SAG-AFTRA and the major Hollywood studios have come together on a tentative deal, bringing about the end of the actors strike. Actors across the entertainment industry have been on strike since July as they fight for better wages and protections against AI, among other issues. In recent weeks, negotiations have become increasingly tense, with studios even suggesting they would push talks to 2024.
Now, The Hollywood Reporter has revealed that the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee has approved a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, bringing to an end the dual 2023 Hollywood strikes. While said deal still needs to be ratified, the strike will end on Thursday, November 9 at 12:01 a.m. This means that it will have lasted 117 days, just 31 days shorter than the writers strike, which significantly overlapped with the actors strike and ended this September.
What the End of the SAG-AFTRA Strike Means for Impacted Productions
While the official end of the strike is still up in the air and depends on ratification by the union, for the time being, actors can resume their usual duties. This includes performing in productions on which they are contracted and promoting current or upcoming projects. The resumption of promotion could significantly boost the box office prospects of upcoming tentpole features including the superhero blockbuster The Marvels, the animated sequel Trolls Band Together, and Disney’s centennial animated feature Wish.
It also seems likely that some major projects that have been on hold will rush back into production. This includes Stranger Things season 5, the final season of the popular Netflix show, which has been facing an increasing age gap between its young characters and the actors playing them. It is also possible that the 2023 and 2024 movie releases that were delayed amid the strike – such as Dune: Part Two, Snow White, and Deadpool 3, will find themselves reshuffled on the schedule yet again.
The end of the SAG-AFTRA could also provide a huge boon to network television’s 2023-2024 season. Some shows that have already reopened their writers rooms may be prepared to shoot seasons with shorter episode orders that can premiere midseason. While some productions may bide their time until the final official greenlight from the union, Hollywood is likely to ramp back up as soon as possible in the wake of this new deal.
