SAG actors’ strike – latest: Mark Ruffalo condemns ‘billionaires’ in Hollywood who are ‘laughing like fat cats’

Mark Ruffalo has raged against Hollywood “fat cats” who he said “believe we [actors] are no longer of value”.

The 13 Going on 30 star made the remark in a series of tweets about the actors’ strike that has effectively shut down Hollywood.

Negotiators for the SAG-AFTRA union unanimously recommended a strike after talks with studios broke down. Scripted TV and movie production ceased immediately in the first dual work stoppage by both actors and writers in 63 years.

The Writers Guild of America has been on strike since early May. Both groups demand increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence (AI).

Both unions are in dispute with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Fran Drescher, former star of The Nanny and the president of SAG-AFTRA, said studios’ responses to the actors’ concerns had been “insulting and disrespectful”.

George Clooney has led A-listers voicing support for the strike, and Jason Sudeikis and Susan Sarandon are among the stars who have been seen on the picket line. Succession actor Brian Cox, meanwhile, has warned that the actors’ strike could get “very unpleasant”.

The cast of Oppenheimer left a London premiere prematurely on Thursday night (13 July) to “go and write their picket signs”.

Meanwhile, Disney CEO Bob Igercondemned the threatened strike action as “very disruptive” at the “worst time” as well as calling the expectations of writers and actors “just not realistic”.

Key points

• Hollywood in historic shutdown as actors join writers in strike action

• George Clooney and Jessica Chastain lead A-listers backing historic Hollywood actors strike

• Oppenheimer cast walk out of UK premiere in ‘solidarity’ with actors’ strike

• Bob Iger complains actors’ union is threatening to join writers strike at ‘worst time’

• Blade to Yellowjackets: Every TV show and movie affected by historic Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

Will the Emmys be affected by the strike?

11:20 , Peony Hirwani

Earlier this week, the nominations for the 2023 Emmys were announced, with Succession and The Last of Us leading the pack.

Typically, the awards ceremony is held in September and broadcast live, but there could be a delay this year because the strike’s rules bar members from participating in various promotional events, most notably awards shows.

A final decision is expected to be made by the end of July.

Read the full list of nominees here.

Succession makes Emmy history as full list of award nominations announced

Disney’s Haunted Mansion movie cast skips premiere amid strike

10:30 , Peony Hirwani

None of the movie stars showed up at Disney’s Haunted Mansion premiere held at Disneyland on Saturday night (15 July).

The big names who were notably missing were Lakeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, and Rosario Dawson.

The one person who did show up was the film’s director Justin Simien.

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Simien said: “I feel very ambivalent about it, but at the same time, I’m just so proud of this cast and I’m so, so proud of Katie Dippold who wrote the script, and so much of why I did this was to honor her words and to honor their work

He added: “If they can’t be here to speak for it, I felt like I had to be here to speak for it. It’s sad that they’re not here, at the same time, I totally support the reason why they’re not here. And I’m happy to be the one to ring the bell in their stead.”

Simien also noted that he finds the AI issues coming up in SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations to be “a very important thing to hammer home and to figure out.”

Ron Perlman issues clarity after sharing ‘heated’ message aimed at studio executives amid strike

10:00 , Peony Hirwani

Ron Perlman has issued clarity after sharing a “heated” message towards an unnamed studio executive.

On Friday (14 July), the 73-year-old actor addressed an anonymous studio executive who told Deadline last week that the AMPTP’s endgame – amid the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) strikes – “is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses.”

Speaking on an Instagram Live video that day, Perlman said: “Listen to me, motherf***ker. There’s a lot of ways to lose your house. Some of it is financial, some of it is karma, and some of it is just figuring out who the f*** said that – and we know who said that – and where he f***ing lives. … You wish that families would starve while you’re making 27 f***ing million dollars a year for creating nothing? Be careful, motherf***er. Be really careful.”

In a follow-up Instagram video, Perlman admitted that he “got quite heated” in his first message. He also clarified that he doesn’t “wish anybody any harm.”

“But when you start going around and saying we’re not even going to bargain with these f***ing d***heads until they start f***ing bleeding and their families start bleeding…” he added. “I mean, if you want to talk about some of the s*** that makes people so cynical and so pissed off with our current climate…

“I mean, this strike is just sort of… it’s a symptom of a struggle that’s way bigger than the strike itself. It’s a symptom of the soullessness of corporate America and how everything has become corporatised in this country.”

