The Oppenheimer cast walked out of the UK premiere of “Solidarity” with the actors’ strike on Wednesday night.
The night began with the likes of Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt and Rami Malek walking the red carpet at the Odeon in Leicester Square.
But the group left the event early to “write up their picket signs” in preparation for the “upcoming” actors’ union strike.
The change came at the last minute after the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced it had voted in favor of action after a deadline for an agreement had expired.
Director Christopher Nolan told cinema audiences, “You’ve seen her here on the red carpet before.”
Taking a stand: The Oppenheimer cast walked out of the UK premiere of ‘Solidarity’ with the actors’ strike on Wednesday night (left to right: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh)
Director Christopher Nolan told cinema audiences, “Unfortunately, they are out picketing what we believe is an upcoming Sag strike.”
‘Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe is an upcoming Sag strike and are joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the fight for fair wages for working union members and we support them.’
In a red carpet interview with Variety that evening, Damon revealed that “once the strike is officially called,” the cast “will obviously be walking in solidarity.”
“That’s why we postponed it.” [red carpet] “Get up because we know straight away we’re going home,” he said.
Speaking to Deadline earlier on the red carpet, Emily added, “I hope everyone gets a fair deal and we’re here to celebrate this movie.”
“And if they call [a strike], we will walk together and in unity with all. … We will have to. We will have to. We’ll see what happens. “Right now it’s the joy of being together.”
Sag-aftra is expected to rule in favor of a picket line after its negotiating committee voted unanimously to recommend a strike to its 160,000 members on June 12.
The decision could result in a simultaneous strike by actors and writers for the first time in 60 years.
Undeterred by the earlier start time, the cast looked their best on the red carpet, with Florence providing the drama in a burnt orange plunging gown.
The actress made sure all eyes were on her in the plunging neckline dress, which showed off side bust and featured a daring cutout at the waist.
Emily, on the other hand, wowed in a black sequined dress with a fringed skirt and a cleavage at the waist.
Tension: The last-minute change came after the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists announced it had voted in favor of action after a deadline for an agreement had expired.
Oh dear: the untimely clash is a huge blow to Christopher, who has spent £81million on the blockbuster production due to hit UK cinemas on July 21
Plan: In an interview with Variety that night on the red carpet, Damon revealed that “once the strike is officially called,” the cast “will obviously be walking in solidarity.”
The untimely clash is a blow to Christopher, who has spent £81million on the blockbuster production, which is set to hit UK cinemas on July 21.
Peaky Blinders star Cillian takes on the role of Dr.
Emily takes on the role of physicist Oppenheimer’s wife, Kitty, while Florence plays Jean Tatlock, a psychiatrist, Communist Party member and close friend of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Florence made sure all eyes were on her as she posed with the cast. She added a dramatic and glamorous touch with the puff skirt and silver hoop earrings.
Emily, meanwhile, styled her blonde locks in soft waves and accentuated her height with black heels.
The actress starred alongside Cillian in A Quiet Place Part 2 and the duo embraced on the black carpet.
The film is based on the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning book details Oppenheimer’s personal life and his time leading the Manhattan Project in the early and mid-1940s.
The film has already been hailed as a contender for multiple awards.
Journalists have taken to Twitter to share their rave reviews of the film, with one reviewer describing how the film “cracked my brain” and “made me sob til the credits”.
Robbie Collin from the Telegraph wrote, “I’m torn between being coy and secretive about Oppenheimer and just coming out and saying it’s an absolute blast.”
Variety’s Elsa Keslassy added: “A sign that French audiences loved #Oppenheimer is that they stayed outside the Grand Rex cinema to debate it long after the film finished!”
A slew of Hollywood stars, including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Mark Ruffalo, are poised to rejoin writers on strike for the first time in 60 years.
Thousands of members of the Writers Guild of America have walked out after talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers broke down over pay.
At the heart of the argument is the rise of streaming – with the guild claiming that authors’ share of that money has steadily dwindled despite rising budgets.
Attending a photocall on Wednesday, Oppenheimer star Matt said that while everyone was hoping a strike could be averted, he said many actors need a fair contract to survive.
“We should protect the people who are somehow marginalized,” Damon told the AP.
“And $26,000 a year you have to make to get health insurance.” And there are many people whose balance payments put them above that threshold.
“And when those back payments dry up, so does their health care.” And that’s absolutely unacceptable. We can’t have that. So we have to find something that is fair.”
It is the first time since 1960 that actors and writers demonstrate film and television productions.
Members of the Writers Guild of America have been on strike since early May to slow production of film and television series on both coasts and in production centers like Atlanta.
Words: Speaking to Deadline earlier on the red carpet, Emily added, “I hope everyone gets a fair deal and we’re here to celebrate this movie.”
A spokesman for SAG said: “After more than four weeks of negotiations, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) – the entity representing major studios and streamers including Amazon, Apple, Disney, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Paramount and Sony. and Warner Bros. Discovery – remain unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues of concern to Sag Aftra members.
“Companies have refused to get involved in some areas in a meaningful way, while others have completely blocked us.
“Until they negotiate in good faith, we cannot reach an agreement.”
“We have no choice but to move forward together and on behalf of our members with a strike recommendation to our National Executive.”
“The board will discuss the issue this morning and make its decision.”
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer: What do the critics think?
Robbie Collin from the Telegraph
“I’m torn between being shy and secretive about Oppenheimer and just coming out and saying it’s absolute banger.”
Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri
“OPPENHEIMER is…amazing.” “A relentlessly fast, insanely detailed and complex historical drama that just keeps growing until Nolan brings the gavel down in the most amazing and harrowing way.”
Jonathan Dean of the Sunday Times
“Completely immersed in OPPENHEIMER. “A bold, imaginative and complex film that unsettles its audience.”
Lindsey Bahr, author of the Associated Press film
“It is truly a spectacular achievement, in its truthful, concise adaptation, imaginative storytelling, and nuanced performances from Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, and the many others involved.”
“An epic historical drama but with a distinct Nolan sensibility: suspense, structure, sense of scale, stunning sound design, striking visuals.” Wow.’
“A sign that French audiences loved #Oppenheimer is that they stayed outside the Grand Rex theater to debate it long after the film finished!”