Many of us fans were hoping that the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes would be quickly resolved and that there wouldn’t be much of an interruption to Star Wars movies and shows. As the months have passed, we see that we could be in for the long haul with the studios stubbornly digging in their heels to provide their workers with fair living wages, protection against A.I., and health care. With current reports highlighting that SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP negotiations are at a standstill, it may be longer than anyone hoped.
Overall, the impact on Star Wars is much the same as it is for Marvel, DC, and any other nerdiverse out there whose studios are under the AMPTP. With the WGA strike concluded and writers back to work, writing can resume on many of the projects that were on hiatus due to strikes. The projects can be written, and much of the background work can be done. Still, as long as SAG-AFTRA is still striking, no actors will be filmed. The future of our Star Wars movies and shows largely depends on AMPTP coming back to the negotiating table to bargain with SAG-AFTRA.
So the question becomes, how do the resolved WGA strike and the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike affect Star Wars TV Shows and movies, whether in production or preproduction status? Let’s discuss it.
Skeleton Crew
This show is completed due to all the reports we have found. However, there is some disagreement as to when it will be released. Sources such as IMDb show it as a 2023 release, meaning possibly December. However, other sources have rumored that we will not see Skeleton Crew until early 2024 due to strike delays. Disney and Lucasfilm have made no official announcements yet, so there is nothing concrete to offer you.
Andor Season 2
It’s been well reported that showrunner Tony Gilroy walked away from the set of Andor during the writers and actors strike back in May. However, at the time of walking away from writing and producing duties, the show was well into filming and production. So what does that mean for us?
Well, filming is not complete and neither is the writing. Although the writing can continue, there will be no one to act out the scripts as written. While it’s still currently set for late 2024, the rumor circulating is Andor will most likely be pushed to 2025 if the actors strike doesn’t end soon.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte reportedly only had a few weeks of production left back in April of 2023. Now, according to IMDb, the show is set to premiere in 2024. We are hopeful that principal shooting and production are done, which would allow the Lucasfilm team to put the finishing touches on this High Republic-era story told from the standpoint of the villains.
Mandalorian Season 4
Showrunner Jon Favreau announced that he has already completed the writing for The Mandalorian Season 4. When did he write this season? Before the premiere of the Ahsoka series. This benefits the series in the sense that there will be continuity between Ahsoka and The Mandalorian moving into the Dave Filonis’ Mandoverse movie.
As of now, it would be unlikely to see anything from the Filoni and Favreau duo before 2025 because of the actors’ strike. The series writing may be complete, but we won’t have anyone on set to act out what has been written as all the actors used were SAG-AFTRA actors.
However, one thing to keep an eye out for in future possible seasons was the resolution of the WGA strike. Studios are now required to have writers rooms. Favreau has written the majority of The Mandalorian himself with the occasional writer on sporadic episodes. If there is a fifth season, a writer’s room will be required. It shouldn’t be a problem as The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels were crafted with writer’s rooms, so it’s something Filoni is familiar with.
Bad Batch Season 3
The final season of The Bad Batch is set to air in 2024 according to Star Wars’ own website. This project wasn’t impacted by the writers and actors strikes since animation is held under the Animation Guild or TAG. We should still see this show in 2024 as expected.
Though heads up, TAG’s contract is up in 2024. If they go on strike, it could impact future Lucasfilm Animation projects like Tales of the Jedi, if there is a Season 3 of Star Wars: Visions, and any unannounced animated series down the line.
Lando
Lucasfilm has confirmed that Lando will no longer be a TV series, but now a major motion picture headed by Donald and Stephen Glover. For the most part that’s all we really know.
James Mangold Movie
The Dawn of the Jedi era movie from James Mangold has no set-in-stone date, but with delays in writing and now acting, the speculation is a possible December 2027 release date. But, that’s just a guess at this point. The length of the actors strike may strongly play against this.
Dave Filoni’s Mandoverse Film
No real news or announcements have been made other than that the film is happening, and Dave Filoni is directing it. It will be a Marvel Avengers-style character mash-up bringing all of the Mandoverse series to a close.
The Rey Skywalker Movie
This new movie is set 15 years after The Rise of Skywalker and we will see Daisy Ridley return as Rey, leading a new brand of Jedi. Past that, not much is known and the WGA and SAGaftra strikes have understandably slowed or even halted any production on this project. No release date is confirmed at this time.
What this means for us
As fans and viewers of Star Wars, we have an exercise in patience ahead of us. We have some completed content to hold us over, and hopefully, Lucasfilm and Disney spread them out wisely to bridge the gaps properly.
It means that we have to hope. Hope that SAG-AFTRA is able to convince AMPTP to come back to the bargaining table and work towards a solution in good faith. Hope that the end to the strike comes sooner rather than later and allows the work on all the promised shows and movies to continue.
There is exciting content ready to be made and stories to be shared in the Star Wars universe, and as fans, we can’t wait for them to arrive.
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