The Rookie Season 6 Might Be Delayed Because of Looming SAG Strike
It seems that the anticipated return of John Nolan to our screens may be delayed.
The widespread speculation that ABC might call it quits on The Rookie after its fifth season due to a dip in ratings was quickly refuted when the network announced the show's renewal for a sixth season.
Fans rejoiced at the news but may have to temper their excitement.
ABC has decided to delay all major scripted shows initially slated for the fall to the midseason due to the ongoing WGA strike. Filming for Season 6 is set to commence on 30 June, and while this should be a source of joy for fans, a recent unsettling announcement from SAG-AFTRA casts a shadow over the situation.
Presently, only the writers' union is on strike, making production impossible for shows without completed scripts. However, it seems the actors' union may soon follow suit, halting production of all movies or TV series until their demands are met.
If SAG and AMPTP don't reach an agreement soon, the actors will also go on strike. The deadline by which some kind of agreement must be reached if the actors are to be prevented from striking coincides with the scheduled production start date for The Rookie's sixth season—30 June 2023.
Should the actors launch their strike on the very day The Rookie's sixth season is supposed to begin filming, it could derail the entire production process, postponing the season's premiere indefinitely. Sadly, this decision lies entirely beyond the control of the fans, as the SAG membership already voted on the strike this past Monday.
Thus, fans may have to wait until 2024 to see John Nolan and the rest of the cast back in action. While the strike is not a foregone conclusion, industry analysts predict that an agreement between the actors and producers will be elusive, resulting in widespread upheaval across the television industry as shows set to film after 30 June face indefinite postponements.
While the Directors Guild has already reached an agreement with AMPTP, the fact that writers and actors are still holding out for better terms makes production impossible. High-profile actors, including Nathan Fillion, are expected to stand with the SAG against producers and directors, further complicating the situation.