‘Big Bang Theory’ Production Delayed: Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco Ready To Walk?
The Big Bang Theory cast has not started filming the new season of the show because contract negotiations are still ongoing. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar have not yet inked a deal (they have reportedly asked for $1 million each per episode) with Warner Bros. The cast was supposed to be on set today for their first official day of Season 8. Warner Bros. TV has released a statement confirming that production has been postponed.
“Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on ‘The Big Bang Theory’ — which was originally scheduled to begin today — has been postponed”
The Big Bang Theory cast was supposed to do their first table read today, and filming was slated to begin very soon. It is unclear how close the actors are to reaching an agreement with Warner Bros., but it is clear that no one will be returning to work without a contact deal in place… signed and sealed. This, of course, could take several more weeks, and putting production off could mean even bigger problems for the production company.
After CBS renewed the show for three seasons in the fall of 2013, many of the actors on the show started renegotiating their contracts. Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch reached new deals fairly quickly, but the rest of the main cast members have been in talks with the higher ups since September.
The show’s co-creator and executive producer, Chuck Lorre, doesn’t seem too worried about things though.
“There are people at Warner Bros. Television and people representing the actors who have done this before. This will work itself out. I think it’s great; I want them all to be crazy wealthy because nobody deserves it more than this cast. It’ll work out.”
Lorre isn’t the only one who thinks The Big Bang Theory cast will be a-okay. According to E! News, CBS boss Nina Tassler said that these sort of things happen all the time, and a deal is likely not too far off.
“We’re feeling very confident that everything will work out. These deals manage to get done miraculously somehow year after year.”
As The Inquisitr previously reported, there have been some rumors that TBBT actors might be willing to leave the show if they don’t get what they want. Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco have both had their names on the “ready to walk” list for weeks. It seems clear that neither of them want to leave the show, but they also don’t want to feel like their requests are being swept under the rug.
Do you think The Big Bang Theory cast will ink deals soon? Do they deserve $1 million per episode for the next three years?
[Photo courtesy of CBS via THR]