Studio executive predicts ‘fall festivals are f***ed’ amid actors’ strike

09:30 , Peony Hirwani

Along with film premieres, Comic-Con, 90s Con and many more promotional events that are expected to be negatively impacted as a result of the actors’ strike, fall film festivals are also “f***ed”, one studio executive put it bluntly.

“You can’t premiere movies anywhere without your stars,” the executive told Variety. “No stars, no movie.”

The Telluride, Toronto and New York film festivals, which are scheduled for this fall, are at risk of being derailed by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, should it last for months.

Colorado’s famed Telluride Film Festival, which is to run from 31 August through 4 September, could potentially remain the least impacted as it doesn’t hold press conferences or step-and-repeats like many others do.

“Telluride will be mostly unaffected,” one studio executive told the outlet. “I can’t say the same for the others.”

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is expected to take place from 7 September through 17 September, followed by the New York Film Festival from 29 September until 15 October.

It’s unknown how long the Hollywood shutdown could last, however, SAG is ready for “the long haul”. So until studios and SAG come to an agreement on a fair contract, this fall might be a risky season for TV and film.

Dune prequel to continue filming during actors’ strike

09:00 , Peony Hirwani

The HBO show, titled Dune: The Sisterhood and starring Olivia Williams and Emily Watson, will resume production in Budapest and continue throughout the strikes.

It is under contract with British Equity but there are some from SAG-AFTRA involved. While SAG members working on Equity productions can choose to strike, the UK’s anti-strike laws mean studios could sue.

Blade to Yellowjackets: Every TV show and movie affected by historic Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

08:30 , Peony Hirwani

Every TV show and movie affected by the Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

Why Hollywood writers and actors are going on strike

08:00 , Peony Hirwani

Why Hollywood writers and actors are going on strike

Comment: Most actors are broke – this strike should kill the ‘champagne socialist’ myth dead

07:30 , Peony Hirwani

When big names walked out of the ‘Oppenheimer’ premiere this week, it signalled the start of historic industrial action in Hollywood. The persistent assumption that acting pays is finally beginning to look less viable, writes Claire Allfree.

Most actors are broke – this strike should kill the ‘champagne socialist’ myth dead

Christopher Nolan gives warning about AI

07:00 , Peony Hirwani

At a special screening of his film Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan compared the rapid development of AI technology (a key issue in the labour dispute) with the events in his movie about creation of the atomic bomb.

One of the reasons actors are striking is because of fears around AI replacing them and using their likenesses in perpetuity.

“The rise of companies in the last 15 years bandying words like algorithm – not knowing what they mean in any kind of meaningful, mathematical sense – these guys don’t know what an algorithm is,” Nolan said. “People in my business talking about it, they just don’t want to take responsibility for whatever that algorithm does.”

“Applied to AI, that’s a terrifying possibility. Terrifying. Not least because, AI systems will go into defensive infrastructure ultimately. They’ll be in charge of nuclear weapons. To say that that is a separate entity from the person wielding, programming, putting that AI to use, then we’re doomed. It has to be about accountability. We have to hold people accountable for what they do with the tools that they have.”

He added: “With the labour disputes going on in Hollywood right now, a lot of it – when we talk about AI, when we talk about these issues – they’re all ultimately born from the same thing, which is when you innovate with technology, you have to maintain accountability.”

Director Simone Holland reveals the ‘hardest part about watching the strike’

06:30 , Peony Hirwani

Director Simone Holland has opened up about the “hardest part about watching the strike”.

“The hardest part about watching the strike is seeing all of the black writers and filmmakers that have sacrificed everything, who get lower rates/deals over-all, who’s content is usually the first to go; deal with glass cliff cycles consistently,” she wrote on Twitter on Sunday (16 July).

Former Paramount CEO Barry Diller says strikes could lead to Hollywood's 'absolute collapse' if not resolved soon

05:30 , Peony Hirwani

Former Paramount and 20th Century Fox CEO Barry Diller warned that the industry could face an “absolute collapse” if the Writers’ and Screen Actors Guild joint strike extends into the fall.

“What will happen is, if in fact, it doesn’t get settled until Christmas or so, then next year, there’s not going to be many programs for anybody to watch. So, you’re gonna see subscriptions get pulled, which is going to reduce the revenue of all these movie companies, television companies, the result of which is that there will be no programs,” Diller said on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday (16 July).

