In another noisy shot across the studios' collective bow, SAG leadership hinted further at a strike

Wednesday by signing an interim work agreement with indie shingle The Film Department. The deal would allow nine films in varying stages of development — including the Catherine Zeta-Jones comedy The Rebound and the Gerard Butler thriller Law-Abiding Citizen — to continue unaffected in the case of a work stoppage. The WGA applied a similar approach during its own strike, eventually pacting with seemingly every indie in town that didn't have financing and/or distribution deals with major studios. SAG is likely to do the same, having first floated the idea over a month ago and currently in talks with the likes of Lionsgate, The Weinstein Company and other producers. Television isn't covered, however, so look for plenty of reruns should Strike Hell come to pass (again) after June 30. [Variety]