Union leaders representing Hollywood screenwriters, after several negotiation attempts, have reached a tentative agreement with studios, ending a nearly five-month-long strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced the deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after five marathon days of negotiations.
However, the strike by actors is ongoing.
The strike, which began in May, saw approximately 11,500 WGA members walk off their jobs, affecting late-night talk shows and scripted productions, including popular series like Stranger Things and films like Deadpool 3.
The Emmy Awards were also rescheduled.
As per the sources, the terms of the agreement have not been disclosed yet. The deal must be approved by the WGA’s board and members before officially ending the strike.
Hollywood Actors Still on Strike
While writers might soon return to work, negotiations between studios and striking actors have not resumed. The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) congratulated WGA on their agreement but emphasized their commitment to securing favorable terms for actors.
The strike began over issues of pay, the size of the writing staff, and the use of artificial intelligence in script creation. In a unique move, actors joined the strike in July, making it the first time both groups went on strike together since 1960.
It is important to note that the majority of the Americans actually backed the strike and this is what led to a strong resistance against studios.
This development comes after talks between Hollywood executives, including those from Disney, Netflix, Warner Bros. Discovery, and NBCUniversal, resumed without the need for federal mediators or government intervention.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Gov. Gavin Newsom praised the agreement and expressed hope for a resolution with actors soon.
The strike has marked a pivotal moment in Hollywood, highlighting the evolving landscape shaped by streaming services and the emergence of artificial intelligence in content creation.
With the tentative end of the writers’ strike, late-night talk shows and other productions are expected to resume, while actors continue their efforts to secure a favorable deal.
