Earlier this week, reports indicated that the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers might be close to negotiating a deal, but it seems talks have broken down after both sides traded barbs following the publication of the studios’ counteroffer.
With no current plans for the two parties to return to the table, there's no end in sight for the strikes.
The standstill is said to be a direct result of the AMPTP going public with its first counteroffer since the studios’ initial response to the WGA’s original proposal shortly after the strike began. Details of the proposal include gains in residuals and protections against artificial intelligence, and was slammed by the WGA as a ploy “not to bargain, but to jam us,” with the counteroffer described as not “nearly enough.”
Insiders now believe the proverbial ball is in the WGA’s court, and that AMPTP president Carol Lombardini "would like to re-engage so that the talks won’t become stalled for too long."
The strikes have resulted in a freeze on major film and TV announcements (you may have noticed), cast and director promotion/interviews, and several delays. The biggest project to be pushed back is undoubtedly Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 2, which was moved from its original release date of November 2, 2023 to March 15, 2024 (more here).
For now, 2023's remaining studio tentpole comic book/superhero movies, The Marvels and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, are staying put, but if the strikes go on much longer, we will almost certainly see more delays.
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Mark Cassidy is a writer, photographer, amateur filmmaker, and Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic from Dublin, Ireland.