Scriptwriters and Studios Reach New Deal After Heated Strikes

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) and major studios have quietly settled a new contract that will keep writers on screen for four years. The agreement was announced after the WGA’s negotiating committee voted unanimously in favor of it, marking a significant step toward ending last year’s long strike that halted much of Hollywood’s output.

Key Highlights

• Health Plan Protection
  The new contract requires studios to contribute more money, safeguarding the guild’s health plan that had lost about $200 million in recent years.

• Four‑Year Term
  While studios had asked for a five‑year deal to better predict costs amid rapid industry changes, the WGA agreed to a four‑year term—one year longer than usual but still shorter than studios desired.

• Industry Stability
  The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers confirmed a tentative agreement, hoping to build on this progress for long‑term stability.

Background

• 2023 Strike
  Negotiations in 2023 dragged on for 146 days, prompting a parallel strike by SAG‑AFTRA that halted most film and TV production. The previous contract ended the conflict with higher royalties for streamed content and safeguards against AI displacing writer credits or pay.

• Fast‑Track Negotiations
  This time, talks concluded almost a month before the old contract expired on May 1, avoiding another costly standoff amid industry layoffs and reduced streaming spending.

• Los Angeles Office Strike
  The WGA’s LA office had been on strike since February. The new deal allows the guild to focus on this internal strike while keeping writers in the industry.

Next Steps

With the agreement in place, studios will shift their attention to negotiating with SAG‑AFTRA. Those talks began in early February and, while “productive,” have yet to reach a resolution.