After roughly five months, the Writers Guild of America has negotiated a contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
While the Screen Actors Guild remains on strike, the Writers Guild (WGA) has already returned to work.
Source: Deadline
In this week’s MarvelBlog News, we’ll discuss what this means for Marvel titles and what comes next.
Dog Days Are Over
Image: Marvel
At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, the remaining residents of Knowhere dance to the Florence and the Machine song, Dog Days Are Over.
The underlying premise involves change and how that even when things are different, much stays the same.
Photo: Disney Plus
I’ve thought about that a lot in the wake of the WGA’s agreement. Without editorializing much, the industry-wide perception is that the writers won.
The guildmembers held out longer than anticipated and held strong in the face of some frankly unconscionable actions by other, more powerful people in the industry.
Source: Marvel/ Disney
A new three-year contract ensures that some fairly sweeping changes are at hand in Hollywood.
Writers earned their requests for three-person staffing. In other words, the writer’s rooms are back, news that will alter the way Disney+ does business.
Realistically, many of the updated rules will impact Disney, the corporate owner of Marvel.
Source: Marvel/ Disney
We’ll organically discuss those at length over the next couple of years, as some of it feels almost orchestrated against Disney.
Marvel and Disney loved the mini-writer’s room, a concept that ensured a minimal amount of payment for creatives.
Similarly, Disney hasn’t paid much (if any) in residuals to writers on its streaming series.
Source: Marvel Studios
Both these practices change now, as does Disney’s practice of understaffing series with limited episodes.
The precise rules of the new agreement require three writer-producers. Meanwhile, the number of writers depends on the episode count.
Something like Secret Invasion, which had six episodes, would need three writers. A longer series like She-Hulk would require five.
Source: Marvel Studios
Then, something like Daredevil: Reborn would need six writers in the room. That’s going to increase production costs, but it’s terrific news for Marvel fans.
A larger number of writers might have meant the difference in Secret Invasion being watchable.
What Happens Next?
Source: ComicBook.com
Here’s the first thing to keep in mind. As long as the actors remain on strike, Hollywood projects cannot resume production.
During the dual strikes, the writers and actors worked in concert to ensure that all parties attained better contract terms.
While anything is possible, I fully expect actors to agree to a new deal soon. That’s because writers already showed them the path.
Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney
Since someone else has done the heavy lifting with the collective bargaining, a second agreement should be simple. There’s a skeleton outline already.
In the interim, writers are already back on the job as of this past Wednesday, and that’s huge for Marvel.
Once again, the world’s most gifted storytellers are creating future Marvel tales. I don’t mean to sound grandiose, but it’s true.
(Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Nothing happens in front of the camera until someone writes the words. That’s just math. It’s also why AMPTP had to get a deal done.
Now, we’re ready for actors to agree as well. Until then, Marvel writers will firm up details on projects that have gestated for the past five months.
Once the actors agree to a new deal – and Deadline indicates that this could happen soon – production may start again.
Photo: EW
What does that mean for Marvel fans? Most importantly, Deadpool 3 will start again soon.
Marvel fully intended to hotshot filming on that project in hope of it debuting next March. Obviously, that ain’t happening.
Disney already delayed the theatrical release of the film, but it doesn’t have to be for that long.
Source: @VancityReynolds
We’re about ten weeks into the acting side of the strike. Theoretically, we could still get Deadpool 3 next summer.
Disney has currently slotted the film for May 3, 2024. That strikes me as ambitious, but July doesn’t, presuming the actors settle quickly.
Other Impacted Marvel Projects
Source: Marvel Studios
Several Marvel films and television series were in various stages of principal photography/reshoots when the actors struck.
Thunderbolts and Captain America: Brave New World are probably the most recognizable titles of the bunch.
However, Daredevil: Reborn and Wonder Man also shut down. And starting up again comes with new complications.
Source: Marvel
Many performers will face dramatic demands for their time. Actors stack work, and many of the existing contracts didn’t account for a strike.
So, anything I say about what happens next is pure speculation. But Marvel should come first for most workers. It’s the highest-profile gig.
Image: Marvel
As such, I believe right now that some titles should be filming again by November. And I’m hoping for sooner.
I’ll provide additional clarity as soon as the actors broker a new deal, one that’s hopefully as good as what the writers got.
Marvel Miscellany
Image: Marvel
We’ve got a couple of other stories to discuss this week beyond the conclusion of the strike.
First, The Motion Picture Association of America has given The Marvels a PG-13 rating, which seems to be Marvel’s specialty.
Also, some reports suggest that Echo will air as a five-episode series rather than six.
Source: Marvel
The idea is that Echo plays too slowly for six full episodes. So, they’ll tighten it into five.
While I’d like to be optimistic here, I must be honest. This sounds exactly like the approach Max took with the absolutely disastrous The Idol. And that’s not good.
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Featured image: Marvel
