AMC Strikes Deal With SAG-AFTRA For Walking Dead Spin-Offs And Interview With The Vampire
With no end in sight to the ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strikes, studios and networks are getting desperate. Case in point, AMC has managed to strike an agreement with SAG-AFTRA that will allow for several of the network's shows to continue filming even as the standoff continues between the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) and the guilds continues. A couple of "Walking Dead" spin-offs and the second season of "Interview with the Vampire" are now set to resume production. While it's not the interim agreement to be agreed for certain productions, these are the highest-profile TV shows to be given waivers thus far.
According to Deadline, the agreements between AMC and SAG-AFTRA specifically cover "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon," "The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live," and "Interview with the Vampire" season 2. This is not a blanket agreement and does not cover any of the network's other shows. Rather crucially, the report notes that "AMC Networks is a member of the AMPTP but is not among the studios involved in the negotiations." With negotiations stalled, AMC decided to get creative.
Several other movies and TV shows, such as the faith-based series "The Chosen" and Rebel Wilson's "Bride Hard," have also been granted waivers by SAG. However, none of them have been quite as big as something connected to "The Walking Dead" universe, or the growing universe of Anne Rice shows on AMC, which also includes "Mayfair Witches." Meanwhile, the AMPTP — which includes Disney, Netflix, Amazon, Warner Bros. Discovery, Apple, Universal, Sony, and Paramount, among others — has made little progress in securing deals with the WGA or SAG-AFTRA. As AMC is not in on the negotiations, the network is mostly powerless to move the needle in a more meaningful way.
The undead are getting restless
The WGA has been on strike since the beginning of May, while SAG-AFTRA went on strike in mid-July. There are a number of issues at the heart of the strikes, including a revamp of residuals as the industry relies more heavily on streaming. Writers and actors want increased residuals and more transparency with viewership, but the AMPTP seems mostly unwilling to budge. AI has also been a central issue, with writers and actors seeking to protect themselves and their work from the controversial, emerging technology. Again, the studios seem unwilling to concede meaningfully in that area.
With productions almost completely shut down all across Hollywood, studios, networks, and streamers will feel the sting more and more as the strikes drag on. Several high-profile movies including "Dune: Part Two" have already been delayed since actors can't currently promote their work. Networks like AMC, meanwhile, have to worry about their schedules in 2024. If shows can't get back into production, they will have nothing new to release. The frustration will mount, and the bottom line will be hit. But of course, that's the point.
Norman Reedus returns in "Daryl Dixon," which will focus on his character in the aftermath of "The Walking Dead" series finale. "The Ones Who Live" will bring back Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira as Rick and Michone, respectively, to wrap up their storylines. Plot details for "Interview with the Vampire" season 2 remain under wraps for the time being.
"The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon" season 1 premieres September 10, 2023 on AMC. Both "The Ones Who Live" and "Interview with the Vampire" are expected to arrive sometime in 2024.