‘Shameless’ Emmy Rossum Closes Deal To Return, Talks Season 8 Renewal

After a tense standoff over salary, Shameless star Emmy Rossum has closed a new deal with Warner Bros. TV. With her on board, the dramedy, which already had secured co-lead William H. Macy with a new contract, is fully expected to snag a Season 8 renewal by Showtime. Rossum tweeted the news of her re-upping this morning, indicating that production on Season 8 of Shameless will begin at May. (Showtime is yet to officially announce a pickup):

Playing Fiona Gallagher has been one of the great privileges of my life. I’m so happy to continue w my SHAMELESS family!Back to work in May!

— Emmy Rossum (@emmyrossum) December 14, 2016

The studio reportedly offered both Rossum and Macy the same salary under so-called favored nations terms that assure financial parity. As an Oscar nominee with an extensive body of work, Macy had started off with a higher original quote, and Rossum, the series’ breakout star, is now catching up with him. She had been holding out for a salary higher than Macy’s, briefly putting the future of Shameless in limbo.

Seven seasons in, Shameless remains a ratings force and a critical darling. It is the highest rated Showtime series among adults 18-49 and second most watched behind Homeland in Live+same day ratings.

Rossum had an argument about asking for more pay than Macy as she has had more screen presence lately and she carries many of the show’s main storylines. Still, Macy has amassed three Emmy nominations and won a SAG Award for the show. He landed another SAG nomination, his third, this morning.

In today’s environment where actresses have been striving for equal pay with their male counterparts, it is important to make a stand. But, thanks to the parity rule, television actually has done a better job treating male and female leads equally. Grey’s Anatomy‘s Ellen Pompeo was paid the same as male lead Patrick Dempsey before he exited the series despite his higher starting point based on his resume.