Moviefone Editorial

Tag: wga-strike

  • SAG-AFTRA Makes Deal to End Actors’ Strike

    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in New York on 9/21.
    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in New York on 9/21. Photo courtesy of SAG.

    Preview:

    • SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP have reached a tentative labor deal.
    • The actors strike, which has lasted 118 days, will end at 12:01am Thursday.
    • The deal comes more than a month after SAG-AFTRA’s sister guild the Writers Guild of America solidified a new contract with studios and ended its own strike.

    Looks like Hot Strike Summer is finally, actually coming to an end. Following the Writers Guild making a deal for a new contract to end its own industrial action, performers guild SAG-AFTRA (the combo of Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has announced to members that it has secured a new deal.

    It’s good news for so many in the entertainment community, since it means TV shows and movies can now start shooting again –– assuming the deal goes through.

    What’s the latest on the end of the strike?

    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in Northhampton on 9/21.
    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in Northhampton on 9/21. Photo courtesy of SAG.

    The SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Committee approved the agreement in a unanimous vote on Wednesday, SAG-AFTRA announced. The strike will end at 12:01 am Thursday. On Friday, the deal will go to the union’s national board on Friday for approval.

    The performers’ union announced the provisional agreement on Wednesday, after about two weeks of renewed negotiations. The development on Wednesday came not long before a deadline of 5pm that the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers had set for the union to give their answer on whether they had a deal.

    At the weekend, the AMPTP announced it was making its “last and final offer” to the guild, a statement that was widely mocked by actors on social media, and it was revealed that the two sides were still some distance apart on provisions such as protection against the use of AI to copy performers’ images.

    What does this mean for actors?

    SAG-AFTRA members Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer walk the line at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA on 9/20.
    SAG-AFTRA members Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer walk the line at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA on 9/20. Photo courtesy of SAG.

    While the board and the membership still have to ratify the new agreement, it effectively means a new three-year contact with a host of changes to how revenue is shared and other protections for performers.

    SAG-AFTRA has yet to reveal explicit details of the new contract.

    Related Article: Writers Guild Makes Tentative Deal with Studios to End Strike

    When will shows and movies get back to work?

    Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in 'Deadpool 3.'
    (L to R) Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool and Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in ‘Deadpool 3.’ Photo courtesy of Ryan Reynolds Instagram account.

    Between the writers’ new contract and this agreement to end the actors’ strike, it means that Hollywood can officially start production on movies and TV shows within a few weeks, or potentially, a few days.

    Of course, given the delays from the twin strikes, there will be a scramble for available talent and studio space, particularly on the movie front, meaning that some productions will still be delayed.

    We can expect a period of frenzied activity now, but with the incoming holiday period, the various studios and TV networks will once more be quiet as workers take time off.

    The companies had already been putting plans in place to shift release dates and TV series launches, and we’d expect most of those changes to stick if there isn’t time to get productions moving again quickly again.

    All told, the Hollywood strikes have cost the Southern California economy an estimated $6.5 billion and 45,000 entertainment industry jobs after the WGA hit the picket lines in May, followed by SAG-AFTRA in July.

    SAG-AFTRA on strike.
    SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

    Movies Affected by the SAG-AFTRA Strike:

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  • SAG-AFTRA Strike Negotiations Stall

    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in Northhampton on 9/21.
    SAG-AFTRA members walk the line in Northhampton on 9/21. Photo courtesy of SAG.

    Preview

    • The latest talks between the striking actors’ union and the studio representatives have ended without much progress.
    • The actors are seeking a similar new deal to what the writers recently secured, albeit with their own extra points.
    • Studio representative body the AMPTP claims that the gap between the parties is “too great” right now.

    Just when it looked like there was hope for an end to the actors’ strike following the resolution of the writers’ industrial action (the new contract for writers was officially ratified by 99% of the WGA membership on Monday), some cold water was thrown by news yesterday that performers’ union SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers that represents studios were “too far apart” on talks for their own deal.

    The actors have now been officially on strike since July 14th, essentially bringing Hollywood production in the States and elsewhere in the world to a standstill with the impact felt in shut down movies, delayed release dates and a shaken-up TV schedule, networks filling fall slots with reality shows and series that had already been in production.

    And, as has been the case throughout the strike, the two sides are waging a war of words to present their side of negotiations.

    Related Article: Writers Guild Makes Tentative Deal with Studios to End Strike

    SAG-AFTRA’s statement on the talks progress

    SAG-AFTRA members Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer walk the line at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA on 9/20.
    SAG-AFTRA members Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer walk the line at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA on 9/20. Photo courtesy of SAG.

