WGA Reaches a Tentative Deal with Hollywood Studios to End Strike – The tentative new agreement between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike of 2023 and Hollywood studios aims to bring an end to the strike by writers. “We have reached a tentative agreement on a new 2023 MBA, which is to say an agreement in principle on all deal points, subject to drafting final contract language,” the guild told its members on Sunday.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional — with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the guild added. While specific details of the tentative agreement reached by the WGA have not been disclosed, the guild has announced in its statement that a summary will be provided ahead of the membership’s ratification votes.
People Also Read: Johnny Depp Stars in First Dior Sauvage Commercial Since Amber Heard Trial
The strike, which began on May 2, has endured for over 140 days, with the union representing writers in various entertainment mediums such as film, television, news, and online media staging pickets nationwide. Their demands encompassed improved compensation, staffing commitments, and employment duration, among other key issues.
The new agreement was negotiated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents major entities like Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, NBC Universal, Paramount, and Sony. These negotiations included both in-person meetings on Wednesday and virtual discussions on Sunday between the two parties.
During the work stoppage, which coincided with the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, the majority of Hollywood operations ground to a halt. Late-night shows immediately ceased airing once the WGA strike commenced, and numerous other movie and TV productions had to pause as there was no new content to film.
Prominent figures in Hollywood, such as Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of “Abbott Elementary,” the cast of “Parks and Recreation,” and Billy Crystal, were among those who actively participated in picketing. These ongoing strikes have led to widespread delays in the film and television industry, resulting in the cancellation of some projects.
People Also Read: Disney CEO Bob Iger Extends Contract for an Additional 2 Years
Interestingly, despite the strike, certain productions received special permission to continue filming, including “House of the Dragon” and Anne Hathaway’s film “Mother Mary.” In 2023, the union’s refusal to work was the first since 2007, when the WGA and AMPTP couldn’t agree on matters like DVD residuals. That strike lasted slightly over three months. The longest strike occurred in 1988, spanning 153 days, primarily due to disputes over hour-long show residuals and broader creative rights.