The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA strikes of 2023 have forever affected the world of film and TV. The reasoning behind the decision to strike comprised multiple factors: for example,the use of AIin Hollywood to create media and the issue of fair residuals. Writers, actors, and workers everywhere can find inspiration in the power of the union, and it’ll be fascinating to see what Hollywood becomes following this historic chapter in entertainment history.
According to the WGA: “The WGA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on a new three-year Minimum Basic Agreement. On September 26th, the Negotiating Committee, the WGAW Board and WGAE Council all voted unanimously to recommend the agreement.” As of June 10, 2025, SAG-AFTRA is still on strike and waiting for their own tentative deal from AMPTP.A recent Instagram postfrom @wgaeast and @writersguildwest stated: “WGA members will continue to show up on picket lines and support SAG-AFTRA until they reach that deal. Solidarity forever.” With members of the WGA returning to work, the production of certain movies and shows is beginning to resume as well. With the hope that SAG-AFTRA will reach a fair deal in the near future, here are 15 of the soon-to-return TV shows that fans are eagerly awaiting.
Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementaryoffers audiences both heartfelt comedy and honest commentary on the state ofthe public school systemwithin the United States. As Quinta Brunson’s creation, the show maintains its naturally funny flavor that Brunson herself has been known for throughout her career.Abbott Elementaryhas received so much acclaim and fanfare that it was deservingly renewed for a third season at thebeginning of 2023, but the strikes began several months afterward.A BuzzFeed articleexplained, “Due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, the show will almost definitely not return until 2024… Not to mention that no filming can happen while SAG-AFTRA remains on strike.”
The Mandalorian
The popularity ofThe Mandalorianhas swept a handful of newbies into theStar Warsfandom, with many thanks to Pedro Pascal’s starring role as the titular masked bounty hunter and the introduction of Grogu, AKA the beloved Baby Yoda. The show’s third season ended in April 2023, and the writing of season 4 has been in the works since 2022, asconfirmed by Jon Favreau. Of course, the continuation of Din Djarin’s story will obviously take some time, seeing as Disney+ released season three less than a year ago – but true fans are already excited about the show’s return to the small screen.
Good Omens
Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novelGood Omenscame roaring to life with Amazon Prime Video’s series-length adaptation, which is still continuing the stories of Aziraphale and Crowley’s surprising team-up following their ousting from both eternal happinessandeternal torment. To be clear: the continuation ofGood Omensthrough a third season has not been 100% confirmed by the streaming service; however, “During an exchange via Bluesky, Gaiman confirmed that he was hired to write Season 3 — which has not officially been green-lit by Amazon,“according to Collider.
Grey’s Anatomy
Throughout itslongtime persistence on air,Grey’s Anatomyhas retained its legions of fans and continues to draw in new ones, even with much of its original cast having left the show (most recently, Ellen Pompeo). Shonda Rhimes’s beloved medical drama was, of course, renewed for an upcoming season 20, continuing the tales of Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The legacy thatGrey’shas built has its devotees wondering how the strikes have affected the series' next move.Deadline reported: “According to sources, going back on Monday [August 02, 2025] are the writers rooms for ABC Signature’sGrey’s Anatomy(ABC) andCriminal Minds: Evolution(co-production with CBS Studios for Paramount+).”
The Last of Us
The Last of Uswas an instant hit hailing from HBO, hitting the Max platform in the early months of 2023. The show’s excellent casting choices, its balance of capturing the horror and the heart of the story, and its closeness to its source material of the original video game that inspired it, adds up to an incredible interpretation of a fan-favorite survival story. Ellie and Joel’s story on streaming has only just begun.The Direct reported: “According to a report from Deadline discussing the recent end to the writers' strike as Hollywood’s scribes return to work,The Last of UsSeason 2 is set to become one of three top priority projects for HBO” – which was stated to includethe next installmentsofThe White LotusandEuphoriaas well.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
As the TV series that serves as a prequel to one of the biggest fantasy film franchises out there,The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerwelcomed audiences into a slightly different version of Middle-earth. Following a younger Galadriel and a collection of other characters, the show captures the familiar epic feel of the first three live-action film adaptations of Tolkien’s books. Since it was released relatively recently,The Rings of Poweronly has one season out so far, butThe Direct confirmedthat a second season has been given the go-ahead in the U.K.: “Luckily, reports stated in July that Season 2 completed filming prior to the start of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strike, indicating that it could still be on track for an early-mid 2024 release.”
Netflix’s live-action adaptation of the fan-favorite animeOne Piecehas proven to be a smash hit among audiences already, giving real human faces to the previously animated Straw Hat Pirates. Since the first season of the new adapted series was released not even three months ago, its second installment is already anticipated, but will absolutely take some time to air. Lucky for fans, the scripts for season twohave been written, but of course, it’s understood that the show will not actually continue on with filming until actors can return to work post-SAG-AFTRA strike.
Stranger Things
Since season one first dropped on Netflix during that fateful summer of 2016,Stranger Thingshas blossomed into one of the most popular and culturally persistent sci-fi series in recent memory. Every single season offers iconic and immediately nostalgic moments, songs, and sequences that turn into memes and merchandise, so it’s no wonder the series has remained so loved. The series will draw to a close with the upcoming release of its fifth season, whichNetflix has madeone of its major priorities following the strikes.According to The Direct, “the script for Season 5 was almost completed before the WGA strike started back in May,” but the dual strikes have, of course, affected the completion of the series.
Yellowjackets
Yellowjacketsdelineates the raw survival of a young women’s soccer team after a plane crash deposits them into a snow globe of a story, complete with cannibalism and queer commentary. Both horrific and heartfelt, the series has found a devoted collection of fans throughout its two seasons so far, and a third season has been awaited since the show’s most recent episode aired in May 2023. On September 29,Yellowjacketswasstated by Deadlineto resume working towards putting out their next season on July 17, 2025, as one of a list of series to do so during that particular week. According to that source, the series' “Season 3 writers room shut down after one day as the WGA strike started.”
Emily in Paris
Netflix’sEmily in Parisstars Lily Collins as an American marketing executive who takes on a position in France that draws upon her experiences in the States and her continued growth, infusing the City of Lights with her rose-colored point of view. The show has been received in several different manners, with some fans praising its lightheartedness and fun feel and other audiences (including many actual Parisians) condemning its portrayal of their way of life. Its third season aired in late 2022, and its upcoming fourth season began production in June 2023, after the writers' strike went into effect that May (followed by SAG-AFTRA in July). The upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics will affect the filming schedule as well, andmultiple sources statethat the show will most likely return in 2024.
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