“And at just the time, [the] strike is settled that you want to get back up, there won’t be enough money.”

Diller said he believes a settlement deadline of 1 September should be agreed upon by everybody to prevent “devastating” effects on the entertainment industry.

“I think there should be a settlement deadline because… this actually will have devastating effects if it is not settled soon,” he said “This is a huge business, both domestically and for world exporters.”

Diller added: “It sounds like I’m crying to the skies but these conditions will potentially produce an absolute collapse of an entire industry.”

Every project affected by the strike

Sunday 16 July 2023 19:06 , Ellie Harrison

The list of TV and movies impacted by the strike, from Gladiator 2 to Yellowjackets, is ever-growing.

Read the full story here...

Every TV show and movie affected by the Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

Matilda child star Mara Wilson and John Cusack share horror stories on Hollywood studio greed

Sunday 16 July 2023 17:05 , Ellie Harrison

Actors have been sharing stories of low income from hugely successful shows and films...

“Thanks to streaming, I have never once made enough to qualify for SAG-AFTRA healthcare,” Wilson tweeted.

While she acknowledged she hasn’t “acted much as an adult”, the star argued: “But I WAS a recurring character on one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of all time, as well playing an actual Disney villain.”

John Cusack and child star share stories on studio greed amid SAG strike

Dune prequel to continue filming during actors’ strike

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:58 , Ellie Harrison

The HBO show, titled Dune: The Sisterhood and starring Olivia Williams and Emily Watson, will resume production in Budapest and continue throughout the strikes.

It is under contract with British Equity but there are some from SAG-AFTRA involved. While SAG members working on Equity productions can choose to strike, the UK’s anti-strike laws mean studios could sue.

Brian Cox says actors’ strike could get ‘very unpleasant'

Sunday 16 July 2023 15:00 , Ellie Harrison

In an interview on Friday (15 July) with Sky News, the 77-year-old British actor said the strike “could get very, very unpleasant” and “could go on for quite some time”. He said: “They’ll take us to the brink and we’ll probably have to go to the brink.”

Cox also addressed actors’ concerns about the use of AI in film and television production, such as using artificial intelligence to write scripts or generate actors’ likenesses without consent. “We don’t know the extent to which it can operate,” he said. “It’s the boogeyman, it really is the boogeyman.”

Who has been on the picket line?

Sunday 16 July 2023 13:45 , Ellie Harrison

Among the stars seen holding banners have been Thelma & Louise actor Susan Sarandon and Jason Sudeikis, star and creator of comedy Ted Lasso.

Allison Janney, Timothy Olyphant, Josh Gad, Ben Schwartz, Sean Astin, Charlie Barnett, Joey King, Chloe Fineman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Patton Oswalt, Marg Helgenberger, Jake McDorman, Constance Zimmer and Michelle Hurd have also all been spotted showing solidarity in LA and New York.

Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur told Deadline: “Now a thousand very attractive people have shown up and joined the lines, it’s an enormous amount of wind in our sails.”

Mark Ruffalo rages against Hollywood ‘fat cats'

Sunday 16 July 2023 11:28 , Ellie Harrison

Actor Mark Ruffalo has urged his fellow stars to work with indie producers, following the news that SAG-AFTRA will soon be signing “interim agreements” with truly independent producers that will allow many of them to make projects during the strike, as long as they are not affiliated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

“Then we just do what we always do – create great content and they can buy it, or we take it out ourselves and WE share in those sales,” he tweeted. “They’ve created an empire of billionaires and believe that we are no longer of value. While they hang out in the billionaire boy summer camps laughing like fat cats, we organise a new world for workers.”

Christopher Nolan gives warning about AI

Sunday 16 July 2023 09:45 , Ellie Harrison

At a special screening of his film Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan compared the rapid development of AI technology (a key issue in the labour dispute) with the events in his movie about creation of the atomic bomb.

One of the reasons actors are striking is because of fears around AI replacing them and using their likenesses in perpetuity.

“The rise of companies in the last 15 years bandying words like algorithm – not knowing what they mean in any kind of meaningful, mathematical sense – these guys don’t know what an algorithm is,” Nolan said. “People in my business talking about it, they just don’t want to take responsibility for whatever that algorithm does.”