    Here’s what SAG-AFTRA’s leadership told members in its latest release:

    “We have negotiated with them in good faith, despite the fact that last week they presented an offer that was, shockingly, worth less than they proposed before the strike began. These companies refuse to protect performers from being replaced by AI, they refuse to increase your wages to keep up with inflation, and they refuse to share a tiny portion of the immense revenue YOUR work generates for them. The companies are using the same failed strategy they tried to inflict on the WGA –– putting out misleading information in an attempt to fool our members into abandoning our solidarity and putting pressure on our negotiators. But, just like the writers, our members are smarter than that and will not be fooled.”

    The actors’ union has been pushing for various new deal points, including protection against the use of AI to replace some performers and an 11% increase in minimum payments (by comparison, both the Directors Guild and the writers secured 5).

    AMPTP put out its own statement on the talks

    WGA + SAG-AFTRA members walk the line at Paramount on Sept. 20.
    WGA + SAG-AFTRA members walk the line at Paramount on Sept. 20. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

    The alliance offered its usual publicity blast to explain its side of the matter:

    “SAG-AFTRA’s current offer included what it characterized as a viewership bonus that, by itself, would cost more than $800 million per year – which would create an untenable economic burden. SAG-AFTRA presented few, if any, moves on the numerous remaining open items. After meaningful conversations, it is clear that the gap between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA is too great, and conversations are no longer moving us in a productive direction.”

    We would expect this back-and-forth to continue for some time, with little forward movement (and it feels like the studios are once more the main sticking point). So, if you were hoping that your favorite show or that movie you were anticipating would be back on the schedule soon, we’d say patience is a virtue.

    SAG-AFTRA on strike.
    SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

    Movies Affected by the SAG-AFTRA Strike:

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  • End of Writers Guild Strike in Sight as Deal Struck

    WGAW member urges "AI Protections Now" at 9/12's Showrunner Solidarity picket at Fox.
    WGAW member urges “AI Protections Now” at 9/12’s Showrunner Solidarity picket at Fox. Photo courtesy of WGA.

    Hollywood –– at least, the part that relies on scripted material featuring actors –– has been largely at a standstill since May of this year, as the Writers Guild, followed, by the actors/performers union SAG-AFTRA went on strike for a better deal from the studios, as represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

    It has been 146 days since the start of the writers’ strike, but on Sunday, after a long stretch of negotiations before the weekend and through it, a deal has been agreed, at least on paper.

    This doesn’t however, mean that the strike ends immediately. While picketing has been suspended by writers, the union’s members still have to vote to ratify a new three-year contract featuring the improved terms negotiated.

    Assuming the guild approves the deal, the strike could be officially over by the end of the week.

    WGA speaks out

    WGA + SAG-AFTRA members walk the line at Showrunner Solidarity picket at Fox on 9/12.
    WGA + SAG-AFTRA members walk the line at Showrunner Solidarity picket at Fox on 9/12. Photo courtesy of WGA.

    This is what the WGA’s leadership sent to members once the deal was finalized:

    “What we have won in this contract — most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd — is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days. It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.”

    To see the full statement, go to the WGA West site.

    It is also not the end of the actors’ strike –– but a deal between the writers and the AMPTP means that a path to that is now much clearer.

    Related Article: Stephen Amell of ‘Heels’ Attacks SAG-AFTRA Strike as ‘Reductive Negotiating Tactic’

    What happened with the strike(s)?

    SAG-AFTRA on strike.
    SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

    The actors’ strike, which began on July 14th, follows similar action by the Writers Guild of America, the workers looking for a better deal.

    The WGA went on strike on May 2nd, after its own contract ran out with the AMPTP.

    Much like the Writers’ Guild, the actors’ unions had been negotiating with the AMPTP to secure a new contract. Actors have long been unhappy with reduced residuals brought about by streaming services and are displeased by studios claiming they can’t pay more while company CEOs earn millions. And roughly 12% of actors working today make the minimum required to trigger health benefits and keep their livelihoods.

    Here’s SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher on the actors’ strike announcement:

    “The gravity of this move is not lost on me or our negotiating committee or our board members who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions, of people all across this country and around the world.”

    Another key issue has been studios’ concerning efforts to bring in new technology to replace physical performers. When the strike was called yesterday, SAG-AFTRA revealed one pertinent detail of a studio offer –– digitizing the likeness of background players (or extras), paying them for one day’s work but then being able to use their image in perpetuity and however they please with no other payment.

    Now, at last, it appears everyone is on a path to get back to work, which means an end to movies and TV series being delayed, a return for shows to the air and fresh development on new projects.

