WGA & AMPTP Talks “Encouraging” Today; More Negotiations Set For Tomorrow

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: The Writers Guild and studios and streamers are set to meet again tomorrow for further talks on a new contract for scribes.

After a long CEO-attended session today that one insider described as “very encouraging,” the WGA and the AMPTP will return to the latter’s Sherman Oaks’ offices on September 21, we’re told.

With Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, Disney’s Bob Iger, Universal’s Donna Langley and Warner Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav in the room (as Deadline reported earlier today) joining AMPTP president  Carol Lombardini and WGA chief negotiator Ellen Stutzman and others, the sit-down saw “incredible progress,” a source close to events says. “This is what happens when principals get serious,” another well-positioned source noted. “Things start moving.” Unsurprisingly, neither the WGA nor the AMPTP responded to request for comment on Wednesday’s bargaining or future talks.

If either side does have a statement, this post will be updated. No details yet if Sarandos, Iger, Langley and Zaslav will be a part of tomorrow’s negotiations – but, based on how well today went, we wouldn’t bet against their presence, in-person or virtually.