A TV show can take years to film and cast and crew become like family. But even families fight sometimes.
Whether it’s co-stars not getting along or executive producers getting into big arguments, it seems that every show has some drama behind the scenes. Here are seven dark stories you probably didn’t know about your favourite shows.
1. The Making of The Walking Dead
Creating a TV show is a complicated and time-consuming process. So, it’s no surprise that sometimes things aren’t so smooth on the set. From co-stars not getting along to showrunners disagreeing with the network, there are a lot of different issues that can pop up on set. We’ve rounded up seven dark behind-the-scenes stories from some of your favourite TV shows that will make you look at them in a whole new light.
The Walking Dead was a surprise hit when it first premiered in 2010. However, it wasn’t the industry-shifting smash that many expected. It took a little while for the series to find its footing and then it became a bona fide hit. So, it should come as no surprise that there was a fair amount of drama between the producers and the writers. Showrunner Frank Darabont was reportedly upset with the original writers and he planned to fire them. Then, there was Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai Written Update in season two where actor Andrew Lincoln fell off a balcony and was left with severe injuries.
This incident was reportedly because of an error made by the safety team. The crew didn’t have an ambulance on set so it took a long time for an ambulance to arrive. Also, there wasn’t enough padding in place for the fall. The safety team has since apologized for the error.
The Walking Dead has spawned spinoffs that will continue the story of Rick Grimes and Michonne. There’s also a limited series that will take place a decade into the zombie apocalypse. It’s not clear yet if this will be part of the main narrative. However, it will shed more light on the Civic Republic military group who captured Rick in season nine of TWD.
2. The Making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Creating a TV show is a high-pressure and intense industry. The cast and crew spend long days together in close proximity, relying on each other to create the best product possible. Sometimes, that reliance can lead to conflict.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens brought back the luster to the franchise, a welcome relief after the ghastly prequel trilogy and a rebooted sequel that felt like a remake of Revenge of the Sith. The film had its problems, but it was still a good start to a new trilogy and fans were excited to see the return of old favorite characters.
Unfortunately, many of them were disappointed. There was little new or fresh about the storyline, and the dialogue fell flat. The acting wasn’t all that either, though Harrison Ford did a decent job as Han Solo. The real disappointment came from the villains and their overall unconvincing nature. The film did have one good baddie in Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie, who was a formidable opponent with her chrome armor and imposing height. However, the other baddies ranged from mediocre to bafflingly timid.
For example, the Supreme Leader Snoke was played by Andy Serkis and was supposed to be a menacing villain, but at times he looked more like Palpatine from The Empire Strikes Back with snazzier graphics. And Kylo Ren, well, he was just pitiful. His gormless expression and long hair may make him look a wetter, less capable version of Prince Caspian from The Chronicles of Narnia.
3. The Making of Game of Thrones
The world of television can be a tense place. The cast and crew work long hours in close proximity, relying on each other to produce the best product possible. This can lead to drama among the cast and crew, from the actors themselves to the make-up artists. Some television shows manage to keep their stars and crew on the same page throughout filming, but others experience some serious rifts.
Game of Thrones is one such show that has experienced a fair share of behind-the-scenes drama. The HBO series is based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire book series and was adapted for television by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. The show’s storyline is a battle for power between several noble families and an ancient enemy who has returned. The show’s themes of honor, revenge and redemption are layered with issues of sexuality, incest and avaricious bankers.
Although the show has only been running for a few seasons, it has already progressed through the books that inspired it. Martin has yet to finish writing the final two novels in his series, but fans are worried that Game of Thrones could reveal the end before he does.
The main storyline of Game of Thrones takes place in the North at a massive ice structure called the Wall, which protects the southern lands from the “wildling” humans and supernatural creatures that live beyond it. The illegitimate son of Ned Stark, Jon Snow, enlists with the Night’s Watch, the small army stationed at the Wall to protect Westeros from these threats. The series explores their adventures and the many battles they must face.
4. The Making of Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Almost half a century after the first Star Wars film changed cinema forever, the franchise is stronger than ever. The Mandalorian has just wrapped up its third season on Disney+, and there are several new films in the works, including James Mangold’s untitled Rogue One prequel, Dave Feloni’s Solo sequel, and Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode IX—The Rise of Skywalker. It can be hard to keep up with the many facets of the universe, especially if you’re navigating a complicated family tree and faction cycles spanning two trilogies and ancillary material of debatable canon.
The original trilogy of George Lucas films centers around the Force, an all-pervasive spiritual essence that balances good and evil. The series introduces benevolent Jedi Knights and malevolent Sith Lords, whose struggle over the galaxy is played out in fleet light-saber duels and sweeping space battles. Episodes IV, V, and VI take place during the Galactic Civil War, a long conflict that leads to the Empire’s downfall at the hands of the Rebel Alliance.
The films follow the search for Leia, Princess of Alderaan and the Resistance leader, by her brother Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill). Their enemy is the dictatorial First Order, a dark-side successor to the Empire led by the sinister Snoke (created by Andy Serkis and boasting an insinuating sneer) and the impetuous Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). The movies use various locations to create the fictional world, with indoor scenes filmed at Leavesden Film Studios in Hertfordshire, England. Outdoor ice planet Hoth was shot in Finse, Norway, while the desert of Tatooine was filmed in Yuma, Arizona, and Tunisia. The filmmakers also employ a variety of effects to make the world seem more real, including green screen, rotoscope, and matte paintings.
5. The Making of Stranger Things
If you’ve watched a lot of TV, you know that most long-running shows tend to have drama behind the scenes. After all, when you spend years working closely with the same people it’s only natural that some tension may arise. In some cases, that drama can be good and even inspire the show to do things in new or exciting ways. In other cases, however, it can be a real drag on the quality of the finished product.
For example, Fox’s Mulder and Scully had incredible chemistry on screen but not always got along offscreen. That’s because David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson often got under each other’s skin on set. The same can be said for many other TV shows, and the problems aren’t just limited to stars. There are plenty of other types of people that can cause drama on the set of a television show, from diva directors to annoying co-stars.
It seems that the Duffer brothers were having some trouble behind the scenes of Stranger Things too, but it’s not clear if this will affect production of the fifth and final season of the hit show. It started when the Writers Guild of America went on strike to demand fairer pay for its members, particularly in the streaming era. The Duffer brothers have publicly supported the strike, and they’ve promised that production will not begin on the new season until a fair deal is reached.
It’s still unclear if and when the new season of Stranger Things will premiere, but it seems likely that Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Sadie Sink, and the rest of the cast will return for the last chapter in the Hawkins story.