TV
Sorry, Stranger Things Fans — Here's Why Season 5 Is Getting Delayed
Sorry, 'Stranger Things' Fans – Here's Why Season 5 Is Getting Delayed
Netflix
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Sorry, Stranger Things Fans — Here's Why Season 5 Is Getting Delayed
Stranger Things fans are in for a longer wait than originally anticipated to see how the series wraps up.
Production on the fifth and final season has been delayed following the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers’ inability to come to a fair deal with the Writers Guild of America on a number of proposals, prompting writers to go on strike.
The Duffer brothers, who created and run the Netflix mega-hit, made the announcement via Twitter over the weekend amidst news that shows like The Rings of Power and House of the Dragon would continue production without writers on set or available to make necessary last minute adjustments.
“Duffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins,” they wrote. “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.”
\u201cDuffers here. Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we\u2019re 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. #wgastrong\u201d— stranger writers (@stranger writers) 1683407011
Their declaration also comes as studios have begun issuing letters to showrunners insisting that they are still required to come to work and perform non-writing duties, something many, like the Duffer brothers, suggest is a misunderstanding of all that writing entails.
Numerous working TV writers have shared their concerns over production on some shows continuing without writers, taking to the platform to clue fans in as to why a writer’s job doesn’t stop just because the scripts have been turned in.
Writers remaining employed through production and thus coming to set has long been a standard part of the TV-making process, although it’s one that studios have started trying to phase out — and one of the points currently in contention between the AMPTP and the WGA. Another proposal from the WGA includes asking for higher residual payments for writers that create shows or films that go on to bring in massive viewer numbers and profits for the streamers, such as Stranger Things. At the time the strike was called, the WGA reported that AMPTP had flat-out rejected both proposals.
As far as Stranger Things goes, there was never any hard release date for the final season announced, though many initially theorized it could hit Netflix in the later half of 2024. It’s also unclear how long production will be delayed due to the AMPTP’s unwillingness to compromise. The 2007 writers strike lasted for 100 days, and this one may last even longer.
Hopefully Netflix, and all the other studios, will agree to compensate writers fairly for creating the products that line the pockets of CEOs and shareholders with money before the cast of Stranger Things age even further beyond their characters.
Yes, Stranger Things has been renewed for a fifth and final season.
The first four seasons of Stranger Things are available on Netflix.
The Stranger Things writers, like all professional screenwriters in the WGA, are currently on strike because the studios have declined to make a fair deal to ensure working screenwriters can maintain a middle class lifestyle.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.
Rachel Kiley is presumably a writer and definitely not a terminator. She can usually be found crying over queerbaiting in the Pitch Perfect franchise or on Twitter, if not both.