The Writers Guild of America West has ordered its members to cease working with The Expendables producer Millennium Pictures, citing that the company is not a signatory to its current union agreement.
“We are writing to alert you that WGA members are prohibited under Working Rule 8 from performing writing services for, or optioning or selling literary material to, Millennium Pictures, Inc. (Millennium), or any affiliate thereof,” the union’s top executive officers stated in a Wednesday message to members. According to the union, the company is not a signatory to its 2023 contract, whose term is three years.
Moreover, the union leaders alleged, “The Guild has had to bring a significant number of claims against Millennium over the years for the company’s failure to pay writers initial compensation and residuals, as well as failure to pay writers within the timeframe established in the MBA.” As a result, “The Guild has determined that Millennium is not financially responsible and requires the posting of an adequate bond before it can become signatory. Millennium has, to date, refused to do so.”
Millennium was a signatory to the WGA West’s 2020 and previous contracts. This is the first time since the union’s 2023 contract that the union has alerted members to Millennium’s non-signatory status.
The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Millennium Media for comment.
The guild’s president Meredith Stiehm, vice president Michele Mulroney and secretary-treasurer Betsy Thomas argued that the dispute is aimed at preventing Millennium Pictures from “undercutting writers’ standards and conditions.” They added, “Until there is resolution, Millennium cannot be allowed to benefit from writing services provided by WGA members.”
Founded by Rambo producer Avi Lerner, Millennium Media is perhaps best known for often low-budget action films like Olympus Has Fallen, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard and Drive Angry. Millennium Media owns a film production studio in Bulgaria, Nu Boyana, which has played host to many of its own projects and others including 300: Rise of an Empire.
