A deal has been reached between striking Hollywood workers and Producers to end a four month strike
US actors are expected to resume work after their union agreed a tentative deal with Hollywood studios.
The actors reached agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers in a unanimous vote.
The shutdown – combined with a separate writers’ strike – paralysed the entertainment industry and disrupted numerous major films and TV shows.
Actors have been calling for better pay and safeguards on the use of AI.
President of Sag-Aftra the umbrella body of the actors, Fran Drescher said “We did it!!!!” She thanked members “for hanging in and holding out for this historic deal!”
Actors have welcomed the deal, with Zac Efron describing it as “incredible” at the premiere for his wrestling film The Iron Claw.
Efron’s co-star Jeremy Allen White, who stars in TV drama The Bear, found out the
strike was over during an interview on the red carpet with Entertainment Tonight. “That’s amazing!” he exclaimed.
The union said the deal was valued at more than $1bn (£814m) and included increases in minimum salaries, a new “streaming participation” bonus, and more protections against their images and voices being replicated by artificial intelligence.
The actors union said the strike would officially end on Thursday, with more details released following a meeting on Friday.
Sag-Aftra represents about 160,000 members and has been on strike since July 14, causing major disruption and knock-on effects for those in all branches of the film and TV industry, and in countries like the UK as well as the US.
As well as film delays, Hollywood stars have also not been attending some events such as premieres while the strike has been taking place, as union rules prohibit them from taking any work, including promotion or publicity for projects.
The combination of the actors’ and writers’ strikes is estimated to have cost the California economy more than $6.5bn.
Although Hollywood’s star actors earn millions of dollars, many lesser-known performers often struggle to get by, particularly amid rising inflation and industry changes.
