As “The Last of Us” shutters production on its second season due to the WGA strike, its showrunners Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are in solidarity with their fellow union members. Mazin was spotted on the WGA picket line in the early days of the strike. He has not been involved with the show as a writer or producer since the work stoppage began. Druckmann, too, has ceased work in both capacities.
With both having done plenty of writing on Season 1 of “The Last of Us,” it comes as no surprise that there are no scripts for Season 2. Until the WGA reaches an agreement with the AMPTP union representing major studios and streamers, no new material can be written. Writers have been hit hard by the rise of streaming and now find themselves threatened by AI, demanding solutions to both issues, among others. And the WGA strike may be a portend of more to come since both SAG-AFTRA and DGA, which represent actors and directors, respectively, are beginning their own contract negotiations with studios. If talks fall through between the groups, it will spell a total shutdown of the film and television industry.
Other writer-led shows, including Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and Disney+’s “Andor,” have ceased production in recent days. And at HBO, “The Last of Us” isn’t the only major production to be halted. With vocal support from author George R. R. Martin, “Game of Thrones” spin-offs “House of the Dragon” and “The Hedge Knight” have pressed pause.
