Inside Scoop: House Of The Dragon Season 2 Defies Actor's Strike, Here's How!

House of the Dragon season 2 will not be affected by the actors' strike. The second season of the Game of Thrones prequel show began filming in early April, a month prior to the Writers Guild of America's strike in early May. Now, with the Screen Actors Guild officially joining the strike after failed contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, Hollywood will be shut down in this historic moment.

Fortunately, House of the Dragon season 2 will proceed as planned. According to Variety, the show will be able to continue filming in the UK despite the SAG-AFTRA strike, thanks to the rules of the local union. The cast of House of the Dragon is mostly made up of UK actors who are members of a different union called Equity. In response to the SAG-AFTRA strike, Equity has provided guidance to its 47,000 members.

Equity U.K. is committed to providing full support to SAG-AFTRA and its members through legally permissible methods. If a performer in the U.K. chooses to join the strike or refuses to cross a picket line, they will not be shielded against potential dismissal or legal action for breaching their contract by the producer or the engager. In the same vein, if Equity actively encourages individuals to participate in the strike or refrain from crossing a picket line, it will be acting unlawfully and could face liability for damages or an injunction.

How The SAG-AFTRA Strike Will Affect House of the Dragon Season 2

The SAG-AFTRA strike will have significant and immediate consequences in Hollywood, but its impact on House of the Dragon season 2 is expected to be minimal. This is because actors in the UK are contracted through a different union, Equity, which operates under separate regulations. While Equity members are encouraged to show support for the SAG-AFTRA strike through legal means, they are not legally permitted to strike in solidarity. Additionally, the stringent labor laws in the UK prohibit Equity from authorizing a union-wide strike in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA.

Equity is advising its members in the UK to persist in their work. Joining the SAG-AFTRA strike would leave Equity members vulnerable to possible dismissal or lawsuits from producers for contract violation, without any legal protection. Furthermore, if Equity's leadership were to endorse their members' participation in the SAG-AFTRA strike, the union would be in violation of British law and therefore accountable. Consequently, according to the existing legal framework, House of the Dragon season 2 can proceed with its scheduled filming and is expected to premiere in 2024.