The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike had a significant impact on the film and television industries of the United States, causing many film and television projects to shut down or postpone production. It is the largest interruption to American film and television production since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as the largest labor stoppage for the Writers Guild of America (WGA) since the 2007–08 strike.
On July 14, 2023, SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA in its own strike, halting production on any remaining film or television series that previously had continued during the WGA strike. On September 24, 2023, the WGA suspended picketing upon reaching a tentative agreement. Following a vote, the union leadership voted to end the strike on September 27, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. PDT.
The SAG-AFTRA strike ended on November 9, 2023, at 12:01 a.m. PDT.
Productions affected Award shows Project Network Notes 14th Governors Awards Ceremony postponed to January 9, 2024 16th Television Academy Honors Ceremony canceled by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences 39th TCA Awards Ceremony canceled by the Television Critics Association; winners announced via press release on August 7, 2023. Media tour prior to the ceremony also cancelled. 49th AFI Life Achievement Award tribute for Nicole Kidman TNT Ceremony postponed to April 27, 2024, by the American Film Institute 50th Daytime Emmy Awards CBS Ceremony delayed to December 15, 2023 75th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards FXX Ceremony delayed to January 6 and 7, 2024 75th Primetime Emmy Awards Fox Ceremony delayed to January 15, 2024 76th Tony Awards CBS Ceremony commenced without writers or written material (in reference to the strike, the ceremony featured an opening number with a blank book and no lyrics); the WGA denied a waiver, but committed to not picketing the ceremony 76th Writers Guild of America Awards Ceremony postponed to April 14, 2024 83rd Peabody Awards In-person ceremony canceled 2023 ESPY Awards ABC Ceremony commenced without a host for the first time 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards MTV Televised in-person ceremony canceled following the withdrawal of host Drew Barrymore and other presenters in solidarity. Replaced by a broadcast-only virtual ceremony with no host. 2023 MTV Video Music AwardsCeremony commenced without written work BET Awards 2023 BET Ceremony commenced without writers or written material Humanitas Prize Award ceremony cancelled; prizes announced in the newspaper; in-person gathering scheduled for November 2 PEN America's Business Visionary Award for Ted Sarandos Other honoree Lorne Michaels still to be presented with the PEN/Audible Literary Service Award Young Artist Award 2023 Postponed
Festivals and conventions Project Notes 27th American French Film Festival Festival cancelled 46th Mill Valley Film Festival Adapted to not have promotion from struck companies 76th Locarno Film Festival Opening award cancelled; opening ceremony schedules modified; numerous producers pulled out 2023 Fan Expo Canada Minor changes in promotion and presentation 2023 Just for Laughs Comedy Festival - Montreal Numerous panels from struck companies cancelled 2023 San Diego Comic-Con Multiple studios pulled out; in addition, WGA members were unable to participate in panels 2023 Toronto International Film Festival Promotion on projects produced by struck companies removed; most projects presented are independent or international Adult Swim Festival 2023 Numerous events, including meet and greets cancelled; schedule revised ATX Television Festival Season 12 Numerous panels cancelled; "WGA on Strike!" panel added De Niro Con at Tribeca Festival Postponed until June 2024 GalaxyCon Austin Commenced without planned promotion of work from struck companies Pennsylvania Warhorse Film Festival Event postponed until 2024 SeriesFest Season 9 Numerous showcases cancelled; many screenings went on without panels Vancouver International Film Festival 2023 Minor changes due to 10% of the festival involving US based films
Films The following section lists theatrical and direct-to-streaming films.
