The players’ strike is over, what happens now?

Union negotiators representing TV and film actors have reached an agreement on a new contract with the studios. end The strike that started in July.

All members will need to vote to approve it before it becomes official. But with the Writers Guild of America finishing After a four-month strike in September, the picket lines ended, clearing the way for everyone to return to work, including crews who saw their work paused during two strikes. What will happen now?

There will be a surge of broadcast network sitcoms and dramas waiting for new episodes to be ready to air after the first of the year. According to this deadline.com: “Just minutes after the end of the strike was announced, cast and crew began receiving notices of tentative start dates of late November and early December.”

A half-season usually consists of around 13 episodes. But the deadline is also reporting “Wolf Entertainment is aiming to make more than 13 of its crime procedurals (which includes NBC’s One Chicago shows like “Chicago Fire”), he said, with 15 (episodes) in circulation and ABC and Warner Bros. TV in contention over it. ‘Abbott Primary School’ ABC wants 13 and the studio wants 17.”

There might be a less frantic rush to release shows. Or not. With filming on most series suspended over the last six months, there will be pressure to get shows to air in order to ensure a steady supply of premieres throughout 2024. Netflix’s “Stranger Things” and many other productions had to pause midway through. He was filming his new season when the strikes began.

When it comes to the summer movie schedule, the prolonged work stoppage has created real concern for studio executives and movie theater owners. It’s too early to know which games will be completed on time, but there are reasons to be optimistic. Filming was halfway through when “Deadpool 3,” starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, closed. Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice” sequel and Clint Eastwood’s “Juror #2” are almost finished.

During the strike, actors were banned from doing interviews regarding past, present and future projects. I’m sure their personal publicists, as well as studio and network PR people, are breathing a sigh of relief that the stars can now return. sales. Especially as we approach Oscar season. (Woe to all the writers who fill the interview slots on the morning shows. Note to TV: Keep highlighting the writers!)

Guilds representing actors, writers and directors have signed new contracts with studios, but studios will eventually have to deal with other areas of the industry as well.

In September, Marvel VFX artists voted to unionize. There is growing interest in unionization among reality TV cast and crew. The studios’ contracts with the Animation Guild and IATSE, which represents most of the crew, also expire next year.

Nina Metz is a Tribune critic.

nmetz@chicagotribune.com