Bob Iger “Elated” By SAG-AFTRA Deal; “It Was Time,” Disney Boss Says Of End To Strike

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Iger finally had his wish come true today “I’m elated,” the Disney CEO told Deadline Wednesday tonight of his reaction to the deal between SAG-AFTRA and the studios.   “It’s been, as you know, a long summer in this town and it’s an industry that really needs to get back to work and wants to get back to work, Iger added at the Wish premiere in Hollywood just hours after the tentative agreement with the guild was made public. “I’m gonna be one of those people that’s just cheering the return to production in this community.” Iger’s remarks late tonight come after a long 24 hours for the exec, the guild and the industry.

The 118th day of the strike, Wednesday saw hopes dashed for a Tuesday night deal, a rough-ish Q3 earnings result for Disney, worries about 2024 and the AMPTP putting SAG-AFTRA on notice.

In a risky move that could have very easily gone South, the studios told the guild that if they didn’t get a response by 5 pm PT, they might have to take their ball and go home.

To further the jump to hyperspace, SAG-AFTRA’s 17-member negotiating committee were in the process of voting on whether to approve the deal with the studios and its “unprecedented provisions,” as the guild later termed it, as the clock was ticking on the AMPTP’s threat.