Hollywood strike: Studios, writers reportedly near deal

Hollywood writers and producers could be nearing an agreement to end the strike that has paralyzed the entertainment industry, as talks enter a second day on Thursday with major studio heads now at the table.

Hollywood writers and producers could be nearing an agreement to end the strike that has paralyzed the entertainment industry as high-level talks entered a second day Thursday, with major studio heads now at the table, and the two groups planned to meet again Friday.

A source close to the negotiations said that talks Wednesday were "productive" and that there was hope for "more progress" as high-level executives attended the negotiations for the first time since the strike began months ago.

The Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers met Thursday and plan to do so again on Friday, a spokesperson for the writer's guild, known as the WGA said late Thursday in a message to members.

The AMPTP is a trade group that bargains for the major studios and streaming services. (The group represents NBCUniversal, the parent company of NBC News.)

Until now talks have been led by top AMPTP staffers and labor relations representatives, but studio heads, including Disney's Bob Iger and Netflix's Ted Sarandos, have now taken a seat at the table, the source said — signaling a potentially significant shift.