The Big Bang Theory fans may need to start worrying about the future of the show. The cast has been in contract negotiations, and apparently things are not going well. According to Deadline, Warner Bros. has canceled the table read for the first episode of Season 8, originally scheduled for Thursday, July 31.
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All five original cast members are apparently still without contracts, but are in continued negotiations.
“Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on The Big Bang Theory — which was originally scheduled to begin today — has been postponed,” Warner Bros. told Deadline in a statement.
Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are reportedly asking for $1 million an episode (or more) — the same amount paid to the Friends cast in their last season. Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik both negotiated contracts last fall, so are not included in these conversations.
“We’re feeling very confident that everything will work out,” CBS chief Nina Tassler said two weeks ago. “These deals manage to get done somehow miraculously year after year.”
The show recently re-upped with CBS for three more seasons, but with some big moments in the future — including a wedding between characters Leonard and Penny — there is plenty of material fans still want to see.
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There is no word if Tassler is still feeling as confident in the cast, two weeks later. But Deadline is reporting that the actors’ salary requests are not completely out of line, since the show is estimated to bring in up to $2 billion in profits and is one of the biggest assets for Warner Bros.
The Big Bang Theory is planning an hour-long season premiere on Sept. 22.
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