The initial filming for Big Bang Theory Season 8 should have started already, but has been halted since all its lead characters, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting, Kanal Nayyar and Simon Halberg, still don't have renewed contracts.

According to reports, the stars are wishing for higher salaries, especially after a successful Season 7.

It is possible that the stars are aiming for a "Friends salary," when cast members of Friends were bagging as much as $1 million per episode.

Warner Bros. released a statement regarding the delay in production, assuring fans that the show will be back on its feet once the contracts are finalized.

"Due to ongoing contract negotiations, production on The Big Bang Theory—which was originally scheduled to begin today—has been postponed," Warner Brothers said in the statement, as reported by E! Online.

CBS boss Nina Tassler commented on the contract standoff during the 2014 TCA Summer Press Tour, and is confident that the stars and the network will come to an agreement not far from now.

"We're feeling very confident that everything will work out," said Tassler.

"These deals manage to get done miraculously somehow year after year," the network executive continued.

Series creator Chuck Lorre believes in the hard work of these stars, and said that the standoff will be "fine."

"Warner Brothers has done this before. Everybody should be very successful and happy and rich. They earned it. It's a great cast. Great cast. It's their time," Lorre said earlier this month in an E! Online report.