“Applied to AI, that’s a terrifying possibility. Terrifying. Not least because, AI systems will go into defensive infrastructure ultimately. They’ll be in charge of nuclear weapons. To say that that is a separate entity from the person wielding, programming, putting that AI to use, then we’re doomed. It has to be about accountability. We have to hold people accountable for what they do with the tools that they have.”

He added: “With the labour disputes going on in Hollywood right now, a lot of it – when we talk about AI, when we talk about these issues – they’re all ultimately born from the same thing, which is when you innovate with technology, you have to maintain accountability.”

Haunted Mansion premiere goes ahead... with no stars

Sunday 16 July 2023 08:45 , Ellie Harrison

The Disney movie’s world premiere on Saturday (15 July), starring Tiffany Haddish and Jamie Lee Curtis, is the first major Hollywood event to go ahead without any actors present.

“I feel very ambivalent about it, but at the same time, I’m just so proud of this cast and I’m so, so proud of Katie Dippold who wrote the script, and so much of why I did this was to honour her words and to honour their work,” director Justin Simien told The Hollywood Reporter on the carpet.

“If they can’t be here to speak for it, I felt like I had to be here to speak for it. It’s sad that they’re not here, at the same time, I totally support the reason why they’re not here. And I’m happy to be the one to ring the bell in their stead.”

Comment: Most actors are broke – this strike should kill the ‘champagne socialist’ myth dead

Saturday 15 July 2023 23:30 , Ellie Harrison

“Creative economies are complex beasts, particularly in the live entertainment sector. Even so, it’s increasingly the case that the stars of the show are rarely the ones reaping the rewards, while the foot soldiers are barely managing to survive. A resolution is not looking good for the WGA according to one anonymous studio exec, who recently told the Hollywood publication Deadline that ‘the endgame is to allow things to drag on until union members start losing their apartments and losing their houses’.

“If this is how those at the top truly view the creatives that make a show into a hit, there soon might not be an entertainment industry to speak of at all.”

Most actors are broke – this strike should kill the ‘champagne socialist’ myth dead

Actors banned from attending Comic-Con

Saturday 15 July 2023 21:00 , Ellie Harrison

The 2023 event in San Diego is set to start next Thursday, but SAG-AFTRA has specifically banned its members from doing promotion at conventions and fan expos.

Strike guidelines also bar members from attending premieres and awards shows, and they are restricted from promoting projects completed under SAG contracts on social media and in interviews.

What the actors’ strike means for Broadway shows

Saturday 15 July 2023 19:00 , Ellie Harrison

As of midnight on Friday (14 July), the actors’ union began the industrial action, with picket lines beginning later that morning. The union comprises screen actors, as well as broadcast journalists, announcers, presenters, and stunt performers.

While the total membership comprises more than 160,000 people, only the 65,000 performers in TV and film productions are currently participating in the strike.

This means that Broadway performers are currently working as usual, and the theatre industry will not be affected.

What the actors’ strike means for Broadway shows

Will the Emmys be affected by the strike?

Saturday 15 July 2023 17:00 , Ellie Harrison

Earlier this week, the nominations for the 2023 Emmys were announced, with Succession and The Last of Us leading the pack.

Typically, the awards ceremony is held in September and broadcast live, but there could be a delay this year because the strike’s rules bar members from participating in various promotional events, most notably awards shows.

A final decision is expected to be made by the end of July.

Read the full list of nominees here.

Succession makes Emmy history as full list of award nominations announced

Gilmore Girls star hits out at Netflix

Saturday 15 July 2023 15:54 , Ellie Harrison

“I wanted to come out and protest Netflix,” Gunn, who plays Kirk in the show, told The Hollywood Reporter while picketing. “I was on a television show called Gilmore Girls for a long time that has brought in massive profits for Netflix. It has been one of their most popular shows for a very long time, over a decade. It gets streamed over and over and over again, and I see almost none of the revenue that comes into that.”

Matilda child star Mara Wilson and John Cusack share horror stories on Hollywood studio greed

Saturday 15 July 2023 14:55 , Ellie Harrison

Actors have been sharing stories of low income from hugely successful shows and films...

“Thanks to streaming, I have never once made enough to qualify for SAG-AFTRA healthcare,” Wilson tweeted.

While she acknowledged she hasn’t “acted much as an adult”, the star argued: “But I WAS a recurring character on one of the most critically acclaimed animated shows of all time, as well playing an actual Disney villain.”

