In Los Angeles, it’s a big relief. After five months of impasse, the screenwriters’ union announced Sunday evening the conclusion of an agreement in principle with the studios on an increase in salaries, which should make it possible to put an end to one of the longest strikes in the history of ‘Hollywood in the coming days. But if activity will resume in the writing rooms, and evening talk shows could return during the week, the filming of films and series will remain disrupted by the actors’ strike.
Is the writers’ strike over?
Not completely. The agreement in principle announced by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) must still be finalized in writing, then ratified by the union’s 11,500 members in the coming days. A vote could even take place as early as Tuesday. In the meantime, the WGA announced that it would suspend official demonstrations in front of Hollywood studios but encouraged its members to continue to support the actors’ movement on a personal level.
What progress have the screenwriters achieved?
Details have not yet been announced. A trade unionist explains to 20 minutes that no one is allowed to speak until the deal has been finalized. The WGA spoke of an “exceptional” agreement and “significant gains” on remuneration. The union also demanded safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence to write scenarios.
Which programs will return first?
Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel or even Jimmy Fallon… Evening talk shows (“late night television”) should be able to return to the air during the week. The screenwriters in fact work on a daily basis, and the animators do not depend on the collective agreement of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA.
Will the actors’ strike end soon?
The two movements are separate, and there is no indication that an outcome is near for the actors, on strike since July 14. This means that most films and TV series will not be able to resume filming at this time. If the demands are similar, there are 160,000 members of the SAG-AFTRA union, compared to 11,500 for screenwriters.
What impact did the double strike have?
California’s economy has already lost an estimated $5 billion. Hit HBO series have been postponed until 2025, like new seasons ofEuphoria, House of Dragon Or The White Lotus. At Netflix, Stranger Things And Emily in Paris no longer have a date. In the cinema, films already completed, such as the second part of Dune, have been postponed by several months, because the strike prevents the actors from doing promotion. Blockbusters whose filming had not yet started were postponed by a year, notably Avatar 3 (December 2025) or Avengers: The Kang Dynasty (2026).