Hollywood is bracing for the impact of a major strike by actors, which is likely to affect the production of high-profile films, including sequels to Avatar and Gladiator. The strike, initiated by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), has brought the industry to a standstill, with about 160,000 performers halting work in Los Angeles.
The SAG is demanding better working conditions, a fairer share of profits from streaming platforms, and protections against the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-generated faces and voices to replace actors. The union wants to ensure that actors are not replaced by digital replicas and is seeking guarantees on this matter.
As a result of the strike, actors are not allowed to appear in films or participate in promotional activities for movies they have already made. This has already affected events such as red-carpet premieres, including the release of Disney’s Haunted Mansion later this month. Major industry events like the Emmys and Comic-Con may also face rescheduling or scaling back.
Notable actors such as Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt showed their support for the strike by leaving the premiere of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer in London when the strike was declared. Christopher Nolan himself expressed his support for the actors’ cause, mentioning that they were off to write picket signs.
The strike comes after similar action by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), resulting in a halt in many US film and TV productions. The industry now faces a significant shutdown, the largest in over 60 years, as the actors fight for their demands.