John Cusack and child star share stories on studio greed amid SAG strike

Every project affected by the strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 14:00 , Ellie Harrison

The list of TV and movies impacted by the strike, from Gladiator 2 to Yellowjackets, is ever-growing.

Read the full story here...

Every TV show and movie affected by the Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

George Clooney and Alec Baldwin have voiced strong support for the action

Saturday 15 July 2023 13:00 , Ellie Harrison

In a statement shared with the PA news agency, Clooney said: “This is an inflection point in our industry. Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living.

“For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors that journey starts now.”

In a video posted to Instagram, Baldwin congratulated the union for calling the strike in order to protect its “rank and file” members.

“I don’t think anybody really wants a strike but they don’t want to continue under the unfair contracts that we’re working under now,” he said.

“So congratulations to everybody and I hope this is over right after we get everything we want.”

Who has been on the picket line?

Saturday 15 July 2023 12:00 , Ellie Harrison

Among the stars seen holding banners have been Thelma & Louise actor Susan Sarandon and Jason Sudeikis, star and creator of comedy Ted Lasso.

Allison Janney, Timothy Olyphant, Josh Gad, Ben Schwartz, Sean Astin, Charlie Barnett, Joey King, Chloe Fineman, Ginnifer Goodwin, Patton Oswalt, Marg Helgenberger, Jake McDorman, Constance Zimmer and Michelle Hurd have also all been spotted showing solidarity in LA and New York.

Parks and Recreation co-creator Mike Schur told Deadline: “Now a thousand very attractive people have shown up and joined the lines, it’s an enormous amount of wind in our sails.”

Christopher Nolan says he will ‘absolutely’ not be working on any more films until strike resolved

Saturday 15 July 2023 11:00 , Ellie Harrison

Nolan confessed he was “very fortunate with the timing”, as premieres for his movie Oppenheimer were held just before the strike began.

When asked if he would write another film during the strike, he told the BBC: “No, absolutely. It’s very important that everybody understands it is a very key moment in the relationship between working people and Hollywood.

“This is not about me, this is not about the stars of my film. This is about jobbing actors, this is about staff writers on television programmes trying to raise a family, trying to keep food on the table.”

The Last of Us co-creator Craig Mazin on ‘mixed emotions’ of celebrating Emmy success amid strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 09:55 , Ellie Harrison

The epic video game adaptation has been nominated for 23 Emmys in this year’s awards, but Mazin’s mind is also on the strike.

“I’m thinking about all of our crews,” he told Deadline. “I’m thinking about the people that make our shows who are going to be suffering alongside us, even as we’re the ones who are fighting for contracts. Those are the people I’m thinking about today, my mind is really on the crew.

“And I think we’re all rather upset with the companies right now. They are hurting so many people with their intransigence. Ultimately, it comes down to these corporations just getting it because they don’t get it right now. And they’re going to have to.”

Speaking about how historic the Hollywood shutdown is, he continued: “This isn’t like anything before... I have not been alive at a time when the actors and the writers stuck together. That’s how long it’s been, and that’s how bad I think the companies have messed up here. I don’t know what’s going happen, I just want to get back to work but we can’t get back to work until they do the right thing. It’s as simple as that.”

Brian Cox says actors’ strike could last until the end of the year

Saturday 15 July 2023 09:25 , Ellie Harrison

In an interview on Friday (15 July) with Sky News, the 77-year-old British actor said the strike “could get very, very unpleasant” and “could go on for quite some time”. He said: “They’ll take us to the brink and we’ll probably have to go to the brink.”

Cox also addressed actors’ concerns about the use of AI in film and television production, such as using artificial intelligence to write scripts or generate actors’ likenesses without consent. “We don’t know the extent to which it can operate,” he said. “It’s the boogeyman, it really is the boogeyman.”

Actors banned from attending Comic-Con

Saturday 15 July 2023 08:45 , Inga Parkel

The famed event in San Diego is set to start next Thursday, but SAG-AFTRA specifically has banned its members from doing promotion at conventions and fan expos, according to Variety.

Strike guidelines also bar members from attending premieres and awards shows, and they are restricted from promoting projects completed under SAG contracts on social media and in interviews.

House of the Dragon hit with backlash for continuing filming despite SAG-AFTRA strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 07:45 , Inga Parkel

ICYMI: House of the Dragon is set to continue filming in the United Kingdom this summer despite the Screen Actors Guild strike – due to local union rules.

