Striking writers in Hollywood have announced that they have reached a deal with studios, potentially bringing an end to the strike. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) sent a letter to its members stating that a tentative agreement has been reached on a new minimum basic agreement, subject to final contract language. The details of the agreement were not provided in the letter, but the WGA confirmed that the deal includes significant gains and protections for writers across various sectors. However, production will not resume until authorized by the guild, and the strike will continue until then.
The strike, which started in May, has resulted in thousands of film and television writers picketing outside offices, including Netflix and Disney. Negotiations had been stagnant until recently, when there was a renewed sense of urgency with top executives from Netflix, Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros Discovery personally attending the talks. The writers’ demands include better pay, increased residuals for hit shows, and protection from AI replacing them in future projects.
While the deal with the writers may bring some progress, the actors’ strike, which started in July, is ongoing. There have been no contract talks between the studios and the 160,000-strong SAG-AFTRA guild representing actors. However, insiders suggest that a resolution to the writers’ strike could potentially help pave the way for a resolution to the actors’ strike, as both unions share similar demands.
The current strike has had a significant impact on the entertainment industry, with its cost estimated at $5 billion according to Milken Institute research. The previous writers’ strike in 2007-08 lasted 100 days and cost the California economy $2.1 billion.
