Tom Hanks goes on strike with Hollywood writers, says industry needs to redefine its financial model

Tom Hanks, one of the most celebrated actors in Hollywood, has joined the ranks of striking writers in the US, declaring that the industry is at “an evolutionary crossroads” and that the writers deserve fair pay in the streaming era. Hanks, who is currently touring his debut novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, a behind-the-scenes look at the film industry, said he is standing in solidarity with the writers and will also be on strike to champion their cause. The writers’ union, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), has been striking since May 2 after failing to reach a new contract with film studios over issues such as residuals, minimums and health care. The WGA claims that writers are being underpaid and exploited by streaming services that offer lower rates and shorter contracts than traditional media. Hanks compared the current situation with the strikes that occurred in the 1,980s, when actors and writers fought for a share of the revenue from home video, a ne