The actors strike could be ending soon, as the studios have issued their final offer to SAG-AFTRA in hopes of settling.
SAG-AFTRA is currently reviewing the latest offer from AMPTP, as studios have presented what they consider their last, final and best offer. That might read like a threat but it could be signaling an end to the strike, which has now surpassed 115 days. Reasonably, one could expect a resolution today. If that is the case, we will certainly keep you updated.
As per a statement from SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee, “We received an offer today from the AMPTP, which they characterized as their “Last, Best, and Final Offer…We are reviewing it and considering our response within the context of the critical issues addressed in our proposals.” As one unnamed guild member put it, “We’ve all come a long way, so taking the time to go over the guts of [the proposal] and the fine print is the only responsible way to approach this now.”
There has been much back and forth between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP as of late, with central issues relating to wages, streaming revenue and protection from the use of artificial intelligence. As per Deadline, the offer brought to the table from AMPTP included a hefty wage bump, a full 100% increase regarding streaming services and even “full” AI protection. Considering just how core to the strike these all were, we can see this strike settling in the near future.
The Writers Guild of America strike – which ran concurrently with the SAG-AFTRA strike for more than two months – was resolved back in September after 148 days. That one surpassed the previous WGA strike back in 2007-2008, which just barely missed the 100-day mark. The most recent strike involving the Screen Actors Guild saw them teaming with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) well before their merger in 2012; this 2000 strike lasted a staggering 182 days. While there is a history of actors striking in Hollywood, this one — based on its duration and everything at stake — feels more devastating to the industry. Or maybe we just say that because we want Deadpool 3…
Do you think SAG-AFTRA and the studios will be resolving this weekend? What is the first thing you want to happen after the strike finally ends? Let us know below.