The Modern Family cast’s contracts are up for renewal, and this makes the show’s future uncertain.
Modern Family has been running for eight years on ABC, and the hugely successful family sitcom feels like it could go on forever.
But according to The Hollywood Reporter, 20th Century Fox has yet to begin contract negotiations with the series’ six leads (Sofia Vergara, Julie Bowen, Ty Burrell, Eric Stonestreet, Jessie Tyler Ferguson and Ed O’Neill), despite the fact that season 8 finishes filming on Friday.
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That means we enter hiatus uncertain about whether the show will get a ninth season, which is surprising considering that the series remains ABC’s top-rated show, and the no. 2 comedy on primetime television after The Big Bang Theory.
According to THR, the reason for the hold-up is “a fight between 20th TV and host network ABC over the cost of the long-running show.”
And the cost is certainly hefty: After banding together in season 4 to demand a pay raise, the stars are now said to make roughly $350,000 per episode each, and also get a cut of the series’ profit.
We shouldn’t be too worried yet though: THR’s quoted observers would be “shocked” if ABC and Fox don’t reach a deal to keep the stars on board to renew the series.
Star Eric Stonestreet said late last year in an interview with People that while he believes the series is “sort of in the twilight of the show,” he predicts that Modern Family still has one or two more seasons left in it before it’s time to wrap up.