Title: Hollywood Filmmakers on Pause as Screen Performers’ Strike Halts Production
LOS ANGELES — Hollywood studios have hit the pause button as a strike led by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has brought more than 160,000 screen performers to a standstill for the first time in over four decades.
Amidst an already slowing production line caused by screenwriters on strike since May, the actors’ strike has now pushed numerous high-profile projects, based on completed scripts, into indefinite hiatus.
The strike has also impacted actors’ participation in promotional campaigns, leading to the cancellation of planned red carpet events, including the U.S. premiere of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film, “Oppenheimer,” according to Universal Pictures, a subsidiary of NBCUniversal.
NBC News has confirmed that several film shoots have been shut down until actors reach a deal with the trade association representing leading studios and streamers, including NBCUniversal parent company Comcast.
Here are some of the major projects affected by the strike:
“Gladiator 2” (Paramount Pictures):
Ridley Scott’s sequel to his Oscar-winning 2000 historical epic has been “impacted” by the strike, causing a halt in production. The film, starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, and Denzel Washington, started shooting in various locations such as Malta and Morocco last month and was originally scheduled for release in November 2024.
“Juror #2” (Warner Bros. Pictures):
Clint Eastwood’s rumored final directorial outing, featuring Nicholas Hoult as a murder trial juror, is facing suspension as filming in Georgia, a major hub for Hollywood productions, has been put on hold. The movie does not yet have an official release date.
“Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part Two” (Paramount Pictures):
While Tom Cruise is expected to dominate the international box office with “Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” this weekend, the strike has delayed the shooting of the sequel. Production was set to resume after the promotion of the current installment in the spy franchise.
Untitled F1 Drama (Apple TV+):
Director Joseph Kosinski, known for “Top Gun: Maverick,” had planned to film a Formula One-themed racing drama starring Brad Pitt. However, all shooting has been suspended due to the strike. Pitt, a loyal member of the union, had been enjoying his involvement in the project. No official release date has been announced for the film.
As negotiations between actors and the trade association continue, the list of affected projects is expected to grow. Hollywood’s once bustling production line is now at a standstill, leaving filmmakers, actors, and studios eagerly awaiting a resolution to get back to work.
[This article will be updated as more information becomes available.]
(By Daniel Arkin and Diana Dasrath, NBC News)