Sean Astin, known for his role as Samwise Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings," has been elected the new national president of SAG-AFTRA, succeeding Fran Drescher. Astin, who won with 79% of the vote, will lead the 160,000-member union into crucial contract negotiations with major studios next year. These negotiations will address key issues like AI protections, streaming bonuses, and preventing productions from moving overseas. Astin advocates for a collaborative approach, prioritizing a fair deal over immediate strike action, unlike his opponent, Chuck Slavin. Voter turnout was lower than in previous years.

Prepared by Emily Rhodes and reviewed by editorial team.