Neil Gaiman Offers Update on SANDMAN Season 2: "There Won't Be Scab Scripts on Sandman"
The writer’s strike in Hollywood is forcing studios, networks, and streaming services to make all kinds of hard decisions right now. Several film and TV projects have been put on hold, and some of the companies have even suspended deals that they made with writers and showrunners.
Before the strike, Netflix’s Sandman Season 2 was full steam ahead with the scripts written, casting underway, and sets being designed. Well, due to WGA strike, the project has been delayed, but we don’t know for how long.
During a recent post on Tumblr, Neil Gaiman makes it clear that he stands with the writers and that in no uncertain terms that "there won't be scab scripts on Sandman." This is the question that was asked:
"Sorry for the participating in the endless barrage of strike questions, but is it safe to assume that season 2 of sandman will be delayed until well after the strike is finished? i don't mind waiting for as long as it takes (i've been a fan since the 90s, a few more years is nothing). but i'd really hate to see netflix forge ahead with with scab scripts just to keep the numbers up."
Gaiman responded, saying:
"Whether or not any of Sandman is delayed depends on how long the strike goes. And there won't be scab scripts on Sandman."
If you don’t know what a "scab script" is, it’s a script that was produced for a Hollywood project during a writer's strike, therefore engaging in union-prohibited work and services. As you might imagine, if anyone crosses the picket line to work, the WGA members are quick to call people out.
Star Wars: Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy was recently accused of continuing his writing duties as Andor's showrunner after the strike deadline, but he defended himself, saying:
"I discontinued all writing and writing-related work on Andor prior to midnight, May 1. After being briefed on the Saturday showrunner meeting, I informed Chris Keyser at the WGA on Sunday morning that I would also be ceasing all non-writing producing functions."
I’m fine with projects being delayed until the WGA and studios are able to work things out. Some studios aren’t waiting though and moving ahead with projects without any writers on staff, which may very well cause issues for those projects in the long run.