How the Hollywood strike is scrambling film, TV schedules into next summer

investing.com:

By Dawn Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Santa Claus will not be coming to Hollywood this year.

“Dear Santa,” a comedy by the Farrelly brothers about a young boy who accidentally sends a letter to Satan instead of Santa, will not reach theaters this holiday season, one of many victims of a prolonged actors’ strike that has set the U.S. entertainment industry reeling from one of the longest work stoppages in its history.

The strike, which has entered its 14th week, is scrambling next year’s film slate and delaying the return of primetime television comedies and dramas.

While film and television writers have ended their 148-day work stoppage, talks between actors and studios broke down last week and both sides said they remain far apart on many issues with no negotiations scheduled.

Major releases such as “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part 2,” “Gladiator 2” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife 2” have been delayed because of the walkout, as was “Bob Marley: One Love,” a biopic about the reggae musician that was receiving early Oscar buzz. Other films, such as the romantic comedy, “Anybody But You,” cling tenuously to the December release calendar, but could be postponed if its stars remain on strike and unavailable to help with promotion, sources with direct knowledge told Reuters.

“The whole release calendar is going to be tossed around,” said one studio executive, who identified two major movies and an animated sequel with release plans that have been tossed into the wind. “The whole thing is a giant Rubik’s Cube.”

One film financier shifted investment strategies as Hollywood’s work stoppage stalled several big-budget studio projects, backing productions outside of North America instead, including