Formal talks for a new TV-theatrical-streaming contract opened Monday between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP, launching an early bargaining cycle that both sides say they want to keep from turning into another production-stopping fight. The current agreement expires June 30, 2026, and the parties have said they will not publicly discuss negotiating specifics during the process.
The union enters the room with three pressure points that have only sharpened since the 2023 strikes: artificial-intelligence protections, streaming-era pay structures, and the financial stability of member health and pension plans. Studios, for their part, have signaled interest in longer contract terms, a shift that raises the stakes in an industry that keeps rewriting its business models.
At last month’s CES conference, chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland argued for a cost-based deterrent against synthetic performers: “In my opinion, if synthetics cost the same as a human, they’re going to choose a human every time,” he said. He also warned that the union will reject any package that fails to meet member expectations. Union leadership changed since the last cycle, with Sean Astin succeeding Fran Drescher, while Greg Hessinger now leads the employer group.
The bargaining calendar sits inside a wider reset for Hollywood labor. Sessions are expected to run for several weeks, with reporting indicating a March 6 target window for these talks. The Writers Guild of America contract expires May 1, 2026, and its talks with the AMPTP are expected to begin March 16. The Directors Guild of America has set May 11 as its start date.
Economic conditions add urgency. FilmLA reported 19,694 on-location shoot days in 2025, down 16.1% from 2024, after years of contraction that has cut into steady work for crews and performers.
