Will Stranger Things 5 Be Delayed Again Amid Teamsters Strike?

August 5, 2024

The production of the final season of Stranger Things was delayed due to multiple strikes last year. Now it appears fans might face another setback, as the show could be delayed even further.

The original production for Stranger Things season 5 was scheduled to begin in June 2023. It was delayed due to the Writers Guild Association strike. Subsequently, the actors’ union also went on strike, affecting numerous shows and movies. Both strikes were resolved in October 2023, and work on season 5 began immediately thereafter.

Teamsters Strike Could Dealy Season 5

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Now, there seems to be another hurdle for Stranger Things in the form of the Teamsters strike. For those who don’t know, the Teamsters is a union representing drivers, location managers, electricians, chef assistants, animal wranglers, and more. They have threatened to go on strike unless their demands are met by Hollywood studios.

The Teamsters have set July 31st as the final deadline for reaching an agreement with Hollywood studios. If an agreement is not reached by then, they will go on strike. If this happens, virtually all Hollywood productions including Stranger Things would be shut down.

While post-production work could continue, physical production would not be possible, as it entirely depends on truck drivers and basic crafts individuals. With only a few days left before the Teamsters’ final deadline, there is growing concern that the production of Stranger Things will be delayed again if the strike occurs.

Netflix Pushing Production Pace of Season 5

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The producers of Stranger Things are fully aware of the potential strike and are accelerating the production pace to mitigate any further delays. Despite facing terrible weather conditions in Atlanta yesterday, they decided to continue filming, driven by the urgency to complete as much as possible before the possible strike.

If the strike continues for an extended period (though this seems unlikely), we hope that the production will have at least filmed the first two episodes of season 5. As the post-production will continue, these episodes could potentially be ready for release soon.

Some of the Teamsters’ demands include higher wages for workers, creating minimum wages for department heads, improved working conditions including more holidays and more overtime penalties, and more contributions to the union’s pension and health plan.

Lead negotiator Lindsay Dougherty has said, “I want to be clear; we aren’t looking for a strike, we’re fighting for a fair deal for our members. We won’t, however, bargain against ourselves, we won’t be intimidated to take our priorities off the table, and we won’t be taking any concessions.”

Stranger Things fans will be hoping that Hollywood studios reach a deal with the Teamsters soon, allowing production of Season 5 to continue smoothly without further interruptions.