Writers Guild suspends work with Village Roadshow over ongoing payment dispute

The Writers Guild of America has issued a strike notice against Village Roadshow, prohibiting its members from working with the production company due to an ongoing failure to pay writers. The Guild announced the decision on Saturday, explaining that Village Roadshow has not compensated writers on numerous projects over the past few months.

“It has come to the Guild’s attention that over the last few months, Village Roadshow hasn’t paid writers on numerous projects,” the WGA West stated. “Village Roadshow owes writers compensation, interest and benefit contributions but has refused to pay. As such, the Guild has determined that Village Roadshow is not reliable or financially responsible and requires the posting of a bond to protect writers. Village Roadshow has, to date, refused to do so,” it said. As a result, the company has been added to the Guild’s strike list until further notice.

The statement emphasized the importance of holding the company accountable, said, “It is crucial that Village Roadshow be prevented from undercutting writers’ standards and conditions. Village Roadshow cannot be allowed to benefit from writing services provided by WGA members.”

The Guild also urged its members to contact its legal department if they believe they are owed money by the company, have been approached to work for them, or are currently involved in production with Village Roadshow.

This move follows reports from earlier this month that the WGA was preparing to issue a stop-work order against Village Roadshow, which is behind popular films like Ocean’s Eleven, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Lego Movie, due to the company’s repeated failure to pay writers. A WGA spokesperson had confirmed at the time, “I can confirm that they’re late on paying their writers and a stop-work order is imminent,” while a representative for Village Roadshow declined to comment, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.

The ongoing dispute comes as Village Roadshow has faced financial difficulties, with the company recently cutting costs through layoffs in areas like business affairs, administration, and film and television roles. The company also signed a first-look deal with Content Cartel, Kevin Garnett’s production company, earlier this year. Village Roadshow, which was once a close partner of Warner Bros., is currently engaged in arbitration with the studio following a lawsuit related to the day-and-date release of The Matrix Resurrections in 2021.

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