Hollywood Writers' Strike Ends, Productions To Resume: What We Know

Screenwriters have resumed work after their strike, which began on May 2. However, approximately 65,000 screen actors remain on strike with no ongoing negotiations. Hollywood's screenwriters' strike has officially ended as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) leaders accepted a negotiated pay deal with production studios.

The ongoing actors' strike is causing delays for various projects, including Deadpool 3, Yellowjackets, and Quentin Tarantino's next film, which are waiting for actors to reach an agreement with studios.

Hollywood Writers' Strike Ends

Potential Return of Late-Night Talk Shows

Late-night talk shows, among the first affected by the strike, may be among the first to return to the air. Shows like NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, and CBS's The Late Show With Stephen Colbert could resume within days. However, they will face a shortage of guests due to the strike, which limits promotional appearances.

Saturday Night Live might also return for its 49th season as its writers could continue working on sketches, and its actors, under a different contract not affected by the strike, might perform, although their union membership may pose challenges.

Daytime shows like Drew Barrymore's have not yet announced their return dates. Barrymore's attempt to return earlier this month became a focal point for picketers, prompting her to cancel her plans. The Talk and The Jennifer Hudson Show also called off their return plans.

Shows that return while actors are still picketing could stir controversy, as seen with the planned resumptions of daytime shows like The Drew Barrymore Show and The Talk, which were later abandoned.

Likely Quick Reactivation of Writers Rooms

Writers rooms for scripted shows that halted at the start of the strike, such as Netflix's Stranger Things, Apple TV+'s Severance, and ABC's Abbott Elementary, are expected to reactivate quickly. However, the absence of performers to act out the scripts will lead to inevitable delays between writing and production.

Film writers will also return to work, particularly those working on scripts or late revisions for already scheduled movies, including Deadpool 3 and Superman: Legacy. They will be eager to avoid further delays in release dates. Quentin Tarantino's 10th film, The Movie Critic, is one of the completed scripts awaiting the return of actors to the sets.

New Series and Movies for Fall

Despite the strike, there are several new series and movies scheduled for release this fall. Networks have diversified their fall programming with international shows, game shows, and more sports content. Standout newcomers include a Walking Dead show centred on fan-favourite Daryl Dixon and a John Wick prequel series already airing. Upcoming premieres include a new Jesse L. Martin NBC series, Irrational, and a Frasier sequel.

PBS's fall lineup remains largely unaffected, featuring a Ken Burns documentary series, The American Buffalo, and a World War II drama series. The network also offers nonfiction shows covering topics like Elon Musk's Twitter takeover, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and the Houston Astros cheating scandal, along with examinations of how animals are adapting to human-induced habitat changes.

Movie theatres will see a mix of Oscar contenders and action films, including Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon in October, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Lily Gladstone. November brings the newest Marvel film, The Marvels, and the prequel The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

 After 5 Months, Hollywood Writers Body Agrees To End Strike

Hollywood's screenwriters' strike has officially ended as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) leaders accepted a negotiated pay deal with production studios. The strike, which began in May, demanded better compensation, increased rewards for hit show creators, and protection against artificial intelligence.

While the final decision rests with the WGA's 11,500 members, industry experts expect ratification, allowing TV and film projects to restart before the voting process concludes. The strike, marked by picketing and joined by actors in July, concluded after five days of intense negotiations between the WGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

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