SAG-AFTRA strike: ‘Oppenheimer’ stars exit London premiere in ‘solidarity’ with actors’ strike

Hollywood industry has shut down after American actors announced they will join writers by going on strike.

This is for the first time in over 60 years that both SAG-AFTRA (the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) and WGA (the Writers Guild of America) will be on strike at the same time.

This step has been taken to pressure streaming giants into meeting their demands, which include fairer profit sharing, improved working conditions, and a commitment that artificial intelligence and computer-generated faces and voices will not replace human actors.

160,000 performers will join forces with a separate strike by writers who are fighting for similar rights and better treatment in the industry.

As the strike commenced, director Christopher Nolan revealed that stars Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt left the ‘Oppenheimer’ premiere.

The group representing the studios, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers slammed the decision.

In a statement, it said that ‘a strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life’.

‘The union has regrettably chosen a path that will lead to financial hardship for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry,’ its statement added.

Addressing the concerns over the use of AI, AMPTP said it had agreed to a ‘groundbreaking proposal’ that would protect the digital likeness of actors, and require their consent when digital replicas are used in performances, or alterations are made.