Hollywood Actors Guild: Major studios refuse to restart strike talks

SAG-AFTRA has given a major update on the ongoing Hollywood actors and writers strike, and according to the news, it doesn't look like the strike will be ending anytime soon.

The strike comes shortly after talks between the union and the AMPTP, the body that negotiates on behalf of the studios, ended earlier this month without a new contract. Together with the strike by the writers' union, the WGA, Hollywood has come to a near standstill.

On Twitter the union wrote: "We want to get back to doing the work we love. We are ready to renegotiate and have asked AMPTP to return to the table. They have refused."

The industry has already been visibly affected by the strike. The Contenders, starring Spider-Man actress Zendaya, Mike Pfister and Josh O'Connor, was originally scheduled to open the Venice Film Festival but has been postponed to 2024. Poor Things, starring Emma Stone, has also been postponed from September to December (although it will still play at the Venice Film Festival).

Disney is also reportedly considering postponing the release of more of its blockbuster films in 2023. Warner Bros. is also considering delaying the release of Dune 2, The Color Purple, and Aquaman 2.

Meanwhile, the production of films such as "Gladiator 2" and "Deadpool 3" has come to a complete standstill, causing the production companies to lose $600,000 per week.

At this point, it is unclear when the core conflict of the strike will be resolved.