Apple TV+ 'Metropolis' latest casualty of writers' strike

Production for the upcoming Apple TV+ "Metropolis" adaptation has been permanently shut down, with insiders citing costs and the writers' strike as the cause.

Apple TV+ secured rights to a series adaptation of "Metropolis" in 2022 and production was set to begin in Australia soon. However, an ongoing writers' strike has created enough of an impact for Apple to back out of the project entirely.

According to Deadline, the "Metropolis" crew has been notified that production has been permanently shut down. Economic headwinds and the writers' strike were mentioned as reasons for the decision.

The show began seeing delays as soon as the strike began on May 2. Production drafts of the script, budgets, and casting hadn't finished at that point and were put on pause.

Delaying a production leads to a lot of unexpected costs. Filming was expected to begin within weeks, large sets had already been assembled, and VFX was already being planned — which means increasing costs over time to maintain the "ready" state.

The production studio, UCP, came to the conclusion that the risk of waiting and the increasing costs were too much. The studio notified Apple TV+ that production would be permanently shut down.

Show creator Sam Esmail, known for "Mr. Robot" has been trying to get "Metropolis" made for years. The eight-episode series was set to create nearly 4,000 jobs and dump millions into the local Australian economy.

The ongoing strike has caused problems for several Apple TV+ shows currently in production. Work on "Loot" season 2 is paused along with the new season of "Severance."

12 Comments

zimmie 651 comments · 9 Years

About 1 year ago

I was really looking forward to this one, but the strike is more important, without a doubt. Oh well. We can always hope they pick it up again in a few years.

greginprague 492 comments · 13 Years

zimmie said:

I was really looking forward to this one, but the strike is more important, without a doubt. Oh well. We can always hope they pick it up again in a few years.

Streaming services were already a thing in 2008 when they had the last writers strike and new contract. Can you please give a synopsis for those of us not in the industry with what writers think needs to change and why?

sunman42 296 comments · 12 Years

zimmie said:

I was really looking forward to this one, but the strike is more important, without a doubt. Oh well. We can always hope they pick it up again in a few years.

I guess I must be a stick in the mud or just an old curmudgeon, but I feel that the original is such an awesome, original work of art that any reimagination would have a very steep path to being nearly as good, much less better.

Maybe Mr. Esmail can develop another original idea, like Mr. Robot, that will be as memorable as that series.

Graeme000 42 comments · 4 Years

greginprague said:

zimmie said:

I was really looking forward to this one, but the strike is more important, without a doubt. Oh well. We can always hope they pick it up again in a few years.

Streaming services were already a thing in 2008 when they had the last writers strike and new contract. Can you please give a synopsis for those of us not in the industry with what writers think needs to change and why?

It mostly sounds like they’re not wanting to change with the times. There is a big complaint about a lack of royalties going to writers for steaming shows (whereas writers and some other rolls get a cheque every year when reruns play). However there are so many other jobs in film/tv-making that are just as important that don’t get the royalties and never have (most of post production for one). So many other rolls also have to work on multiple projects per year rather than working on 22 episode seasons year after year.

I do agree that without the royalties, it just means the studios and bigwigs are making more.

bobolicious 1174 comments · 10 Years

I consider Metropolis of epic merit, although might some say best left untouched...?
I keep asking if our digital ability might ever venerate such classics as Dante's Divine Comedy or Homer's Odyssey...?
Would we need a global non-profit crowd source option for that...?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdrS7HGNvbM