Sources say Apple, Comcast, WarnerMedia and Sony Pictures Entertainment, among others, are still in the mix to land Abrams’ Bad Robot.

The ongoing battle over packaging fees and affiliate production between the Writers Guild of America and Association of Talent Agents has slowed one of the industry's biggest talent pursuits: the quest to land an overall deal with prolific producer J.J. Abrams and his Bad Robot banner. Abrams and Bad Robot have stopped working with longtime agency CAA in all areas (save for directing). That has impacted the dealmaking process as Bad Robot had been taking meetings all over town for a potential new place to call home. With CAA no longer leading the charge, the process has slowed considerably, though one source familiar with the negotiations notes the pursuit "still has heat on it." Bad Robot's attorneys and internal team have now taken over the lead in those negotiations. Sources tell THR that Comcast, WarnerMedia, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Apple, among others, have all had meetings about signing Bad Robot (Westworld, Castle Rock) to a lucrative new overall deal. Some sources note that such a pact could be worth as much as $500 million when film, digital and other areas are factored in.

Reps for CAA and Bad Robot both declined to comment. Abrams initially did not sign the WGA's Statement of Support in late March. Instead, on March 27, he joined the writers' call to "end agencies' conflicted practices" with a note sent to WGA members. READ MORE Abrams and Bad Robot are considered the biggest fish currently swimming in the overall deal waters. Multiple studios and streamers at least kicked the tires on a possible rich pact with the super-producer. Netflix, Apple, Amazon and fellow media behemoths WarnerMedia, Comcast and Sony were among those who met or explored a deal with Bad Robot in the past few months. Abrams and Bad Robot execs, including head of television Ben Stephenson, took meetings all over town as they considered moving their overall deal from Warner Bros. TV, where the company behind Fringe has been based since 2006.