🎧 The WGA’s Surprise Deal — SAG and DGA, You’re Up
A fast agreement delivers a major healthcare win but shifts the stakes for the next guilds at the table
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The tentative deal between the Writers Guild and Hollywood’s major studios has quelled fears of another strike — all while shaking up the major guilds’ contract cycle. Elaine Low, Sean McNulty and Natalie Jarvey break down the key terms, including a $321 million infusion into the WGA health plan (alongside higher deductibles and premiums) and a shift to a four-year bargaining agreement rather than the usual three. The deal — and its limited movement on AI — will shape not just the upcoming SAG-AFTRA and DGA negotiations, but the industry’s broader trajectory. Plus, the trio looks at a rare bright spot: Box office ticket sales are up 23 percent year over year, fueled by hits like Super Mario Galaxy Movie, Project Hail Mary and other family-friendly fare.