The long-running writers’ strike in Hollywood is finally coming to an end, as the leaders of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) have signed off on a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). After almost five months of stalemate, the strike will officially end at midnight.
The WGA’s leadership voted unanimously to approve the new three-year deal with the AMPTP. Although the ratification vote is not scheduled until next week, it is expected to pass, allowing striking writers to start working on Hollywood productions as early as Wednesday.
One notable figure affected by the strike is Bill Maher, who had initially planned to bring his talk show back without writers but reversed course after the tentative deal was struck. Maher announced that his writers would be returning as soon as possible, and he will have a new episode of his HBO show airing on Friday.
The strike, which began on May 2, saw writers on the West and East Coasts fighting for fair wages and residuals, as well as requesting a crackdown on the use of AI by studios, transparency from streaming companies, and other important issues. The WGA and the AMPTP went back to the bargaining table, and after several days of negotiations, a tentative deal was reached over the weekend. The producers finally met most of the guild’s demands, leading to the breakthrough in the strike.
The new contract includes pay increases, limits on the use of AI, and more guaranteed jobs in writer rooms, among other provisions. While the strike’s resolution allows writers to resume their work, it does not mean that Hollywood productions will return to normal immediately. The actors in the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union are still on strike, fighting for their own fair deal.
In July, around 65,000 actors joined the writers on the picket lines, supporting many of the same issues. The strike has led to the suspension of several TV shows and movies, with numerous celebrities participating in the picket lines. However, until an agreement is reached between SAG-AFTRA and the studios, Hollywood will not fully reopen.
The end of the writers’ strike is a significant milestone in the entertainment industry. It allows talented writers to return to work and continue creating the content that audiences love. While there are still challenges to overcome with the actors’ strike, the resolution of the writers’ strike serves as a hopeful sign that fair deals can be reached through negotiation and collective action. The industry can now look forward to the resumption of production and the release of new and exciting content in the coming months.
