IATSE Strike Deadline Has Networks and Streamers Scrambling for Programming Options

Joe Otterson TV Reporter“Heels” has been renewed for Season 2 at Starz.Production on the second season will begin in 2022. In addition, Trey Tucker and Robby Ramos have been promoted to series regulars for Season 2.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterShowtime has promoted Jessie Dicovitsky to the role of senior vice president of original programming.“Jessie Dicovitsky has been a tremendous asset to our dynamic original programming team,” said Amy Israel, Showtime’s executive vice president of scripted programming, to whom Dicovitsky reports.

It is ironic since Fraturdays were a focal point in IATSE’s contract demands that it took a Fraturday to thwart a potentially devastating Hollywood strike. The virtual negotiations between the union representing roughly 60,000 members covered by the locals, and AMPTP, the trade association representing the major Hollywood studios, had a marathon bargaining session last Friday that spilled well into the night.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “John Wick” prequel series at Starz, “The Continental,” is rounding out its main cast with five new additions.Mishel Prada (“Vida”) will play KD; Hubert Point Du-Jour (“Blindspot,” “Madame Secretary”) will play Miles; Jessica Allain (“The Laundromat,” “Thriller”) has been cast as Lou; Nhung Kate (“Swapping Fate,” “The Better Man”) has been cast as Yen; and Ben Robson (“Animal Kingdom,” “Vikings”) has been cast as Frankie.The five join previously announced series lead

Joe Otterson TV ReporterThe “John Wick” prequel series at Starz, “The Continental,” has cast Colin Woodell in the lead role, Variety has learned.Woodell will star as a young Winston Scott, the character played in the film franchise by Ian McShane. “The Continental” will explore the origin behind the titular hotel-for-assassins through the eyes and actions of Scott, who is dragged into the Hell-scape of a 1975 New York City to face a past he thought he’d left behind.

Joe Otterson TV ReporterMel Gibson will star in the “John Wick” prequel series “The Continental” at Starz, Variety has confirmed with sources.“The Continental” was originally ordered at Starz in 2018 and is said to focus on the inner workings of the titular hotel from the film franchise, which is a refuge for assassins.

Jazz Tangcay Artisans EditorHeather Fink has spent her working life on film and TV sets. But years of frustration with the long hours and stagnant pay had made her reach her tipping point.

Juliette Lewis is showing her support for Hollywood industry workers.

Refresh for updates…Hollywood reactions began flooding in on Saturday evening, following news that an IATSE strike had been averted, which we brought you first.

Just over 48 hours before the deadline for a strike that will shut most of Hollywood down, IATSE struck both optimistic and unsentimental tones this evening as talks with the AMPTP have wrapped for the day.

While there are encouraging signs that an IATSE strike could be avoided with a last-minute deal made before the midnight on Sunday deadline, preparation for a potential work stoppage continues in all areas involving IATSE members, including writers rooms.

TheWrap-Up,” hosts Sharon Waxman and Lawrence Yee talk about the looming IATSE strike deadline that may bring Hollywood productions to a standstill.TheWrap’s film reporter Jeremy Fuster joins the discussion to talk about which productions would be affected by a strike, and which would be exempt.Then, a discussion about the internal fallout Netflix has faced over Dave Chappelle’s latest Netflix special, “The Closer.” CEO Ted Sarandos has defended the special, but trans employees and their allies

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterThe International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees is threatening to go on strike on Monday morning if it cannot reach a new contract.

The memo, obtained by TheWrap, lists the IATSE locals that will be striking on Monday if a deal isn’t reached. While the 13 West Coast locals are the primary groups that are striking, three of those locals — the International Cinematographers Guild, the Motion Picture Editors Guild and the Art Directors Guild — are nationwide, effectively expanding the scope of the shutdown to almost all film and television projects across the U.S.

EXCLUSIVE: Hollywood is on the precipice tonight as talks between IATSE and the AMPTP continue in the hopes to avert a strike early next week that could bring most of the industry to a standstill. “Assume there will be a strike and hope there isn’t,” Local 800 members were told this afternoon in the first of two planned virtual townhalls.

Cynthia Littleton Business EditorIATSE and Hollywood’s major employers will keep going on contract negotiations Thursday as the clock ticks down to Monday’s deadline for the union to call a strike.Sources close to the situation confirm that the sides will be back to virtual bargaining sessions on Thursday. On Wednesday, IATSE ratcheted the pressure on the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers by setting at a deadline of 12:01 a.m.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media WriterHollywood is starting to brace for a strike that would essentially shut down the entire industry on Monday morning.Talks have stalled on a new contract for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, which has lately accused the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers of refusing to made enough concessions. Matthew D.

1. Who is IATSE?IATSE represents below-the-line workers such as costume and set designers, makeup artists, script coordinators, camera operators and many more of the on-set workers that are not the actors, directors or writers (each those have their own separate labor unions).

The Art Directors Guild, IATSE Local 800, will hold two membership town hall meetings on Thursday to discuss strike preparations and what will be expected of members if a strike begins on Monday. The meetings will be held at 7 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. PT.