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It's called force majeure: after a certain amount of time with neither side acting on a contract through no fault of their own, either party can cancel a deal. As the American writers' strike continues, US TV studios have begun axing dozens of key deals with star names, including Hugh Jackman and his production company.
This is "development season", the time of year when companies are usually developing new projects for shows intended to air from next September - and the projects should be well under way. "We believed there was still hope for a quick resolution over the holiday season," an unnamed studio executive told Variety. "But the strike has dragged on and on. Even if there is a resolution in the next few months, the rest of the season is already screwed up."
Jackman is perhaps the best-known name to be affected because of his profile as an actor, but overall almost 75 deals have been cancelled. An agent, also unnamed, told Variety: "There are some great pieces of talent who've been cut, people affiliated with shows that are now going to be [free agents]. When it's over, it's going to be an absolute free-for-all."
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Hugh Jackman deal axed
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