Marvel Studios Prepared For Writers Guild Strike

The impending potential of the Writers Guild of America going on strike could have a vast and debilitating effect on some of the most highly anticipated movie and television productions. And though it’s ‘business as usual’ until it actually does take place, the looming negotiation deadlines could mean bad news for future Marvel, DC, and Star Wars films that currently have expected release dates.

But Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige has stated that the looming deadline caused the company to move up their own timeline, planning ahead for the potential writers strike so that their announced slate of films are unaffected.

While speaking at with TheWrap at a recent press junket for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Feige revealed that they anticipated the potential work stoppage and that it wouldn’t have a huge impact on their own production schedule.

“I think the whole industry will be affected,” Feige said, “but we’ve seen it coming for a while now, and yes it moved up deadlines.”

This week the WGA will attempt to finalize agreements for a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, but the group is also calling on its members to vote on whether to authorize a strike if an agreement is not made. WGA East and West leadership is encouraging members to vote to authorize the strike.

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Marvel’s schedule of movies for 2017 are all on their way near completion and in various stages of post-production, including Spider-Man: Homecoming and Thor: Ragnarok. Avengers: Infinity War and its sequel are currently in production and Black Panther just wrapped filming.

The current output sees at least three Marvel releases per year—with 2017 covered, two movies on track for release in 2018, and one for 2019. Ant-Man and the Wasp, scheduled to hit theaters in 2018, is set to begin filming later this year, and Captain Marvel and the Spider-Man sequel planned for release in 2019 as well.

It appears that Feige’s foresight put Marvel Studios in a good place for their current production schedule and the potential strike could be a reason why they’ve yet to announce the future beyond those films, outside of green lighting movies like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

The last writers’ strike lasted about three months between 2007 and 2008. Hopefully everyone can get back to work—and the writers get a fair deal to compensate them for their contributions—sooner than later.

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Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is written and directed by James Gunn and stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel, Bradley Cooper, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Pom Klementieff, Elizabeth Debicki, Chris Sullivan, Sean Gunn, Sylvester Stallone and Kurt Russell.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 opens in theaters on May 5, 2017.