Movies are officially back in action! Throughout the year, Hollywood writers, and actors, faced injustice and hardship, from studios that led both groups to go on strike for the better part of 2023. The Writer’s Guild of America (WGA), finally reached a compromise with AMPTP, and ended their strike on September 27, 2023. Now, the Screenplay Actor’s Guild (SAG) has followed suit.

Over 60,000 striking actors have agreed to return to work on movies and TV shows, in exchange for a fairly simple promise from AMPTP. Like a boost in payment, a better share of streaming service profits, and protection against being replaced by AI assets. Top entertainment companies such as Disney, Warner Bros. Universal, and Netflix, were instrumental in the negotiations, according to AP News.

The end of the six-month-long strike, means that delayed movie and TV projects can get back on track. This includes highly anticipated works like Dune Part II, Stranger Things, and The Last of Us. However, it is not only filming that is allowed to resume, as of the new compromise. Actors are now able to promote, and advertise their movies that have already been released or are releasing in the near future, like the Five Nights At Freddy’s movie, and The Marvels. 

The WGA has expressed its support for the SAG union, throughout their overlapping strikes, and even once the writers’ own strike had concluded. Now, they are thrilled to see that the determination of their fellow strikers has also paid off. 

“We’re thrilled to see SAG-AFTRA members win a contract that creates new protections for performers and gives them a greater share of the immense value they create. When workers are united, they win!” The WGA said, in a statement.

The entertainment industry is not going to go back to normal in a day. The ripple effects from months, and months without sufficient writers, or actors, will likely be evident for years to come. However, the fact that these two unions were willing to make a stand for their creative rights, and emerge victorious, is a great sign of a changing culture in Hollywood.