Jenna Ortega's Name Is Dragged Into Writers Strike Following Comments About Changing 'Wednesday' Script, & Fans Have Thoughts

As the writers strike enters its third week, there’s little sign of resolution between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Picket lines surrounding studio offices and production sets continue to draw striking writers and other entertainment industry workers, including members of SAG-AFTRA, the PGA and IATSE looking to show solidarity with their colleagues. With their pens down professionally, writers have taken the opportunity to channel their talents toward the strike, crafting some clever puns and harsh roasts for media executives.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Since the writers strike started on May 2, celebrities have turned out to support WGA members picketing for a better guild contract. Actors like Fred Armisen are also writers who are members of the WGA, while some SAG-AFTRA members are walking the line to support their colleagues. Since most TV shows and movies have suspended production until the strike is resolved, stars, writers and filmmakers like Christopher Nolan are taking to the streets to show their support for members of the Writers Guild of America.

EXCLUSIVE: Filmmaker Tim Burton, one of the most original voices in Hollywood history, is the subject of a four-part documentary series heading to the Cannes Market. 

EXCLUSIVE: Cocaine Bear filmmaker Elizabeth Banks has urged industry professionals to “hold the line” and support striking writers, particularly around issues such as the use of AI as her thriller Dreamquil, which explores the dangers of artificial intelligence, launches at the Canes Market.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor On May 12, Variety partnered with Reddit’s Television subreddit to host an Ask Me Anything discussion about the ongoing writers strike. Variety co-editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton — who has covered the television industry for 25 years and wrote the book “TV on Strike: Why Hollywood Went to War Over the Internet” about the 2007 strike — fielded many smart questions from Redditors, touching on topics like AI, who gets paid during the strike, and how long it could last. Below are key selections from the discussion, lightly-edited for clarity.

Cannes Delegate General Thierry Fremaux said U.S. professionals were welcome to speak out about the writers’ strike within the framework of the 76th edition, running from May 16 to 27.

Wednesday co-star Emma Myers, it’s been revealed, and fans of the hit Netflix series have been sharing their glee online.The news emerged earlier this month at the Met Gala, when a clip of Ortega walking the red carpet went viral on TikTok. In the short video, the rising actress can be seen carrying her smartphone as she greets fans at the annual fashion party.

2023 Tony Awards to air as scheduled on June 11 amid the ongoing writers strike. The Hollywood Reporter reported Friday that the telecast of theater’s biggest night will not air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ as originally planned.

Beetlejuice 2 will be released on September 6, 2024, Warner Bros. has confirmed.The upcoming sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 original will see Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder reprise their roles as Beetlejuice and Lydia Deetz, respectively.Jenna Ortega — best known for her role in Netflix‘s hit series Wednesday — will also star, playing the daughter of Ryder’s character.The Leftovers star Justin Theroux will also appear in the film in an undisclosed role.The upcoming sequel, which has been in discussion for a decade, will begin filming in London on May 10.Brad Pitt’s Plan B is producing the project, with the screenplay coming from Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, who worked with Tim Burton on Wednesday.Little else is currently known about the follow-up to Burton’s 1988 film about a troublesome poltergeist.

Beetlejuice is getting a sequel, 35 years after its initial release. The 1988 film starred Michael Keaton in the titular role, and co-starred , , Winona Ryder, and Catherine O'Hara. Beetlejuice followed a recently deceased couple who haunt their own home and contact Beetlejuice to help them get the new owners to leave.

Just her opinion! Katy Perry’s blunt comments about Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding dress have resurfaced following her participation in King Charles III’s coronation concert. 

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! Michael Keaton and Jenna Ortega have been confirmed as the stars of the upcoming Beetlejuice sequel.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media Reporter Whether or not you say his name three times, Beetlejuice is returning to movie theaters next year. Warner Bros.

ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike in Hollywood have called out Wednesday star Jenna Ortega for her comments on rewriting the hit Netflix show’s script.In March, Ortega – who starred as Wednesday Addams in Tim Burton’s Netflix series – shared that she had gotten involved with the script’s writing while on set for the show, at times even butting heads with the script supervisor because she felt “very, very protective” of her character.“There was times on that set where I even became almost unprofessional, in a sense, where I just started changing lines.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish addressed the writers strike during Paramount’s Q1 earnings call Thursday, stating that writers are “an essential part of creating content” and “we hope we can come to a resolution that works for everyone fairly quickly.” However, the Paramount chief added, “it’s also fair to say there’s a really big gap.” “Obviously, we’ve been planning for this, we do have many levers to pull and that’ll allow us to manage through the strike, even if it’s for an extended duration,” Bakish said. “In terms of those levers, we have a lot in the can, so to speak, content in the can. So with the exception of things like late-night, consumers really won’t notice anything for a while. Add to that a broad range of reality, unscripted, where we’re definitely a leader, as well as sports, and that’s not effected, so we can do more in those areas, if necessary.”

Fanatics, with Fanatics assuming management of WWE’s on-site event merchandise business as of May 1, 2023.The Writers Guild of America members started striking Monday night after the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers failed to reach an agreement to compensate writers more fairly.The decision to strike for the first time in 15 years was made after six weeks of negotiations with the AMPTP, which represents major studios and distributors like Netflix, Apple, Disney, NBC Universal, Paramount, Sony, Discover-Warner and Amazon.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Roku is reinvesting in — and bulking up — its originals lineup, announcing a new season of “The Great American Baking Show” and an unscripted comedy featuring singer-songwriter Charlie Puth among the shows coming to the Roku Channel. Notably, the content announcements at Roku’s 2023 NewFronts presentation — coming on Day One of the WGA writers strike — were unscripted/reality formats. Also at the event in New York Tuesday, the streaming platform unveiled a suite of new ad solutions, including sponsorships for its popular Roku City screensaver. The company announced that it has renewed reality competition series “The Great American Baking Show” for Season 2. The news came ahead of the premiere Friday, May 5, of the new six-episode run of the show featuring Paul Hollywood, Prue Leith, Ellie Kemper and Zach Cherry (pictured above, left) on the Roku Channel. “The Great American Baking Show,” produced by Love Productions USA, ran for five seasons on ABC as a spinoff of original hit “The Great British Baking Show” before it was picked up last year by Roku. The streaming company previously acquired U.S. rights to dozens of episodes in the “Great Baking Show” franchise for a FAST channel. Roku will also bring back the holiday special of “The Great American Baking Show,” which will feature all-new celebrity bakers and debut this upcoming holiday season.

Pete Davidson won’t have the chance to host Saturday Night Live, just yet.

Many of our favorite stars graced the 2023 Met Gala.

Leave it to Jenna Ortega to kill it with style.