Writers’ strike freezes ‘Handmaid’s Tale,’ ‘GoT’ spinoff

Writing for a brand new season of The Handmaid’s Story and a coming Recreation of Thrones prequel was halted as an almost week-long strike by 1000’s of movie and tv writers rippled throughout Hollywood on Monday.

The writers of Emmy-winning Hulu drama The Handmaid’s Story had penned some early episodes for a brand new season forward of filming that was supposed to start out in late summer time, mentioned co-executive producer and author Yahlin Chang.

Writing of the dystopian drama stopped when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) referred to as a strike final week, Chang instructed Reuters on Monday.

A consultant for Hulu declined to remark.

Additionally on Monday, Recreation of Thrones writer George R.R. Martin mentioned in a weblog submit that the writers’ room for the prequel sequence A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight was “closed at some point of the strike.”

The WGA started a piece stoppage on Could 2 after failing to achieve a brand new labour settlement with increased pay from Hollywood studios comparable to Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N). The studios have mentioned they made a “beneficiant” provide to spice up compensation.

Late-night discuss reveals instantly went darkish, and a few TV sequence and flicks have adopted. The ultimate season of Netflix hit Stranger Issues was paused. Marvel film Blade, starring Mahershala Ali, shut down simply earlier than filming was set to start out.

The Hedge Knight was touted by Warner Bros executives final month as one of many marquees reveals in improvement for Max, the brand new title for what had been HBO Max.

The sequence is about 100 years earlier than the occasions of Recreation of Thrones, a time when the Targaryen line holds the Iron Throne, and focuses on a younger knight and his squire.

Warner Bros has not introduced a launch date for The Hedge Knight.

The second season of Home of the Dragon, one other Recreation of Thrones prequel, started filming in April, Martin mentioned and can proceed in London and Wales. All eight episodes already have been written and revised, he mentioned.

Martin additionally expressed his “unequivocal help” for the WGA.

“I hope the writers are given a good deal as quickly as potential,” US President Joe Biden mentioned at a screening of the movie American Born Chinese language on the White Home as a part of a celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

It’s unclear how lengthy the strike will final. No new talks have been scheduled between the Guild and the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers (AMPTP), the group negotiating on behalf of studios.

“Possibly the AMPTP members will come to their senses tomorrow and provide some significant concessions, and the entire thing will be wrapped up subsequent week,” Martin mentioned. “I’d not guess the ranch on that, nonetheless … I’ve by no means seen the Guild so united as it’s now.”

Have one thing so as to add to the story? Share it within the feedback under.