Studios Demand Showrunners Work During Strike; Shutdown Impacts Marvel's 'Blade,' Apple's 'Loot'; MTV Pivots Awards Amid Picket Plans; Chukwudi Iwuji on 'Guardians 3'

[View on web]( [New reader? Subscribe]( May 06, 2023 What's news: The strike's financial toll may surpass $2 billion. CBS' SWAT and Fox's Call Me Kat are ending their runs. Multiple CBS-owned CW stations are set to go independent. — [Ryan Gajewski]( Studios Demand Showrunners Work During Writers Strike ►"You are not excused from performing your duties as a showrunner and/or producer." THR's [Lesley Goldberg]( and [Katie Kilkenny]( report that Disney and Warner Bros. Discovery this week sent out a letter to showrunners employed by the companies' various studios to remind striking writer-producers that they are still expected to perform their contractually obligated non-writing services. In its response, WGA called it "shameful that Disney, which has grown its business on unionized labor, is resorting to familiar union-busting tactics." [The story.]( —Strike's financial fallout. THR's [Winston Cho]( reports that if the current work stoppage approaches the 100 days of the previous writers strike in 2007-08, the financial consequences could eclipse the $2 billion impact of the walkout from 15 years ago. After that, all bets are off on who emerges with leverage over time. [The story.]( —"We're pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night." The 2023 MTV Movie & TV Awards is shifting from a live ceremony to a pre-taped one on Sunday. MTV's change in plans for the ceremony follows the WGA revealing that it was planning to picket the awards show. Additionally, Drew Barrymore had announced earlier in the week that she would be dropping out as host, saying she was doing so in solidarity with the writers strike. [The story.]( Marvel Hits Pause on 'Blade' Due to Writers Strike ►Strike take a bite out of Blade. THR's [Borys Kit]( and [Aaron Couch]( have the scoop on Marvel Studios shutting down preproduction for Blade, its vampire thriller starring Mahershala Ali, which was set to begin filming next month in Atlanta. The feature project, which has been paused once before, becomes the first tentpole movie impacted by the strike. Blade had recently hired True Detective creator Nic Pizzolatto to work on the script, but according to an insider, "Time simply ran out." [The story.]( —Production on Loot has been impacted as well. THR's Lesley Goldberg reports that Loot, the Apple comedy produced by Universal Television, has shut down after picketers disrupted filming of the comedy starring and executive produced by Maya Rudolph. Production is currently on hold, and it's unclear when — or even if — it will resume. [The story.]( 'Call Me Kat,' 'SWAT' Canceled ►The cat cafe is closing its doors. Fox has canceled its comedy Call Me Kat, starring The Big Bang Theory alum Mayim Bialik, after three seasons. The news comes a day after the show's season (now series) finale aired on the network. [The story.]( —Ratings are not to blame. CBS is canceling its crime drama SWAT after six seasons. The show, which actually grew its total audience over last season, is an update of the 1970s cop show and stars Shemar Moore as LAPD Sgt. Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. Its final episode airs May 19. [The story.]( —"We look forward to reimagining these stations as independents." Changes are coming to eight CW stations that are owned by CBS. Employees at the stations were told that, beginning in September, the stations will drop their affiliation with The CW and go independent. When the change goes into effect, Paramount will own 14 CBS-branded stations and 13 independent stations. [The story.]( —Rocketing ahead. THR's [Pamela McClintock]( reports that Marvel and Disney's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 started off its domestic box office run with a franchise-best $17.5 million in Thursday previews, not adjusted for inflation. The preview number also includes select Imax shows on Wednesday. Disney sources say they are encouraged by early returns. [The box office report.]( 'Guardians 3' Star Chukwudi Iwuji on His Sadistic Baddie ►"I cannot defend him, but I can defend playing him." THR's [Brian Davids]( interviews Chukwudi Iwuji about starring in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. The performer discusses how he got into his character's disturbing headspace, along with explaining the invaluable presence of Sean Gunn as Rocket's motion-capture performer on set. [The interview.]