According to Deadline, HBO Max/Universal TV’s hit comedy series Hacks has halted the filming of season three due to the Writers Guild of America strike. Sources of Deadline report that production will remain paused for the duration of the writer’s work stoppage.

WGA rules state that members cannot provide any writing services while the strike is going on, according to Deadline. It is difficult for a scripted series to shoot without the writing showrunners on set.

In a response to Deadline on Twitter, series creator and showrunner Jen Statsky (Broad City, The Good Place) wrote, “We are devastated to not be with our incredible crew and cast right now, but there was no other option here,” she said. “Writing happens at every stage of the process – production and post included. It’s what makes shows and movies good. It’s what makes them possible.” The tweet can be viewed below.

Along with Statsky, Hacks is also created and showrun by Paul W. Downs (How It Ends, Like Father) and Lucia Aniello (Rough Night, Time Traveling Bong). It stars Jean Smart (Babylon, Designing Women), Hannah Einbinder (North Hollywood, I Might Be Famous), Jane Adams (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Happiness), Carl Clemons-Hopkins (Candyman, Canal Street), Kaitlin Olson (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Mick), Johnny Sibilly (Femme, Pose), Ally Maki (The Big Door Rise, Wrecked), Christopher McDonald (The Watcher, Happy Gilmore), Angela E. Gibbs (Not Dead Yet, Finding Happy), Lorenza Izzo (Feed the Beast, Panhandle), Poppy Liu (Dead Ringers, Tales of the Walking Dead), Joe Mande (The Good Place, Parks and Recreation), Meg Stalter (Cora Bora, Snack vs. Chef), and Luenell (School Dance, That’s My Boy).

The series is produced by Universal Television and is executive produced by Downs and Aniello through their Paulilu banner, Statsky through First Thought Productions, David Miner (30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine) through 3 Arts Entertainment, Michael Schur (The Office, Rutherford Falls) through Fremulon, and Morgan Sackett (Moxie, Wine Country).

Hacks was first released on HBO Max on May 13, 2021 and follows Deborah Vance, an aging comedian played by Smart, and Ava Daniels, an up-and-coming writer played by Einbinder, as Ava and Deborah write together.

We are devastated to not be with our incredible crew and cast right now, but there was no other option here. Writing happens at every stage of the process – production and post included. It’s what makes shows and movies good. It’s what makes them possible. #wgastrong https://t.co/aU8QqUDEwu

— Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) May 5, 2023