"With SAG's continued adherence to unreasonable demands in both new and traditional media, continuing negotiations at this time does not make sense," the producers said in a statement.

The guild responded in a statement by saying the producers’decision to end talks after 18 days was unfortunate.

Both sides have said they sought to avoid a repeat of the 100-day writers strike that ended in February. The union's contract for films and prime-time TV shows expires June 30.

"We made significant moves in their direction," Doug Allen, the guild's executive director, told The Associated Press. "We're trying to get the deal done and we're not the ones who walked away."

Allen said the guild asked for a third extension of talks that were originally set to end a week after beginning April 15, but the producers refused, instead offering to resume talks May 28. No date has been agreed upon.

Yesterday, the smaller actors union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, takes its turn at the bargaining table, and it is expected to reach a deal quickly. Its contract also ends June 30.