    Hundreds of showrunners gather for group shot at Showrunner Solidarity Day at Fox on 9/12.
    Hundreds of showrunners gather for group shot at Showrunner Solidarity Day at Fox on 9/12. Photo: J.W. Hendricks.

    Movies Affected by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA Strike:

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  • Marvel, HBO and More Skipping Comic-Con

    Kevin Feige at the world premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    Kevin Feige at the world premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    The last few years have not been kind to San Diego’s huge celebration of all things pop culture, Comic-Con. Despite a high point in the early-mid 2000s where massive crowds showed up to hear about new developments in franchises such as ‘Twilight’ and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the view of the event as a premium launching point for new movies and TV shows has taken a hit more recently.

    And the COVID pandemic, which saw the 2020 and 2021 versions of the event reduced to a sparse virtual shadow of its former self, didn’t help.

    But while hopes were raised by a largely triumphant return last year (including the traditional big panel from Marvel announcing its upcoming slate and trotting out stars and creators to generate buzz), it appears that the biggest issue on Hollywood’s mind will now have an impact on which companies are bringing anything to the event.

    Writers’ strike delays

    Marvel Studios' 'Blade.'
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Blade.’

    According to a new story in The Wrap, Marvel in particular has decided to make this a skip year, deciding not to bring any of its shows or movies to the huge Hall H space where it has traditionally been a highlight of the four-day event. It will still, however, have a presence on the trade show floor of the Con.

    While the studio has not shown up before (or had a reduced presence due to it saving some big reveals for parent company Disney’s own D23 event, which falls after the July dates of the Con), the writers’ strike is reportedly behind the new move.

    Movies such as ‘Blade’ and ‘Thunderbolts’, along with TV series including ‘Daredevil: Born Again’ are all being delayed, and all the various release date shifts are impacting what will be worth showing off.

    And it’s not just the writers –– acting union SAG-AFTRA has yet to make its own deal with the studios, and that could mean talent on strike, unavailable to take the stage since they a forbidden from promotional duties while engaged in industrial action. Which would put a dampener even on projects Marvel could conceivably promote, including ‘Captain Marvel’ sequel ‘The Marvels’.

    Related Article: ‘Avatar’, ‘Avengers’ and ‘Star Wars’ Movies all Get New Release Dates in Big Disney Schedule Shift

    Other companies?

    President & CEO of Discovery Streaming & International JB Perrette.
    President & CEO of Discovery Streaming & International JB Perrette. Photograph by Jeff Kravitz/Warner Bros. Discovery.

    Marvel is not alone in this decision, as The Wrap additionally mentions that Universal and HBO are among the other names mentioned as pondering whether to show up this year.

    HBO is perhaps understandable, since its own parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery is on a serious cost-cutting run (including news that it is exploring licensing big HBO series for viewers to watch on Netflix to drum up extra revenue) and would not want to splash the cash to bring talent to the Con when hotel accommodation and other expenses would be extremely high. And, like Marvel, the companies are also seeing projects being pushed back because of the strike.

    Comic-Con is still scheduled to run between Thursday July 20 and Sunday July 23, but it sounds like its impact will be smaller this year.

    Louis D'Esposito and Kevin Feige at the world premiere of 'Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3' at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
    (L to R) Louis D’Esposito and Kevin Feige at the world premiere of ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3’ at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood CA on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Photo: Alex J. Berliner/ABImages.

    Upcoming Marvel Studios Movies: 

    Buy Marvel Movies On Amazon

  • Marvel Pauses ‘Thunderbolts’ Shooting

    Marvel Studios' 'Thunderbolts.'
    Marvel Studios’ ‘Thunderbolts.’

    The ongoing strike, which sees writers taking industrial action for a fairer deal from the studios, is starting to have more and more impact on movies and TV series.

    Most of the main networks have indicated that they’re planning to change their fall schedules to favor reality, other unscripted series and reruns because of the lack of new scripts. Much of their scripted output has been moved to mid-season and other changes are on the way. During the most recent strike, in 2007-2008, US screens saw a rebounded era of reality television, which doesn’t require union writers.

    Even Marvel is not safe from delays and issues with its shows and movies. The company recently hit pause on ‘Daredevil: Born Again’, had had been in the midst of a lengthy shoot in New York, while ‘Wonder Man’ shut down also. And it faced another delay on ‘Blade’, which had already been through its share of problems, including a director switch and script re-writes. But with no work allowed on the screenplay, production will have to wait.

