‘Pens down!’: Hollywood writers strike as late-night comedy shows go dark

Workers and supporters of the Writers Guild of America protest at a picket line outside Paramount Studios after union negotiators called a strike for film and television writers in Los Angeles. Photograph: Aude Guerrucci/Reuters

Outside Amazon Studios in Los Angeles, the striking writers of Hollywood had a promise for studio executives: “AI will replace you before it replaces us.”

Diandra Pendleton-Thompson, 32, was carrying the sign with the AI slogan, and gearing up for what might be a long battle with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.