reached. #WGAStrong”

• The Penguin (Max)

  Matt Reeves’ Batman spinoff for Max shut down production on May 16 because of WGA East picketers, per Deadline.

• Power Book II: Ghost (Starz)

  Status: Power Book II: Ghost is yet another Starz series impacted by the strike. According to Deadline, production was interrupted while the show was attempting to shoot in Tribeca and the WGA East’s Rapid Response Team paid them a visit.

• Power Book III: Raising Kanan (Starz)

  Status: Power Book III: Raising Kanan‘s Season 2 finale aired in October 2022, and writing for Season 3 was underway when the strike shut down the room, per Deadline.

• Pretty Little Liars: Summer School (Max)

  Status: The latest news is that Max’s fourth installment in the Pretty Little Liars franchise was filming in Newburgh, New York and shut down production due to the strike. Though it’s unclear if production will resume or remain halted until the strike ends.

• Sinking Spring (Apple TV+)

  And it looks like "Sinking Spring" has shut down for the day. #WGAStrong #PhillyStrong #1u #IATSE #Teamsters Thanks @SAGAFTRANY for your support https://t.co/s8bNu5Q1bn

  — WGA Strike Captain Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) May 9, 2023

  Status: On May 10, production on Sinking Spring, an Apple TV+ crime series starring Brian Tyree Henry and based on Dennis Tafoya’s book Dope Thief was reportedly shut down for the day in Philadelphia as a result of the strike.

• Severance (Apple TV+)

  Status: On May 8, WGA members on strike picketed at York Studios in the Bronx and Westchester, shutting down production on the second season of Apple TV+’s workplace thriller, Severance. Members of IATSE and the Teamsters refused to cross the picket line in New York, so Season 2 may experience delays.

• Stranger Things (Netflix)

  Status: The fifth and final season of Netflix’s Stranger Things has also been delayed as a result of the strike. “Writing does not stop when filming begins,” the Duffer brothers tweeted. “While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out.” Filming was reportedly set to begin in June, so Season 5 production as a whole will likely experience delays.

• Tony Awards

  Status: The 2023 Tony Awards really want the show to go on, and despite already having one request denied, the team plans to submit yet another request for the WGA to grant a waiver that would allow the ceremony to air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ June 11. It’s likely the awards show will not be airing as normal, and on the off chance it does there’s a question of whether potential attendees or planned host Ariana DeBose would be willing to cross the WGA picket line or not. You can learn more about Tony Awards chaos in Decider’s “Everything to Know About the 2023 Tony Awards” post.

• Unstable (Netflix)

  Status: Season 1 of Netflix’s Unstable, starring Rob Lowe and his son John Owen Lowe, premiered on March 30. Though the series has yet to be publicly renewed for Season 2, reports claim the second season was already in production and has been shut down.

• The Upshaws (Netflix)

  Status: Wanda Sykes, who stars in Netflix’s The Upshaws alongside Mike Epps and Kim Fields, confirmed to Variety that production on the show’s fourth season was suspended because of the strike. The series had reportedly wrapped 10 of its 12 Season 4 episodes. Despite delays in filming the end of the season, completed episodes are still expected to premiere on August 17, 2023.

• The Venery of Samantha Bird (Starz)

  The Starz drama The Venery of Samantha Bird, starring Katherine Langford and created by Anna Moriarty, paused production with just two of its eight-episode order left to shoot, per Deadline.

• While You Were Breeding (Freeform)

  Status: Freeform’s While You Were Breeding, based on Kristin Newman’s memoir, also shut down production because of the strike. In a Facebook post, Newman (who serves as showrunner) explained her decision to stand with the WGA, writing, “The hardest thing about being a showrunner during a strike is wondering if you’re the only schmuck furloughing all of your crew and potentially harming your career and/or show by halting work, so I wanted to say publicly that we shut down post production on the show that means more to me than anything I’ve ever made today. It uses voice over, which is generally straight from, like, my journal and/or soul, so it’s impossible to edit without writing.” Newman also confirmed the show’s premiere date is “being pushed from this August to sometime in 2024.” You can read the post in its entirety here.

• Yellowjackets (Showtime)

  Status: What’s the buzz buzz with Yellowjackets? Co-creator Ashley Lyle tweeted to announce that the writers’ room met and worked on Season 3 for just one day before shutting down because of the strike. So expect delays here, too!

• You Bet Your Life (Fox)

  Status: Fox’s game show You Bet Your Life also suspended production because of the strike, as host Jay Leno is standing in support with the WGA. In a statement, Leno said the following: “As a member of the Writers Guild for almost 40 years, I truly understand and stand in solidarity with my fellow union members…For that reason, we are suspending production of our game show, You Bet Your Life until such time when an agreement can be reached. I’m sorry I ran out of glazed, I now realize powdered sugar is not the same thing. Yours truly, Jay Leno.”

• Zero Day (Netflix)

  The upcoming Netflix limited series, starring and executive produced by Robert De Niro, suspended production until the strike concludes, per Deadline.

Decider will continue updating this article as additional information becomes available.