The second season of the HBO series is likely to proceed with production as scheduled, Variety reported on Thursday (13 July). The cast of the Game of Thrones prequel is primarily composed of British actors working under Equity contracts, rather than SAG-AFTRA. As a result, Equity members aren’t legally allowed to strike in solidarity with the US union, according to the outlet.

Read more:

House of the Dragon hit with backlash for continuing filming despite SAG-AFTRA strike

UK law prohibits Equity union from legally calling a strike in support of SAG-AFTRA

Will the Emmys be affected by the strike?

Saturday 15 July 2023 06:45 , Inga Parkel

Earlier this week, the nominations for the 2023 Emmys were announced with great anticipation. Find the full list of nominees here.

Wednesday (12 July) was a day of celebration for several TV stars, including first-time nominees Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Jason Segel (Shrinking) and more, who are finally being recognised for their incredible performances.

Typically, the awards ceremony is held in September and broadcast live – this year on Fox.

However, with the actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA’s recent strike approval – whose “rules” bar members from participating in several promotional events, most notably awards shows – the 75th Emmys is preparing for a delay, should the strike last until September.

The Television Academy, in charge of the Emmys, is reportedly at odds with Fox over when to postpone the TV awards.

Before the strike was officially called, the former was gunning for only a two-month delay in November, while the latter preferred a January airdate, according to Variety.

Apparently cancelling the ceremony altogether is not an option, given this year’s 75th landmark anniversary. A final decision is expected to be made by the end of July, insiders told the outlet.

Studio executive predicts ‘fall festivals are f***ed’ amid actors’ strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 05:45 , Inga Parkel

Along with film premieres, Comic-Con, 90s Con and many more promotional events that are expected to be negatively impacted as a result of the actors’ strike, fall film festivals are also “f***ed”, one studio executive put it bluntly.

“You can’t premiere movies anywhere without your stars,” the executive told Variety. “No stars, no movie.”

The Telluride, Toronto and New York film festivals, which are scheduled for this fall, are at risk of being derailed by the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, should it last for months.

Colorado’s famed Telluride Film Festival, which is to run from 31 August through 4 September, could potentially remain the least impacted as it doesn’t hold press conferences or step-and-repeats like many others do.

“Telluride will be mostly unaffected,” one studio executive told the outlet. “I can’t say the same for the others.”

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is expected to take place from 7 September through 17 September, followed by the New York Film Festival from 29 September until 15 October.

It’s unknown how long the Hollywood shutdown could last, however, SAG is ready for “the long haul”. So until studios and SAG come to an agreement on a fair contract, this fall might be a risky season for TV and film.

Every TV show and movie affected by historic Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 04:45 , Inga Parkel

Following the historic Hollywood shutdown brought on by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) joining the Writers Guild of America (WGA) to strike against streamers and studios, the list of TV and movies impacted is growing.

On Friday (13 July), SAG-AFTRA began striking alongside WGA members, who’ve been on the picket line since May.

While the immediate implications of the landmark screenwriters’ strike have already taken effect – all late-night talk shows have been temporarily cancelled – the impacts of the complete Hollywood walkout have only contributed to making the future months of entertainment quite bare.

Read more:

Blade to Yellowjackets: Every TV show and movie affected by historic Hollywood actors and writers’ strike

Hollywood has been effectively shut down by historic event

What the actors’ strike means for Broadway shows

Saturday 15 July 2023 03:45 , Inga Parkel

As of midnight on Friday (14 July), the actors’ union began the industrial action, with picket lines beginning later that morning. The union comprises screen actors, as well as broadcast journalists, announcers, presenters, and stunt performers.

While the total membership comprises more than 160,000 people, only the 65,000 performers in TV and film productions are currently participating in the strike.

Read more:

What the actors’ strike means for Broadway shows

Screen Actors Guild announced industrial action to coincide with writers’ strike

Oppenheimer actors walk out of UK premiere as Hollywood stars join writer strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 02:45 , Inga Parkel

The cast of Oppenheimer left a London premiere prematurely to “go and write their picket signs” in preparation for the “imminent” strike by the actors’ union.

On Thursday (13 July), lead actors of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated war biographic, including Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Ramy Malek, walked out of the film’s UK premiere in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA.

“You’ve seen them here earlier on the red carpet,” Nolan announced to the cinema’s audience.

