Writers’ strike blocks ‘Handmaid’s Tale’, the ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off

LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Reuters) – Writing for a new season of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ and an upcoming ‘Game of Thrones’ prequel has been halted by a nearly week-long strike by thousands of film and television writers who hit Hollywood on Monday. .

The writers of the Emmy-winning Hulu drama “The Handmaid’s Tale” had written some early episodes for a new season ahead of filming that was slated to begin in late summer, co-executive producer and writer Yahlin Chang said.

Writing for the dystopian drama came to a halt when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) called a strike last week, Chang told Reuters on Monday.

A representative for Hulu declined to comment.

Also on Monday, “Game of Thrones” author George RR Martin said in a blog post that the writers’ room for the prequel series “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight” was “closed during the duration of the strike”.

The WGA began a work stoppage on May 2 after failing to secure a new labor deal with higher salaries from Hollywood studios including Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) and Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) . The studios said they made a “generous” offer to increase compensation.

Late-night talk shows immediately went dark, and some TV series and movies followed. The final season of Netflix’s hit ‘Stranger Things’ has been cut short. The Marvel movie “Blade,” starring Mahershala Ali, came to a halt just before filming began.

“The Hedge Knight” was touted by Warner Bros. executives last month as one of the flagship shows in development for Max, the new name for what had been HBO Max.

The series is set 100 years before the events of “Game of Thrones”, a time when the Targaryen line holds the Iron Throne, and centers on a young knight and his squire.

Warner Bros. hasn’t announced a release date for “The Hedge Knight.”

The second season of “House of the Dragon,” another “Game of Thrones” prequel, began filming in April, Martin said, and will continue in London and Wales. All eight episodes have already been written and edited, he said.

Martin also expressed his “unequivocal support” for the WGA.

‘I hope the writers get a fair deal as soon as possible,’ US President Joe Biden said at a White House screening of ‘American Born Chinese’ as part of a celebration of America of Asian, Hawaiian and Pacific descent. Island Heritage Month.

It is not known how long the strike will last. No further talks are planned between the Guild and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group negotiating on behalf of the studios.

“Maybe the AMPTP members will come to their senses tomorrow and offer some meaningful concessions, and it can all be done next week,” Martin said. “I wouldn’t bet the ranch on that, though…I’ve never seen the Guild as united as it is now.”

Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Aurora Ellis

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