What happens next in Hollywood as writers reach a deal to end strike?

Film and television writers appear poised to return to work, after the Writers Guild of America (WGA) reached a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios Sunday.

However, Hollywood isn’t back in action quite yet. Even as writers prepare to head back to work, thousands of actors with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) union remain on strike, keeping much of the industry at a standstill.

Here’s where the writers strike is now and what happens next in Hollywood:

WGA suspends picketing after reaching tentative agreement

The WGA suspended picketing Sunday after reaching a tentative deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the group that represents studios, streaming services and production companies in negotiations.

The details of the agreement have yet to be released, but the Writers Guild touted the deal as “exceptional” in a statement Sunday.

“What we have won in this contract—most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd—is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA said. 

“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional—with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the union added.

Members remain on strike as deal awaits ratification

Even though a tentative deal has been reached and picketing has been suspended, writers remain on strike and are not yet able to return to work.

“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then,” WGA said, adding, “Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week.”

The union noted Sunday that it is still finalizing the language of the contract, which will ultimately need to be ratified by its 11,500 members. WGA leadership is “tentatively scheduled” to vote on moving forward with ratification and ending the strike Tuesday.

If the leadership votes in favor of both items, writers would be allowed to return to work while the ratification process is ongoing.

Daytime, late-night talk shows appear poised to return

Daytime and late-night talk shows, which don’t require actors, appear poised to return shortly if the WGA deal is finalized.

Late-night shows led by the likes of Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers could resume as soon as the first or second weeks of October, according to Variety.

Their daytime counterparts — including “The Drew Barrymore Show,” “The Jennifer Hudson Show,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “The Talk” — are similarly expected to return by the second week of October, Deadline reported. 

Ongoing actors strike to keep much of Hollywood at standstill

While talk shows may return, much of Hollywood will likely remain at a standstill as the actors strike continues.

SAG-AFTRA joined the WGA on the picket lines in July, after failing to reach an agreement with the studios. The actors union congratulated the Writers Guild on its agreement Sunday but emphasized that their own negotiations are still ongoing.

“While we look forward to reviewing the WGA and AMPTP’s tentative agreement, we remain committed to achieving the necessary terms for our members,” SAG-AFTRA said in a statement.

“We remain on strike in our TV/Theatrical contract and continue to urge the studio and streamer CEOs and the AMPTP to return to the table and make the fair deal that our members deserve and demand,” it added.

The actors union and the studios have not met in more than two months after the studios made a strategic decision to focus their efforts on negotiations with the WGA, The New York Times reported. 

With the end of the writers strike in sight, all eyes are now on SAG-AFTRA. However, no talks are currently scheduled between the union and the studios, according to the Times.