Hollywood has reached an exit from the long-running dispute. After months of negotiations, the Writers Guild of America members returned to work as studios and platforms agreed on a new contract. The ratification vote began on Monday and continued through the week, with the union and the alliance of studios publicly confirming the deal. In California, writers started resuming long-postponed shifts soon after the agreements were approved by the governing boards. The deal now comes with broad support across the Writers Guilds in both the West and the East, signaling a stable path forward for the industry over the next three years.
The agreement outlines several key gains and clarifications that capture the spirit of a successful mobilization by writers. A unified sense of purpose across the membership is reflected in the seven-page summary that highlights the major wins, supporting the stated goals of those who organized the industrial action.
Payments, governance and artificial intelligence
The contract introduces a wage increase schedule: 5 percent in the first year, 4 percent in the second year, and 3.5 percent in the third. Studios will also share more precise data about how much time audiences spend with streaming content, ending months of information gaps that left writers in the dark about audience engagement.
Writers will receive new incentives tied to the performance of their shows, including extra compensation when a program attracts a sizable share of national viewership in its early release window. The deal also addresses licensing concerns, with notable uplift in international distribution revenues for certain titles. For instance, a show formerly billed at a fixed streaming fee will see adjusted compensation for international display rights as demand grows.
On staffing and production, the agreement sets clear rules for writer involvement in ongoing and new projects. For projects under development, there will be a minimum writer presence. When a program is produced with a team of three or more writers, at least three writer-producers must participate and have a guaranteed minimum commitment. For shows already greenlit but lacking full-season writing coverage, guarantees evolve to ensure three writers for shorter runs and up to six writers for longer, multi-season arcs, depending on the episode count.
Artificial intelligence remains a focal point. The pact prohibits the use of AI to rewrite existing material but does permit writers to use AI as a tool for brainstorming or drafting under their own control. Studios must disclose when material is generated entirely or partly by AI, though writers are not obliged to accept such input. Writers hope these terms will keep the creative process secure while embracing new technologies and productivity tools.
Meredith Stiehm, president of the Western branch of the WGA, described the agreement as a strong win in an interview with a major publication. She noted the deal’s value as substantial for the industry, underscoring a broader acceptance of fair compensation and transparent collaboration. The union’s leadership regards the settlement as a pivotal moment that can guide producers, platforms, and talent toward more stable, sustainable collaboration in the years ahead.