Historic Hollywood Writers Strike Nears Resolution, While Actors Await Their Turn

September, 2023 — A landmark moment for Hollywood is on the horizon as union leaders and key Hollywood studios have achieved a preliminary agreement to conclude the industry-altering screenwriters strike that has persisted for nearly five months. However, the striking actors remain in limbo, with their negotiations still pending.

This tentative three-year contract, hashed out during five intense days of discussions between the Writers Guild of America and a coalition of studios, streaming platforms, and production houses, stands to be ratified by the guild’s board and its members. Only upon their approval can the strike officially conclude.

While the detailed specifics of the agreement remain undisclosed, history might provide a hint: The last writers strike in 2008 saw over 90% of the members green-lighting the proposed deal.

In light of this development, audiences can anticipate the swift return of beloved nightly network programs like NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” But, Hollywood is far from reverting to its usual bustling self. With the actors’ strike still in effect and no negotiations on the horizon, many crew members find themselves without employment.

Renewed discussions that led to this potential resolution began only last week after a month’s hiatus. Notably, industry stalwarts like Bob Iger of Disney, Ted Sarandos of Netflix, David Zaslav of Warner Bros. Discovery, and Donna Langley of NBCUniversal played direct roles in the negotiations.

Dating back to May 2nd, about 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America ceased work. Key issues revolved around remuneration, the dimensions of writing teams, and the controversial inclusion of artificial intelligence in script creation. This writers’ movement impacted productions across the board — from late-night talk shows to long-awaited seasons of hit series like Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and HBO’s “The Last of Us.” Even the Emmy Awards felt the repercussions, being postponed from September to January.

With technological advances reshaping the entertainment landscape, from the transition to streaming to the emerging role of AI, Hollywood has been at a critical juncture. This confluence of art and tech marked a defining phase as creatives and executives grappled with the future of the industry.

This writers strike, the first since 2007 and the most extended since 1988, gained further momentum on July 14 when it was bolstered by 65,000 film and television actors, marking a unique show of unity since 1960.

Now, all eyes are on the next steps, with the entertainment industry and its global audience waiting eagerly for a complete return to the magic of Hollywood.