One Piece, Ginny & Georgia, and 8 Netflix shows most affected by the writers and actors strikes

When you come to love a television show, you don’t want to wait a long time for the next season. Unfortunately, Netflix shows have a longer wait time between seasons than most other networks or streamers, and in 2023, those wait times will be a bit longer for good reason.

In the summer of 2023, the entertainment industry came to an unprecedented standstill due to both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The writers’ strike halted all writing duties for union members, causing most shows to stop production, and the actors’ strike precluded actors from working on new or current projects as well as promoting them.

Rightfully so, those who work hard in front of the camera and behind the scenes have been fighting for fair wages, for actors and writers whose names we do and don’t know, and preventing other potentially unjust practices, such as artificial intelligence. Because of the ongoing strikes as of August 2023, some of the biggest Netflix shows have been affected.

Netflix shows delayed by the strikes

For those wondering which Netflix shows have been impacted the most in the wake of the ongoing strikes, we’re sharing five fan favorites that have been delayed, beginning with One Piece.

One Piece season 2 strike delay

After its massive premiere in August 2023, One Piece delivered amazing viewership numbers as fans around the world binge-watched the live-action series adaptation. Two weeks following its debut, Netflix officially announced that One Piece season 2 was renewed. Days prior to the renewal, it had been revealed that scripts for season 2 had already been finished, and the follow-up season could be released about a year to 18 months after filming gets underway. Unfortunately, that translates to a release in late 2024 or sometime in 2025 with the strike delay.

Ginny & Georgia season 3 strike delay

As beloved as Ginny & Georgia might be by its adoring fandom, the mother-daughter dramedy sure has some unfortunate luck when it comes to timing. Fans had to wait nearly two years for season 2 to be released after season 1, and history is looking to repeat itself for season 3 thanks to the strikes. Netflix renewed Ginny & Georgia for a third and fourth season, but don’t expect to be watching new episodes much before late 2024 or early 2025 at this point.

The Diplomat season 2 strike delay

The Keri Russell-led political drama The Diplomat premiered in April 2023 and quickly became a new fan-favorite series. Hot off its critically acclaim and viewership success, Netflix renewed the series for a second season, and production got started in June 2023 in London. However, filming paused due to the strikes. The Diplomat season 2 had a bit of a head start, which means filming can pick right back up when the strikes are resolved. Hopefully, that means the new season will still be able to drop sometime in 2024, though the release date could be a little later now.

Emily in Paris season 4 strike delay

Since its debut in 2020, Emily in Paris has dropped a new season on Netflix at the end of each consecutive year, but season 4 won’t arrive in 2023. Writing began on the season earlier this year for a production start at the end of the summer, but the writers’ strike pushed production to October. The actors’ strike then made that fall filming start impossible. Currently, it’s unknown when Emily in Paris season 4 could end up on our screens, but summer or fall 2024 seems like a safe bet.

Stranger Things season 5 strike delay

Because of the sizable gaps between seasons 2 and 3, and then seasons 3 and 4, Stranger Things has become something of an easy target for jokes about the cast aging out of their characters. Even though the fifth and final season planned to arrive less than two years between seasons this time around, you know what they say when you make plans. Although it seems the bulk of the writing has been completed, season 5 planned to film in summer 2023 and has now been paused until the strikes resolve.

Cobra Kai season 6 strike delay

Fortunately, Cobra Kai fans never had to wait very long for new seasons. Netflix technically released two seasons in 2021 — season 3 on New Year’s Day and season 4 on New Year’s Eve. But the sixth and final season has been delayed by both strikes. The writers had been working on the scripts for the final episodes for a production start in May 2023, but both strikes hit in succession, making it impossible for Cobra Kai season 6 to premiere much sooner than sometime in 2024.

Wednesday season 2 strike delay

There’s no doubt that Wednesday was one of the biggest new Netflix shows of 2022, earning huge numbers and Emmy nominations. But the studios failing to compromise with actors and writers on a new, fair deal will prevent the series’ second season from premiering in 2023. Writing on Wednesday season 2 began early this spring prior to the writers’ strike, with production likely to have commenced sometime by the end of the year. However, it’s anyone’s guess how long the follow-up season could be delayed now.

The Night Agent season 2 strike delay

Another debut hit caught in the crossfire of corporate greed, The Night Agent was far and away an unexpected and triumphant success for Netflix in 2023, so much so that season 2 was ordered five days after its premiere and the writers got back in the room very shortly after. Just as writing was getting into the thick of it, the writers’ strike hit. Netflix likely aimed to have The Night Agent season 2 out within a year, but we could be waiting until well into 2024 for Peter Sutherland’s next mission. The wait will be worth it so long as actors and writers earn a fair deal.

Which of these Netflix shows are you most looking forward to returning?