Film Distributor Notes Anniversary Lionsgate Script completed at time of strike; production later suspended by 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike; later granted waiver to resume filming, which wrapped on August 28 Avatar: Fire and Ash Disney Premiere pushed to December 2025 Avatar 4 Premiere pushed to December 2029 Avatar 5 Premiere pushed to December 2031 Avengers: Doomsday Premiere pushed to 2026 Avengers: Secret Wars Premiere pushed to 2027 Average Height, Average Build Netflix Production postponed; later scrapped The Batman: Part II Warner Bros. Filming postponed until 2024 Best Served Cold Script writing paused Blade Disney Pre-production paused ahead of a planned filming start in June 2023; premiere delayed indefinitely after director Yann Demange left the project and later got cancelled Captain America: Brave New World Premiere pushed to February 2025 Challengers Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Premiere pushed to April 2024 Cleopatra Universal Pictures Script production postponed for duration of the strike Community: The Movie Peacock Script partially completed prior to the strike, completed in February 2024; filming expected to begin in 2025 Dune: Part Two Warner Bros. Premiere pushed to March 2024 El Muerto Sony Bad Bunny, who was set to star, left the project; film scrapped in December 2024 The Fantastic Four: First Steps Disney Premiere pushed to May 2025, later pushed to July 2025 Fast Forever Universal Pre-production suspended Force of Nature: The Dry 2 Roadshow Films Premiere delayed Freakier Friday Disney Early development paused G20 Amazon Production paused when Viola Davis declined to move forward with production for the duration of the strike Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire Sony Release postponed to March 2024 Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire Warner Bros. Premiere delayed to March 29, 2024 Good Fortune Lionsgate Filming canceled by picketing on May 16–17, 2023, before being suspended indefinitely Gran Turismo Sony Premiere pushed to late August 2023 How to Train Your Dragon Universal Production suspended I Am film The CW Premiere delayed The Island Production shuttered due to inability to obtain insurance with the WGA and impending SAG-AFTRA strike It Ends with Us Sony Filming suspended; resumed in January 2024 John Mulaney: Baby J Netflix Release unaffected (released April 2023, prior to the strike); subsequent For Your Consideration screening and panel at Netflix FYSEE cancelled Karate Kid: Legends Sony Premiere pushed to December 2024; later pushed to May 2025 King Spawn Blumhouse Productions Scriptwriting paused for the duration of the strike Kraven the Hunter Sony Premiere pushed to August 2024, later pushed to December 2024 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Warner Bros. Premiere pushed to December 2024 The Mandalorian and Grogu Disney Premiere pushed to May 2026 The Movie Critic Sony Production postponed; later scrapped My Ex-Friend's Wedding Production suspended Poor Things Disney Premiere pushed to December 2023 Problemista A24 Premiere delayed to March 1, 2024 Scream 7 Paramount Pre-production suspended Shelby Oaks Paper Street Pictures Post-production suspended Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse Sony Premiere delayed to June 2027, production resumed in December 2023 Spider-Man: Brand New Day Developmental writing was halted; resumed upon the conclusion of the strike Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie Apple TV+ Premiere delayed to May 12, 2023 Strays Universal Release postponed Superman Warner Bros. Filmmaker James Gunn suspended writing for the duration of the strike The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Universal Production suspended, resumed when the strike ended and finally announced during Mar10 Day 2024. The Three-Year Swim Club Production paused Thunderbolts* Disney Pre-production paused ahead of a planned filming start in June 2023; production resumed in February 2024; premiere delayed several times until setting to May 2, 2025 Transformers One Paramount Premiere delayed until September 2024 Trap Warner Bros. Production delayed Tron: Ares Disney Production postponed; production resumed in January 2024. Twisters Universal Filming suspended, resumed in November 2023 Unstoppable Amazon Filming cancelled by picketing on May 31, 2023, before being suspended indefinitely Untitled Dirty Dancing sequel Lionsgate Premiere pushed to summer 2025 Untitled Josh Safdie film Netflix Production postponed; later scrapped Untitled Star Wars film Disney Premiere delayed indefinitely Untitled Transformers film Paramount Pre-production suspended Wake Up Dead Man Netflix Production paused for the duration of the strike Welcome to the Fishbowl Production on pause; rewrites halted for the duration of the strike White Bird Lionsgate Premiere delayed until October 2024
Television series The following section lists television series and miniseries that follow a narrative structure. By July 6, 2023, all but four scripted series filming on the East Coast were shut down.