( —"We were all crying like babies on the last day." THR's tech editor Carolyn Giardina's podcast focuses on the filmmaking crafts. In this episode, she speaks to Guardians Of the Galaxy Vol. 3 visual effects supervisor Stephane Ceretti, who recalls the "very emotional" final day of shooting for the Marvel film's team. [The podcast.]( —"I was nervous to shoot that stuff." THR's [Ashley Cullins]( chats with Molly Shannon about the third season of The Other Two. The actress spoke about navigating story time jumps and how her character’s life has mirrored her own. [The interview.]( —"We're all celebrating each other's weirdness." THR's [Caitlin Huston]( interviews Sara Bareilles, who was nominated for a Tony Award for her portrayal of the Baker's Wife in the Broadway production of Into the Woods. The Girls5eva star delved into the emotions that arose while performing one of Stephen Sondheim's best-known musicals. [The interview.]( This Week's Must Reads ►"They really weren't interested in making a deal." In case you missed it, THR's Katie Kilkenny interviewed WGA West president Meredith Stiehm and negotiating committee co-chairs David Goodman and Chris Keyser. After the studios and streamers and writers' union failed to reach an agreement on Monday night, the WGA negotiators discussed how the guild came to its first work stoppage in 15 years. [The interview.]( —"This is for all of us." Members of THR's team hit the picket lines for reactions to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers breaking its silence this week about the writers strike. WGA negotiating committee co-chair David Goodman was among those sharing thoughts. [The story.]( —CinemaCon's key takeaways. The annual gathering of Hollywood and theater owners in Las Vegas resembled pre-COVID times — and then some — as studios teased their upcoming movies. Amid a parade of A-listers, perhaps the biggest star of the four-day show was optimism. [The story.]( —The latest Emmy predictions. Ahead of the 2023 Emmy nominations, THR awards expert Scott Feinberg offers his updated picks for 24 categories. [The Feinberg Forecast.]( In other news... —Pomp, pageantry and (subdued) protest: King Charles III is [crowned in lavish coronation]( —[Kerry Condon joins Brad Pitt]( in Apple's Formula One racing movie —[Ted Lasso creators and stars]( on chances for more guild strikes: "I've got two hands for two signs" —With Emmy and Tony noms, plus the return of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Kandi Burruss is [having the best week ever]( What else we're reading... —Alexis Petridis writes that Ed Sheeran’s court victory reveals the paradox of putting creativity on trial [[Guardian]( —As Yellowstone is set to end, Erich Schwartzel and Joe Flint examine internal debate over the sky-high costs of Taylor Sheridan's TV projects [[WSJ]( —Kenny Torrella looks at the backlash to Aubrey Plaza's milk ad [[Vox]( —As Naomi Waxman writes, Taylor Swift's Chicago shows have spurred varying responses, with one bar even banning her music [[Eater]( —Amid this weekend's coronation for King Charles III, Damien Cave explores why nations that have kept the British monarch as their head of state are moving toward separation [[NYT]( Today... …in 2011, Paramount unveiled Kenneth Branagh's Thor, which starred Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins. [The original review.]( Today's birthdays: George Clooney (62), Gabourey Sidibe (40), Shamier Anderson (32), Sasheer Zamata (37), Roma Downey (63), Adrianne Palicki (40), Lars Mikkelsen (59), Naomi Scott (30), Alan Dale (76), Tom Bergeron (68), Emily Alyn Lind (21), Noah Galvin (29), Adrienne Warren (36), Tiera Skovbye (28), Tyler Hynes (37), Meek Mill (36) Tony Valdez, a reporter and anchor at KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles for more than 35 years, has died. He was 78. [The obituary.]( Do you have THR's next big story? Confidentially share tips with us at [tips@thr.com](mailto:tips@thr.com?subject=). This email was sent to {EMAIL} by Penske Media Corporation. Please add email@email.hollywoodreporter.com to your address book to ensure delivery to your inbox. Visit the [Preferences Center]( to update your profile and customize what email alerts and newsletters you receive. Copyright © 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, a subsidiary of Penske Business Media, LLC. 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