The ongoing negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the major studios have reached a pivotal stage, and Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, has provided an update that may signal progress. Following the release of Disney’s third-quarter earnings, Iger has spoken out about the current status of discussions with the actors’ guild.
Negotiations Continue
The entertainment community has been entrenched in a labor dispute for 118 days, focusing particularly on the implementation of AI protections for actors. Despite the absence of a finalized agreement after the AMPTP’s final offer on November 3, Iger remains hopeful that a resolution is within reach.
Disney CEO’s Perspective
During a CNBC live interview, Iger shared that negotiations were actively occurring: “I don’t want to specify except that we’re all, SAG and the AMPTP companies, very hard at work and trying to solve this – as we speak.” He also highlighted the importance of actors to Disney and the active efforts to resume work: “They’re an incredibly important part of The Walt Disney Company for obvious reasons. And we’ve been hard at work.”
Strike Impact and Industry Concerns
The strike has involved a large number of SAG-AFTRA’s 160,000 members since mid-July. Iger addressed the strike’s impact on Disney, describing it as “negligible” so far but acknowledged that it could become significant if the strike extends further. With the film industry eager to secure its summer slate and the looming release of “The Marvels,” the timeliness of these negotiations is critical.
Future Projections
On the earnings call, Iger’s statements echoed his earlier sentiments, with a focus on the negotiation efforts and their importance to the industry’s calendar, especially in light of potential impacts on upcoming film releases.
The industry awaits the outcome of the discussions between Disney, SAG-AFTRA, and other AMPTP companies, with the hope that the conclusion will allow the resumption of normal operations and the continuation of film and television production without further delays.
