With the worst Hollywood labor crisis in 20 years headed for its third week, striking screenwriters and major studios have agreed to renew contract talks, offering the first glimmer of hope their deadlock can be broken.
The surprise announcement the two sides would return to the bargaining table on November 26th came late last night as TV production shutdowns mounted and the strike claimed its first casualty among the major film studios - postponement of 'The Da Vinci Code' sequel starring Tom Hanks.
The parties have not met face to face since last-ditch talks presided over by a federal mediator broke off and the strike began November 5th amid a flurry of finger-pointing, posturing and angry rhetoric on both sides.
The negotiations, which began in July, foundered mostly on differences over the writers' demands for a greater share of revenues from the Internet, widely seen as the future distribution pipeline of choice for filmed entertainment.
Although the parties had come under growing pressure to restart their talks, including meetings and phone conversations with California Govenor Arnold Schwarzenegger, there was no discernible sign of movement until Friday's announcement.
It came in a terse joint statement issued by the Writers Guild of America and the industry's bargaining arm, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
"Leaders from the WGA and the AMPTP have mutually agreed to resume formal negotiations on November 26th. No other details or press statements will be issued," the statement said.
The Writers Guild said its 12,000 members would remain on strike for the time being, with picketing to resume next week with a major rally and march down Hollywood Boulevard planned for Tuesday.
In an online message to union members, WGA West President Patric Verrone hailed the breakthrough as a result of the union's resolve.