HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Hollywood writers may be back on the job as early as Monday, according to the Los Angeles Times.
With time running out on a chance to save the Academy Awards, the Writers Guild of America and the major studios are expected to agree upon a new three-year today. The new pact would then be presented to thousands of writers in Los Angeles and New York on Saturday, with possible board approval coming Sunday, sources reveal to the paper.
The costly walkout began on Nov. 5 when television and film writers walked off their jobs after negotiations broke down. One of the key stumbling blocks has been compensation for writers’ both on the Web and on mobile devices.
According to the Times, several films that have been on hold, including Columbia Pictures’ Da Vinci Code prequel “Angels & Demons” and Warner Bros.’ “Shantaram,” starring Johnny Depp, could be back in gear next week.
Since movies have long development times, the film industry has not been hit as hard as broadcast TV because studio execs advanced development and production schedules last summer, anticipating a strike.
Should all go according to plan over the weekend, the settlement would assure the Oscars of being able to move forward with their Feb. 24 broadcast.
