SAG-AFTRA strike: All eyes on actors union following tentative deal between studios and writers

Now that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), the trade association representing major Hollywood studios, all eyes have turned toward SAG-AFTRA, the union representing about 160,000 actors.

While late night and talk programs like "The Tonight Show" and "The Talk" can return once the WGA deal is ratified by rank-and-file union members, the Hollywood machine cannot fully function until the AMPTP resolves its dispute with the actors union.

The tentative WGA deal increases pressure on SAG-AFTRA to reach an agreement along the same lines, although the actors union still has enough leverage to keep productions shut down. The studio's resolution with WGA will likely pave the way for a deal with SAG-AFTRA within the next few weeks.

"The key issues will likely be resolved by late October, if not sooner," said Tom Nunan, a former television executive and film producer. "Historically, the writers guild has been at the forefront when it comes to protecting artists as the industry evolves and transforms. The writers guild was going to fight the big fight, and the actors will use the gains writers made and customize them for their needs."

SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14, joining the fray a little more than two months after the writers strike began. Since then, the two unions have seemed to operate in lockstep with each other.

In a statement posted Sunday on social media site X, the actors union congratulated their "union siblings who serve on the WGA Negotiating Committee."

"We applaud your dedication, diligence and unwavering solidarity over the last 5 months and are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with you as creative partners in the entertainment industry," the statement continued. "We look forward to reviewing the terms of the WGA and AMPTP's tentative agreement. And we remain ready to resume our own negotiations with the AMPTP as soon as they are prepared to engage on our proposals in a meaningful way."