“Unfortunately, they’re off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by Sag, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of the unions, and we support them.”

Read more:

Oppenheimer actors walk out of UK premiere as Hollywood stars join writer strike

Ahead of the screening, actors had been walking the red carpet, posing for pictures, interacting with fans and speaking to press

Matilda child star and John Cusack share horror stories on Hollywood studio greed in support of SAG strike

Saturday 15 July 2023 02:15 , Inga Parkel

In light of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists’ (SAG-AFTRA) historic move to join its fellow union, the Writers Guild of America (WGA), in striking against studios and streamers, actors and writers have shared horror stories that highlight the very corporate greed that the combined unions’ are fighting against.

Read more:

Matilda child star and John Cusack share horror stories on Hollywood studio greed in support of SAG strike

Actors’ union and screenwriters’ union have banded together in the fight for fair wages and higher streaming residuals

What does the Hollywood strike mean for you, the audience?

Saturday 15 July 2023 01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The writer’s strike had already kneecapped the entertainment industry, taking late-night talk shows off the air and making awards shows virtual or unscripted.

With the added weight of tens of thousands of actors, Hollywood is effectively in limbo until an agreement with production companies can be reached.

Tom Murray explains what that means for you, the audience.

What happens next as striking actors send Hollywood into meltdown?

Watch: Drescher tells MSNBC entire business model of industry has changed and contracts should too

Saturday 15 July 2023 01:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Why striking writers and actors fear new tech developments

Saturday 15 July 2023 00:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Hollywood’s actors and writers have both gone on strike for the first time since 1960, as they protest against a potentially unsettling future for the industry.

Vishwam Sankaran explains what they fear about the onset of AI technology.

What striking Hollywood writers and actors fear about AI replacing roles

Saturday 15 July 2023 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell

John Cusack rails against ‘legendary’ Hollywood greed

Friday 14 July 2023 23:45 , Oliver O'Connell

John Cusack is one of several Hollywood stars speaking out about unfair wages for actors as the performers’ union goes on strike.

Nicole Vassell reports on what the actor had to say about the strike.

John Cusack rails against ‘legendary’ Hollywood greed as actors’ strike begins

Friday 14 July 2023 23:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Jessica Chastain: ‘We are not afraid of a fight and we will not back down'

Friday 14 July 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Hollywood star Jessica Chastain has been strident in her backing of the strike.

She tweeted: “The AMPTP refused to make a fair deal on television, theatrical and streaming work. We are not afraid of a fight and we will not back down. My union, SAG/AFTRA is now on strike.”

A-listers step up to back historic Hollywood actors strike

Friday 14 July 2023 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Several high-profile celebrities have shown their support for SAG-AFTRA’s newly-announced strike that will effectively shut down Hollywood.

On Thursday (13 July), SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee, which represents 160,000 TV and film actors, made the official decision to go on strike alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who have been on the picket line since May.

Inga Parkel reports.

George Clooney and Jessica Chastain lead A-listers backing historic actors strike

Watch: SAG-AFTRA board member Sean AStin says ‘producers wouldn’t engage’ in negotiations

Friday 14 July 2023 21:50 , Oliver O'Connell

‘Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two’ joins list of movies delayed by strike

Friday 14 July 2023 21:30 , Oliver O'Connell

While the most recent outing of Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, its sequel might be pushed back even more.

It’s unclear how long fans will have to wait for the next instalment of the blockbuster series of high-adrenaline action movies.

Collider reports that the movie was first held up when the Writers Guild of America strike began, as writer-director Christopher McQuarrie had to stop working on the script for Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two.

Now, with SAG-AFTRA joining the strike, all work has to stop as the entire cast steps away — including Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Esai Morales, Hannah Waddingham, Simon Pegg, and Ving Rhames.

At the premiere of Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One, McQuarrie told Collider that filming was well underway on the sequel and most had been completed bar one ”massive” set piece central to the movie and “unlike anything you’ve seen”.

He added that it’s a big challenge and a tight schedule but they had hoped to wrap principal photography early in 2024.

Given the strike, it is not clear if the current aim to open at the end of June 2024 is still viable.

Friday 14 July 2023 21:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Brian Cox ‘absolutely’ supports striking actors and writers

Friday 14 July 2023 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Friday 14 July 2023 20:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Ms Shindle continues:

If you are offered work of any kind for an #AMPTP employer, don’t take *any* third party’s word for it that “it’s okay” or “it’s not covered by the strike”…Call @sagaftra and ask whether performing the work in question will undermine the strike.

