EXCLUSIVE: The roller coaster ride of the Writers Guild and the Hollywood studios trying to seal a deal to end the writers’ nearly 5-month-long strike isn’t over yet.
After a day many thought would see an agreement between the WGA and the AMPTP finalized, it looks like things are on pause — at least until Sunday morning.
With claims of a “best and final offer” from the studios and streamers on the table and laywers from both sides still poring over the fine print, the WGA strike is going to go at least one more day.
Discussions are being held Saturday night as to whether there will be another face-to-face meeting Sunday between the WGA negotiating committee and the Carol Lombardini-led Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. If that meeting does occur, it is unclear if the CEO Gang of Four — Netlfix’s Ted Sarandos, Disney’s Bob Iger, Universal’s Donna Langley and Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav will be in attendance either in person and or virtually.
In the fog of four consecutive days of intense negotiations at the AMPTP’s Sherman Oaks headquarters, the CEO quartet had been in-person Wednesday Thursday and Friday. Sarandos, Iger, Langley and Zaslav were not in attendance Saturday in person, but did participate either remotely or through studio subordinates.
The WGA negotiating committee, many of whom were in attendance over the past four days, were led by Ellen Stutzman, David Goodman and Chris Keyser.
The WGA has been on strike since May 2. SAG-AFTRA joined their fellow guild on the picket lines in mid-July.
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