The WGA Returns to Negotiations Aimed at Ending the Hollywood Strike
The Writers Guild of America has resumed talks with Hollywood studios in a bid to put an end to the ongoing work stoppage that has disrupted the entertainment industry for months. The goal is to reach a new collective bargaining agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the group that represents the major studios and streamers.
The discussions convened in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles and brought together top executives and union leaders. Attending the talks were Disney chief Bob Iger, Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, NBCUniversal chief Donna Langley, and Warner Bros. Discovery head David Zaslav. They joined AMPTP president Carol Lombardini and WGA chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman as the talks opened. Senior leaders from AMPTP member companies who had not previously been at the table began to participate more actively as the urgency of resolving the dispute grew on all sides.
According to trusted industry insiders cited by Deadline, the session proved to be a constructive start. Observers described the atmosphere as hopeful and noted meaningful progress on several sticking points. Neither side has issued an official public statement yet, but there is an expectation that negotiations will continue in the coming days as organizers try to bridge remaining gaps and forge a path toward a final agreement.
The current strike began in early May, with writers pressing for safer working conditions, clearer rules governing the use of artificial intelligence in script creation and other production processes, and fairer compensation terms known as residuals. The walkout quickly drew support from actors and other industry professionals, leading to a rare joint action that reflected broad concern about the changing economics of modern entertainment and the use of new technologies in content creation.
In August, AMPTP presented a fresh proposal to the WGA, which was not accepted by the guild’s membership. Since August, talks had paused as both sides prepared new positions to present at the negotiating table. As this latest round unfolds, the parties are prioritizing a resolution that can be widely supported across the industry while maintaining creative and financial stability for writers who fuel large portions of the entertainment calendar.
The strike has already impacted a number of film and television productions, delaying anticipated releases and reshaping the industry calendar. Some projects have faced postponements or shifts in scheduling, and major events tied to year-end programming have been affected as studios reassess production timelines and release strategies in light of the uncertainty surrounding residuals, AI usage, and work rules. Stakeholders are watching closely as the talks proceed, hoping for a comprehensive agreement that can restore steady production flows and provide long-sought protections for writers and other creative laborers across North America. This situation remains fluid, with ongoing discussions and the possibility of additional negotiations in the near term. [Source attribution: Deadline]