The Writers Guild of America is reportedly in talks with Tom Cruise’s independent film company in order to bring striking Hollywood writers back to work at the film studio.

Similarly to the deal reached last month with David Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants Inc., the settlement currently in the works involves the movie studio owned by Tom Cruise and the actor's business partner Paula Wagner, and does not include Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc., which holds a majority stake in United Artists, according to Variety.

Acording to Jonathan Handel, attorney at TroyGould in Los Angeles and a former associate counsel for the writers guild, an agreement with United Artists may lead to talks with other, smaller studios such as Lions Gate Entertainment Corp., maker of the "Saw'" films, and Weinstein Co..

"An agreement with a significantly sized company like UA shows very powerfully that what the guild is asking for in new media is achievable,'' Handel said.

Although none of the parts involved in the negotiations, the WGA or UA, have made any official announcements, they are expected to release a formal statement by Monday.

The WGA recently sealed a deal with Letterman's production company, allowing writers of his late-night talk show to get back to work. A deal with UA would be notable because it would represent a first film company deal and allow UA to get cracking on new script development and execute any necessary rewrites on active projects.

According to a WGA source, several independent companies have already engaged in negotiations for possible interim production pacts, while negotiations between the WGA and the group that represents the majors, the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers, have not commenced since talks broke down Dec. 7.