Production on the next season of The Big Bang Theory will be delayed due to ongoing contract negotiations with the principal cast, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Warner Bros. is still trying to work out contracts for stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar. The stars will not show up to work on the show’s eighth season until a deal is hammered out.
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“Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production onThe Big Bang Theory — which was originally scheduled to begin today — has been postponed,” WBTV said in a statement.
Just how long production is expected to be delayed is still unclear. The first table reading of the season was planned for today.
The report states that WBTV was caught off guard by the actors’ refusal to show to work. Galecki, Parson, and Cuoco are said to be negotiating jointly and seeking a significant pay increase. They currently make $325,000 per episode, and are looking to bring their rate up to $1 million per episode plus a portion out of the show’s back-end. Helberg and Nayyar are are also negotiating together and seeking a sizable pay increase.
The cast has a lot going in their favor in this negotiation. The Big Bang Theory is the top comedy on television and just received a three-season renewal from CBS. However, that renewal is contingent on the cast returning, meaning that there is the possibility of the show being cancelled if a deal isn’t struck.
Negotiations have been ongoing since last September.
The Big Bang Theory is schedule for a one-hour Season 8 premiere on September 22.
