Production is poised to resume on major film projects after a lengthy standstill caused by the Hollywood actors’ strike. The pause affected projects including Deadpool 3, Beetlejuice 2, and Gladiator 2, with union members and studios working toward an agreement after 118 days on the picket line. The extended walkout, rooted in demands for better working conditions and fair compensation, finally began to ease in the early hours of Thursday morning as studios prepared to restart sets and schedules.
The interruption affected hundreds of audiovisual productions as writers were on strike from May 2 to September 27 and actors from July 14 to November 9. The goal from performers and writers was clear: studios should undertake studies and reforms to improve conditions on set, including hours, residuals, and protections for creative professionals across the industry.
Hollywood actors’ strike ends after 118 days
Industry insiders cited Deadline as the primary source outlining which productions could resume in the coming days. Among the projects expected to restart are Deadpool 3, with Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman returning to the screen, and Beetlejuice 2, directed by Tim Burton, which was already more than halfway completed when filming halted just two days before the planned restart. The return of the Marvel feature directed by Shawn Levy is anticipated for a summer 2024 premiere, while Burton’s Beetlejuice installment is slated for September 6, 2024. These timelines reflect a broader push to salvage the current film slate and protect the television season ahead of next year’s schedules.
The resolution of the strike is viewed as a relief by studio executives, who had stressed the need for a timely agreement to stabilize production calendars. Industry leaders emphasized that resolving the dispute would help keep the television season on track and provide a smoother path for upcoming cinematic releases into the following year.
Projected productions include Gladiator 2 from director Paul Mescal with Clint Eastwood among the cast, as well as a project described as Jury No. 2, an unofficial Formula 1-themed film starring Brad Pitt. A separate adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us will continue filming, advancing a project that had been in progress prior to the walkout. In addition, films such as Minecraft from Warner Bros, featuring Jason Momoa, and Lionsgate’s Good Fortune plus Disney’s Tron 3, directed by Aziz Ansari and featuring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen, are expected to resume only later in the year as schedules are aligned and production resources are secured.
Historically, the strike marked the first collaborative walkout by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America (WGA in six decades). The disruption left a deep impact on the entertainment economy, with industry observers noting a significant financial toll and substantial job losses across California. Estimates attributed the economic effect to billions in lost output and tens of thousands of workers affected as productions paused and reorganized in the absence of a definitive agreement.
Ultimately, the industry’s return to production signals a broader effort to restore momentum across both film and television projects. Studios and unions alike expressed a cautious optimism that renewed dialogue and formal terms could sustain momentum through the upcoming shooting schedule and into the next year, preserving opportunities for creative teams while safeguarding workers’ rights and compensation.