admin When Hollywood’s most symmetrically-faced workforce reached a deal to end its 2023 strike, they not only secured better deals for actors in the streaming ecosystem, but kicked off a mad dash for major movies to resume production. The effects of the twin WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strikes weren’t necessarily felt in the moment, since many already-completed films and shows continued to be released, but work on upcoming projects stalled, leading to suspended productions and delayed release dates.
Most of the prominent films and shows affected by the strike are either superhero IP, acclaimed TV shows, or long-awaited sequels. These projects naturally have longer lead times, with release dates regularly set more than a year in advance. According to Deadline, movies ramping up production post-strike resolution include Gladiator 2 and Beetlejuice 2 (which, cruelly, was less than two days away from completion when things shut down), and sequels to Deadpool and Venom. New seasons of The White Lotus and Abbott Elementary are also underway.
Film and TV production can be incredibly fluid, but with the strikes resolved, let’s be optimistic and take the studios at their word. Below, GQ’s assembled the projected production and release dates (when available) for some of 2024’s most exciting releases.
Deadpool 3: The much-hyped third entry in Ryan Reynolds’ wisecracking superhero series was originally slated for release in May 2024, but had to suspend shooting due to the actor’s strike. With an agreement reached, Variety reported that production started again before Thanksgiving. Deadline confirmed a new release date of July 26, meaning the return of Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine will hit smack dab in the middle of summer blockbuster season. On November 20, Jackson intimated that shooting was imminent, posting a selfie on Instagram with the signature Wolverine facial hair (albeit more salt-and-peppery than we’ve seen in the past). “Sporting the chops can only mean one thing,” he wrote.
Beetlejuice 2: Fans of Tim Burton’s beloved 1988 supernatural comedy had to appreciate the humor here: After waiting more than three decades for a sequel, production was paused with two days of shooting left. (Burton told The Independent in September, “It is 99 percent done.”) Deadline reported that a return to production was imminent following the strike’s resolution, and it’s possible the film will still make its scheduled September 6 release date. The highly anticipated film returns Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and Michael Keaton from the original, while adding preeminent Gen Z scream queen Jenna Ortega to the Deetz family.
