The phenomenal success of films Barbie And Oppenheimer brought a breath of fresh air to the film industry, which is still struggling to recover from a pandemic that hit it hard for three years. The celebrations could be short-lived, however, as the return to cinema seems more threatened than ever by a new looming postponement of films due to the strike by American screenwriters and actors.
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The July 13 row between the Hollywood Actors Union (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) wasted no time playing spoilsports on the fall return calendar.
A few days after the strike began (which came in addition to the writers’ strike that went into effect two months earlier), the release of the romantic comedy Challengers, originally scheduled for September, was pushed back to 2024 to allow its stars (including actress Zendaya ) to promote the film.
The Ghostbusters: Beyond sequel, originally slated to hit theaters in December, met the same fate a few days later and won’t hit our screens until spring 2024.
The release of Dune: Part Two, one of the most anticipated Hollywood films of the fall, is being jeopardized by the American actors’ strike. Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.
All eyes are now on Studio Warner, who will shortly have to decide what to do with the highly anticipated Dune: Part Two, which is slated for release on November 3rd. According to rumors that have been circulating for a few weeks, Denis Villeneuve’s film could be pushed back to 2024, as could Aquaman 2, one of December’s big releases.
“It’s very worrying”
These threats to postpone films are evidently causing concern among cinema owners, who have already experienced a similar scenario at the beginning of the pandemic.
“Right now we are trying not to hide our excitement and are focusing on the extraordinary results we are currently achieving with Barbie and Oppenheimer. But that would be […] the denial of not looking in our rearview mirror when it comes to the two strikes currently raging in Hollywood,” admits Association of Quebec Cinema Owners Co-President Éric Bouchard.
“We, like everyone, hear rumors about the release of Dune 2. I don’t want to hide that it’s very worrying. That would be a shame, especially since we found our way back this summer. Audiences have returned to the cinema and obviously want to come back. But if we don’t get films to show him, we’re going to break that momentum we’ve picked up this summer. »
Red carpets without stars
Hollywood studios can continue to release their films during the strike. The problem is that SAG-AFTRA member actors are not allowed to promote it, even on social media.
That means, for example, that if Dune: Part 2 hits theaters as planned in November and the dispute isn’t settled by then, Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and other stars of the film won’t be able to give interviews with the film, or even about the media walk the red carpet at the previews of the feature film.
“It is certain that the media presence of the stars is very important to ensure the release of this type of film,” notes Éric Bouchard. Seeing Tom Cruise everywhere talking about his film and his stunts makes audiences want to see him in the movies. »
Private star festivals
Everything indicates that the big film festivals in autumn will also suffer from the consequences of the strike by American actors.
If, given the circumstances, they managed to put together interesting programs, the Toronto Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival in early September will probably have to do without the presence of big stars on their red carpets.
Remember that last week the organizers of the Emmys (American television’s Oscars) were forced to postpone their awards ceremony in January to allow the stars to attend the event.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD STRIKES
- The guild representing American film and television screenwriters has been on strike since May 2nd.
- The dispute between the Hollywood Actors Union (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Film and Television Producers (AMPTP) erupted on July 13
- This is the first time since 1960 that Hollywood screenwriters and actors have gone on strike at the same time
- The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) in the audiovisual industry is also worrying the strikers.
- In particular, actors and screenwriters are calling for a reassessment of their “residual” earnings, which accrue every time a film or series is repeated and have plummeted as a result of streaming.
- In recent weeks, many stars have joined the picket with placards in their hands, including Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde, Hilary Duff, Jack Black and Daniel Radcliffe.
- Dwayne Johnson, meanwhile, has made a historic seven-figure donation to help actors who were financially deprived during the strike.
(In cooperation with AFP)
Several breaks in filming: the worst is yet to come
The effects of the two major Hollywood strikes will be felt in the theatrical release and event calendar in the fall, but also in the long term, as their outbreak paralyzed all cinema production. The releases of several films expected for 2024 will inevitably be postponed. And the longer the strike lasts, the greater the delays… Here are five major film shoots disrupted by the two labor disputes this summer.
GLADIATOR 2
Veteran filmmaker Ridley Scott was barely halfway through shooting the sequel to his hit 2000 film in Morocco when production had to shut down in mid-July. Filming was interrupted for a few days last June due to a stunt accident. Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal and Denzel Washington, Gladiator 2 is slated to hit theaters in November 2024.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 8
Will Tom Cruise be able to wrap up filming on the eighth and final installment in the Mission: Impossible saga in time for the movie’s release date, which is slated for next summer? Production on Mission: Impossible – Death toll, Part 2 had already been paused last spring to allow Cruise and his gang to promote the 7th opus, which was released on July 12th. It is currently unclear when filming can resume.
BEETLE JUICE 2
Filming was in full swing in London for this sequel to the Tim Burton classic when it came to an abrupt halt. Winona Ryder took on the role of Lydia, while young Jenna Ortega will play her daughter. If the actors’ strike doesn’t drag on, Beetlejuice 2 is scheduled to hit theaters in September 2024.
JUDGE #2
At the age of 93, the legendary Clint Eastwood began filming Juror #2 last June, billed as his final film before having to shelve production. Juror #2 is described as a legal thriller and will star Nicholas Hoult, Kiefer Sutherland and Toni Collette.
DEAD POOL 3
The actors’ strike also forced Montreal-born director Shawn Levy (“Night at the Museum”) to suspend filming on “Deadpool 3,” which has been in full swing in England since late May. Originally slated for next May, the release of the superhero movie starring Ryan Reynolds seems more in jeopardy than ever.