WGA Reveals Bargaining Committee For 2026 Contract Talks With AMPTP; Ellen Stutzman To Serve As Chief Negotiator Again

The Writers Guild of America has selected the committee that will negotiate its 2026 contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The guild’s East and West divisions released the joint committee on Friday, just over five months before the current contract expires on May 1.

WGAW Executive Director Ellen Stutzman, who also led the 2023 talks amid a historically long 148-day strike after her predecessor David Young’s sudden departure, will once again serve as chief negotiator.

John August and Danielle Sanchez-Witzel will be the committee co-chairs. The remaining committee members are Ali Barthwell, Yahlin Chang, Stan Chervin, Larry J. Cohen, Josh Gondelman, Phil Hay, Eric Haywood, Chris Hazzard, Melissa London Hilfers, Christopher Kyle, Molly Nussbaum, Luvh Rakhe, Shawn Ryan, Betsy Thomas, Danny Tolli, Erica Saleh, Mike Schur, Cat Vasko, Ben Watkins, Kat Wood, and Lisa Zwerling.

WGA leadership will, of course, also be involved. Those included by virtue of their office are WGA West President Michele Mulroney, VP Travis Donnelly and secretary-treasurer Peter Murrieta as well as WGA East President Tom Fontana, VP of film/TV/streaming Michael Rauch and secretary-treasurer Sasha Stewart.

Negotiations are expected to officially begin in the first few months of the year, though Deadline hears that all of the guild have already been back channeling with the AMPTP to signal priorities ahead of next year’s talks.

The unions will face a new chief negotiator on the other side of the table in 2026, as new AMPTP president Greg Hessinger replaced the group’s longtime leader Carol Lombardini this year.