The writer’s strike looks to be coming to an official end within days, but even so – it’s going to be some time before the impact is felt when it comes to TV series.
The writers deal still needs to be voted on and ratified, and the actor’s strike still needs to be sorted out, but there’s optimism in the air and now questions as to when shows might actually return.
According to Deadline it’s expected your average network drama or procedural series will take 8-10 weeks to get back up and running, comedies around two weeks shorter than those estimates.
So if writers can get back to work in early October, network execs indicate to the trade that many of their non-VFX-driven shows could have new episodes back on the air as soon as early-mid March.
That assumes the actor’s strike resolves in the coming few weeks and filming could begin around Thanksgiving. Crews would also have to run through much of the end of the year – no early Christmas break. Others suggest it’s more feasible that filming on network shows wouldn’t resume until January.
Many of the brand new shows planned to debut their pilots in the 2023-24 season will probably be pushed to the 2024-25 season, whilst inherent costs that come with TV production make “short-order seasons” of 6-8 episodes for network shows unlikely.
So the airing schedule for the first two-thirds of next year is expected to be weird and won’t settle back to a regular rhythm until next Fall. It also means the fate of some shows on the bubble will need to be re-evaluated.
Streaming and premium cable series are a whole different kettle of fish, with many that would’ve shot in the back half of this year (or had started filming and were halted) now likely not shooting until early next year.
Those shows wouldn’t air until the back half of 2024 at the earliest, most not hitting screens until 2025. Shows over that late 2024/2025 window would include new seasons of “Andor,” “Daredevil: Born Again,” “Euphoria,” “The Last of Us,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “One Piece,” “Silo,” “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds,” “Stranger Things” and “The White Lotus”.
Other shows already earmarked for early 2024 like new seasons of “The Boys,” “Doctor Who,” “Reacher,” and “True Detective” were able to finish filming prior to the actor’s strike and thus should still be on track.