If you don’t know whether you’re being asked to do struck work, that’s understandable; it’s a complex issue. But it’s on each of us to make sure we’re not betraying other workers, even if our faces won’t be on camera. Performing struck work creates a race to the bottom.

Work being withheld by @sagaftra members includes auditioning for #AMPTP projects, being on set, post-production, promotion, and more. When in doubt - or to report strike breaking activity - contact @sagaftra ASAP. Tons of additional info attached.

Every strike is important, but this one is existential. This is a generational battle for a fair and functioning entertainment industry, and our opponents have nearly unlimited resources. But we have the workers. We can do it. #ActorsStrike #1u

What is the response from Broadway and the world of live theatre?

Friday 14 July 2023 20:30 , Oliver O'Connell

With SAG-AFTRA members joining the Writers Guild of America on strike from today, how does this impact the world of theatre?

Stage actors are represented by the Actors’ Equity Union which has 51,000 members nationwide, both professional actors and stage managers.

Broadway shows will not be affected by the strike as SAG-AFTRA members who appear in live theatre are signed on through Equity contracts, occasionally having dual memberships between unions.

To clarify the union’s position, Equity President Kate Shindle took to Twitter to explain to her members how to avoid breaking the strike.

I cannot overstate how critical it is for members (and future members!) of @ActorsEquity to proactively and aggressively avoid breaking the @sagaftra strike. Know this: the other side will try to pit us against each other to keep churning out content. Don’t fall for it.

Her post also includes a handy guide for SAG-AFTRA members about what they can and can’t do during the strike.

Inigo Montoya joins the picket line

Friday 14 July 2023 20:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Inigo Montoya joins the picket line. Or stage and screen legend Mandy Patinkin outside of the world of The Princess Bride.

Comment: Hollywood strikes are the result of our addiction to streaming TV

Friday 14 July 2023 19:40 , Oliver O'Connell

David Arditi writes:

As the television writers’ strike has dragged into its third month, actors are now joining them on the picket lines. Streaming culture was supposed to bring us unlimited access to TV and film content, but it has trapped many actors in a position of insecurity.

Read more...

Opinion: Hollywood strikes are the result of our addiction to streaming TV

Fran Drescher speaks out after backlash over Kim Kardashian selfie during Hollywood strike

Friday 14 July 2023 19:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Fran Drescher has spoken out in response to the backlash over a selfie with Kim Kardashian that was posted during the negotiations over Hollywood strikes.

Olivia Petter reports.

Fran Drescher responds to backlash over Kim Kardashian selfie during Hollywood strike

What’s the reason behind the strike?

Friday 14 July 2023 19:00 , Inga Parkel

ICYM: Hollywood’s largest union, SAG-AFTRA, representing 160,000 film and television actors, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) are demanding increases in base pay and residuals in the streaming TV era plus assurances that their work will not be replaced by artificial intelligence.

Susan Sarandon speaks out on front lines of NYC strike

Friday 14 July 2023 18:40 , Inga Parkel

‘SAG-AFTRA strong’: Fran Drescher joins LA protests

Friday 14 July 2023 18:20 , Inga Parkel

SAG-AFTRA officially began striking on Friday (14 July), with its main protests taking place in front of several studios across Los Angeles, including Warner Bros, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount and Fox.

SAG president Fran Drescher, who has become the leading voice and face of the movement, arrived on location of one of the eight LA-based sites.

She was met with excited cheers and applause as she made her way off a bus.

“Workers unite,” Drescher announced before the crowd began to chant: “SAG-AFTRA strong!”

Susan Sarandon ‘feels optimistic’ as she joins New York picket line

Friday 14 July 2023 18:00 , Inga Parkel

While SAG-AFTRA’s main protests began today (Friday 14 July) in Los Angeles in front of several major production studios, including Sony, Warner Bros and Netflix, New York union members are doing their part on the opposite coast.

Numerous members have gathered in front of Netflix’s and Warner Bros Discovery’s side-by-side New York City offices, holding picket signs and chanting against “corporate greed”.

Among the masses was Susan Sarandon, who spoke to NowThis, saying the strike makes her feel “optimistic”.

“If we stick together, we have power,” the Stepmom star, 76, said.