The ongoing Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is already affecting a first wave of productions, including the next season of Netflix blockbuster Stranger Things.

The Duffer Brothers paused production on the show’s fifth and final season on Saturday, announcing through Twitter that Stranger Things‘ creators stand with the WGA writers.

“Writing does not stop when filming begins,” they said. “While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work.”

The WGA began its strike action on May 2, after weeks of negotiations with entertainment giants such as Disney, Netflix and WBD. Studios have created a “gig economy” for writers, turning it into a freelance profession where there’s little job security, demanding more free work, and forcing writers to use AI, said the guild in a statement it released last week.

Stranger Things is the most significant production to be affected by the strike so far. Since debuting in 2016, it has become Netflix’s most-watched English-language series. Season four (pictured), which launched in summer 2022, racked up 1.35 billion viewing hours within the first month alone. Stranger Things is popular with kids and tweens as well; last year, it ranked as the favorite show of 12- to 16-year-olds in the UK, according to KidsKnowBest.