Breathtaking Twist: Oppenheimer Movie Cast Shocks Premiere Audience, Witness Christopher Nolan’s Jaw-Dropping Announcement [UPDATED]

UPDATE: This story was written prior to the cast of Oppenheimer abandoning the premiere. Please see the video below for Christopher Nolan's announcement regarding the cast's departure.

In the event of a strike being declared, the cast of Oppenheimer is prepared to leave the movie's London premiere. The recent negotiations between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (the AMPTP) have failed to result in a new agreement, causing the existing contract to expire on July 13 at midnight. Although an official actors strike has not been declared yet, it is highly likely, which would mean that guild members would have to refrain from performing on set or participating in promotional activities.

Per Deadline, Emily Blunt represented the Oppenheimer cast on the red carpet during the film's premiere in London. The premiere was rescheduled an hour earlier to accommodate the cast's attendance. Blunt expressed that if the situation called for it, the cast would depart together. Her complete quote is as follows:

Currently, we are focused on reaching a fair agreement while we gather here to celebrate this film. In the event that circumstances require it, we will depart as a unified cast, alongside everyone else. It is a necessity that we must adhere to. The outcome remains uncertain, but our current priority is enjoying the pleasure of each other's company.

UPDATE: 2023/07/13 14:35 EST BY FARIBA REZWAN

New update: director Christopher Nolan has confirmed that the Oppenheimer cast has walked out of the movie's premiere.

While the Oppenheimer cast made their way down the red carpet, engaging in photo sessions and interviews, director Christopher Nolan himself took the stage alone, acknowledging that his actors had officially left the premiere to prepare for the impending actors' strike. In a show of solidarity, Nolan, being a member of the WGA, who themselves are on strike, expressed his unwavering support. Take a look at the video and read his comment below:

The Hollywood Strikes Explained

I must give credit to our outstanding cast, with Cillian Murphy at the helm. The lineup is extensive including Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, and many others. Additionally, it is important to recognize that you have already caught a glimpse of them at the red carpet. Regrettably, they are currently occupied with creating their protest signs in preparation for the anticipated strike by SAG. They will be joining my Writers Guild in the fight for equitable wages for all working members of their union, and we wholeheartedly support their cause.

With the 2023 writers strike still ongoing after eleven weeks, the imminent SAG-AFTRA strike adds to the wave of discontent in the entertainment industry. The Writers Guild (WGA), presently on strike, demands fair compensation for writers, residuals for streaming content, and a minimum requirement for writers rooms. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence in script development remains a prominent concern.

The SAG-AFTRA strike is anticipated to have actors rallying for similar causes. Key negotiation issues involve residuals for streaming views, regulations regarding AI utilization, and the creation of a new algorithm for calculating streaming residuals. The strike is expected to be imminent, as an overwhelming 98 percent majority of SAG-AFTRA recently voted in favor of authorizing an actors strike if the ongoing negotiations, initiated in June, fail to yield an agreement.

The decision to strike would have far-reaching implications beyond the Oppenheimer premiere. While productions can proceed during the WGA strike if the scripts are already finalized, simultaneous strikes would result in numerous productions having to cease operations entirely. Additionally, promotional efforts for completed productions scheduled to release in theaters over the next few months would also be greatly impacted. This would significantly disrupt the industry's framework as both television networks and movie studios gradually deplete their reservoir of finished productions.

Source: Deadline