House of the Dragon Season 2 Release Won't Be Affected by WGA Strike
The Targaryen story continuation is set for an on-schedule release.
On 2 May, both divisions of the Writers Guild of America, East and West, went on strike after failed negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major media giants. It is the first major strike by the Writers Guild of America in 15 years.
Writers are demanding higher pay and a solution to the issue of residual cuts, which have suffered in recent years with the introduction of new formats and technologies. Consequently, the production of many TV series, movies, and non-fiction shows has been suspended indefinitely. However, it looks like the release of the new season of the legendary fantasy drama prequel, House of the Dragon, will not be affected.
Many shows unaffected by the current strike do not fall under the WGA's jurisdiction. However, even internationally produced shows risk being shut down because guild leaders have instructed their members not to proceed with American projects. This is the case with Fire & Blood, a series based on a George R. R. Martin book and primarily filmed in the United Kingdom.
Fortunately for HBO (owned by Warner Bros. Discovery), the script for the second season has already been completed, so the writers' strike can't impact filming. Nonetheless, it remains unclear how script rewrites, if any are needed, can be executed under such conditions.
Though speculative, it seems that management pressured screenwriters to finish the script on time. British screenwriters, who are also members of the British Union, stated that they 'worked furiously across the weekend to submit scripts to their U.S. employers.' Now, they are prepared to join their American colleagues on strike.
The first season of House of Dragons concluded with the onset of a full-scale civil war in Westeros, known as the Dance of the Dragons. This conflict was sparked by the rivalry for the Iron Throne between Viserys I's two children, Aegon II and Rhaenyra. The final episode ended with Prince Aemond's dragon Vhagar devouring Rhaenyra's son Lucerys Velaryon and his dragon Arrax, marking the first high-profile death in the Civil War.
The sequel is unlikely to deviate significantly from the book, so expect more conflict and casualties. The next season is scheduled for release in the summer of 2024.
Source: Variety.