The Wire creator David Simon’s 25-year deal with HBO has been due to his involvement with the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) strikes.
Per Deadline, HBO and several other studios have begun the process of canceling overall deals with writers involved in the ongoing WGA strikes. Speaking to the situation, Simon revealed HBO called to tell him it had “suspended” its contract with him despite the 25 years he’s written for the studio. “On the day that HBO called to suspend my deal after 25 years of writing television for them, I was doing the write thing,” Simon wrote alongside a video of the ongoing picketing.
Simon has been an active member of the WGA strike, which aims to improve writers’ pay and implement protections against AI-written scripts. Along with encouraging others to support the WGA in its strike, Simon also posted his support for the Director’s Guild of America (DGA). While the DGA plans to undergo negotiations this week, it has yet to encourage members to join the WGA in its picket lines. As a result, writers like Simon encouraged solidarity between the WGA and DGA.
Majors Studios Delay Projects Amid WGA Strikes
Several studios have delayed their projects as members of the WGA continue picketing for their rights. The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Blade reboot got shuttered as a result, though it’s unclear if it will ultimately impact the film’s release. Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin spoke about the impact of the strike on television spinoffs from his series, expressing support for the protesters involved in the conflict.
“No one wanted this — no writer with an ounce of sense, anyway — but the producers and the studios and the networks and the streamers gave us no choice. The Guild negotiated right up to the final deadline on May 1, but it takes two to tango,” he said. “The writer’s room on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight has closed for the duration. [Showrunner] Ira Parker and his incredible staff of young talents are on the picket lines.”
It remains unclear how many similar contracts have been axed by major studios as a result of the WGA strikes.
Source: Deadline, Twitter
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