News > Writers Guild, United Artists Strike a Deal

Written by David Morgan

The strike isn't over yet by any means, but the Writers Guild of America have worked out an interim deal with United Artists that will allow striking writers to return to work on UA projects. According to Variety, the deal will not include MGM, the majority shareholder of UA. Variety calls this a "declaration of independence" for UA chiefs Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, who own 35% of UA.

Unfortunately, Oliver Stone's Vietnam atrocity drama Pinkville, which had been in pre-production at UA, will not be revived right away, as star Bruce Willis has already moved on to another project as a result of the strike. 

Experts say that other indie companies like The Weinstein Co. and Lionsgate will be the next targets of the WGA as they try to create interim deals with smaller companies in order to put pressure on the major studios.