Hollywood stars have celebrated a deal between their union and TV and film studios to end the longest actors strike in Tinseltown history.
US actors’ union Sag-Aftra said it has achieved a deal of “extraordinary scope”, which will be worth more than $1bn, to end the dispute with studio bosses.
It reached a “tentative agreement” with the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers (AMPTP) in a unanimous vote, stopping the historic 118-day walkout. The strike was suspended from midnight and picket lines closed.
Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer led a host of famous faces hailing the news, writing on Instagram: “Who else is dancing right now? Ready to work now that the strike is over!”
Appearing on the red carpet at the premiere of The Iron Claw, US actor Zac Efron said: “Incredible, I’m so happy that we’re all able to come to an agreement, let’s get back to work, I’m so stoked.
“I literally just found out a minute ago so this is great news, congrats everybody we did it, love you guys, let’s go.”
Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis wrote on her Instagram story “Perseverance pays off!”, while Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp said “We did it!!!!”
Alec Baldwin offered his “congratulations to everyone who did this great work on behalf of the members”, in a post on Instagram.
Actors walked out on July 14 calling for better pay and safeguards on the use of AI.
The industrial action - combined with a separate writers’ strike - had paralysed the entertainment industry and delayed work on numerous major TV shows and films.
Hollywood stars have also not been attending events such as film premieres while the strike has been taking place, as union rules prohibit them from taking any work, including promotion or publicity for projects.
Full details of the deal will not be announced until the agreement is reviewed by the Sag-Aftra national board on Friday.
However, a statement from the union said it has achieved a deal of “extraordinary scope” in a contract “valued at over one billion dollars”, including protection from the threat of artificial intelligence, a new “streaming participation” bonus and “unprecedented provisions for consent and compensation”.
The deal comes after the union, which represents around 160,000 members of the industry, spent days deliberating over the deal.
AMPTP said it was pleased to have reached the agreement and “looks forward to the industry resuming the work of telling great stories”.
In September the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which represents more than 11,000 members, agreed to a deal with studio bosses after 146 days on the picket line.
Woo hooo!!!! Let’s hope the deal is fair and we can get back to work!https://t.co/MseY2lgcG0
— Daniel Dae Kim (@danieldaekim) November 9, 2023
Hawaii Five-0 actor Daniel Dae Kim also tweeted: “Woo hooo!!!! Let’s hope the deal is fair and we can get back to work!”
Sag-Aftra president Fran Drescher, who has been at the front of negotiations, also took to Instagram to share her delight, revealing the tentative deal is worth three times the last contract.
“New ground was broke everywhere,” she said.
While Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass shared an official statement describing her gratitude that a “fair agreement” had been reached “after a more than 100 day strike that impacted millions in Los Angeles and throughout the country”.
She added: “Those on the line have been the hardest hit during this period and there have been ripple effects throughout our entire city.
“Today’s tentative agreement is going to impact nearly every part of our economy. Now, we must lean in on local production to ensure that our entertainment industry rebounds stronger than ever and our economy is able to get back on its feet.”