    ‘Blade’ is not the only movie facing delays –– according to Deadline, ‘Thunderbolts’, the company’s anti-hero adventure, which was due to kick off filming in Atlanta in three weeks, is also shutting down until a deal is reached and the strike ends.

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    Who is in the Thunderbolts movie?

    We know (most of) the characters who will be showing up, since they were announced last year at Disney’s D23 event: Bucky Barnes (formerly The Winter Soldier), played by Sebastian Stan, is a key figure alongside Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova, Olga Kurylenko’s Antonia Dreykov/Taskmaster and David Harbour’s Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian, those three having been introduced in ‘Black Widow’.

    Then there’s John Walker, AKA US Agent, played by Wyatt Russell and first seen in ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ and Hannah John-Kamen’s Ava Starr, the phasing character known as Ghost, who debuted in ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp’.

    As for those overseeing the team, we have Valentina Allegra de Fontaine, AKA Val, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who was also introduced in the ‘Falcon’ series and has since cropped up in the likes of ‘Black Widow’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’. We also have Thaddeus Ross––last seen in ‘Black Widow’ and played since ‘The Incredible Hulk’ by William Hurt. But because of the actor’s death last year, Marvel has had to recast the role, tapping genre icon Harrison Ford to take over. Ross is reportedly the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s current President of the US (at least in ‘Captain America: New World Order’) so that’ll likely factor in.

    And more recently, we learned that ‘The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun and ‘The Bear’s Ayo Edebiri are also aboard in mystery roles.

    Jake Schreier is on board to direct, with his ‘Beef’ collaborator Lee Sung Jin the most recent writer.

    Julia Louis-Dreyfus from 'Thunderbolts' at D23 Expo 2022.
    Julia Louis-Dreyfus from ‘Thunderbolts’ at D23 Expo 2022.

    Related Article: Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts’ Recruits ‘Nope’s Steven Yeun for Mystery Role

    Amazon and more

    Marvel is far from the only company with projects seeing delays. Lionsgate stopped work on Aziz Ansari’s new film, ‘Good Fortune’, which has Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen in its cast. It’s the latest blow to Ansari’s directorial career, which had seen previous effort ‘Being Mortal’ curtailed following claims of inappropriate behavior on the part of star Bill Murray.

    Amazon’s Prime Video had been about to start shooting ‘Blade Runner 2099,’ the live-action sequel series to the original 1982 movie and 2017 sequel ‘Blade Runner 2049’.

    The series was scheduled to shoot in Northern Ireland, but the strike means that it’s also been delayed.

    Here’s what the country’s film had to say on the matter:

    “Northern Ireland Screen is extremely disappointed that ‘Blade Runner 2099’ is not going ahead at this time due to the ongoing writers’ strike. The project has been prepping on the ground in Belfast for many months now. The WGA strike has been halting production all over the world and we hope a fair deal is reached soon so crew can get back to work.”

    1982's 'Blade Runner' Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.
    1982’s ‘Blade Runner’ Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

    If the delay is significant, it’s likely to shift the show’s production back until next spring, a significant postponement. Silka Luisa, showrunner of Apple TV+’s ‘Shining Girls’, is writing and executive producing ‘Blade Runner 2099,’ which comes from Alcon Entertainment and Ridley Scott’s Scott Free Productions (Scott, of course, directed the original movie and has been involved in the franchise ever since).

    In the wider world, we know that the likes of ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Cobra Kai’, ‘The Last of Us’, ‘Loot’ and ‘Abbott Elementary’ are among the big-name series seeing the impact, but while those will be later arriving, viewers are already seeing the impact, as the late-night shows, such as those hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert are on indefinite hiatus and ‘Saturday Night Live’ has curtailed its season.

    As mentioned, it will be a while before we see the total fallout of the strike, since some shows, including ‘House of the Dragon’ and ‘Good Omens’ have second seasons that were finished before the strike began.

    Some companies and networks –– especially the CW, though that appears to have been its policy even before the strike –– are looking to shows produced outside of the States to fill gaps and help maintain viewers.

    And there will be a full program of movies for at least the next year and likely into 2024 as many productions were at least wrapped or in post-production.

    It is also an issue for companies looking to promote their work, either for upcoming releases or (in the case of TV shows) awards consideration, as talent is skipping interviews and events in solidarity with the writers.

    Finally, there is more trouble for studios on the horizon since the Directors Guild and SAG-AFTRA, which represents actors, still have to work out their contracts and their members have already been showing their support for their fellow creatives on strike lines.

    David Harbour from 'Thunderbolts' at D23 Expo 2022.
    David Harbour from ‘Thunderbolts’ at D23 Expo 2022.

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