Hollywood Writers Can Return To Work Wednesday As Strike Officially Ends

HOLLYWOOD, CA — Film and TV writers are free to return to work on Wednesday after a 148-day strike against studios formally ended at 12:01 a.m. But with actors still on the picket lines and the studio-Writers Guild of America contract still pending approval, Hollywood is still far from a return to business as usual.

WGA leaders have endorsed a proposed three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that the sides agreed to this week. It still needs to be ratified by WGA members in a vote from Oct. 2-9 in order to take effect.

"The deal is exceptional in that it is something that will protect writers, not just now, but in the future," WGA West President David Goodman told NPR.

The proposed deal covers the main points that union leaders set out to address at the beginning of the strike in May. It includes annual salary increases of between 3.5 and 5 percent for the next three years, increases in health and pension contributions.

The contract bars AI from writing or rewriting literary material and prevents AI-generated material from being considered source material, which union leaders says protects the technology from undermining writers' contributions.

It also creates a new residual formula for streaming content that offers boosts in pay for successful shows and movies. It also sets a minimum number of writers that are to be employed on a series based on the number of episodes.

A full summary of the contract from the WGA is available here.

SAG-AFTRA members remain on strike, having joined the writers on the picket lines in July.

Pending the WGA contract's approval, the AMPTP is set to turn its attention to negotiations with the actors union. SAG-AFTRA is seeking similar things for its contract: protections against AI and salary increases among them.

"The battle is far from over, and our voices need to be heard loud and clear. We're fighting for a fair industry, and we need every member to join us today," the union posted on X Wednesday morning.

Late-night shows are set to be the first programs that return to the air. Production is set to resume as early as next week on"The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon," "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" and"Jimmy Kimmel Live!," the Los Angeles Times reported.

City News Service contributed to this report.