Unprecedented Wave of A-List Actors Unite to Fight for Better Deal, Threatening Major Strike

Meryl Streep, Mark Ruffalo, and Brendan Fraser, along with several other actors, are prepared to go on strike if SAG-AFTRA fails to reach a fair agreement with the AMPTP during ongoing negotiations. An overwhelming 97.91% of SAG-AFTRA members approved the strike authorization, indicating that union members will strike if the negotiations with the AMPTP do not succeed by the end of June. If a strike occurs, it will result in a complete halt of all current film and television productions, including the popular Star Wars show Andor, which is currently being filmed amidst the writers strike.

According to Rolling Stone, over 300 actors have signed an open letter urging SAG-AFTRA to not settle for a basic agreement with the studios. This signifies their readiness to strike if a deal cannot be reached. While SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher has stated in a video message to members that discussions have been "extremely productive," many actors remain skeptical about reaching a fair agreement. They believe that SAG-AFTRA members are prepared to make sacrifices that the leadership may not be willing to make. Here is an excerpt from the letter:

It is essential to ensure that SAG-AFTRA members receive fair compensation and protection for their work, particularly when it is used to train AI. We firmly believe that settling for halfway gains and compromising on these key points is unacceptable. We are even willing to go on strike in order to uphold these principles. Failing to secure a transformative agreement would undermine the future of our union and our craft, leaving SAG-AFTRA in a weaker position for future negotiations.

The Potential SAG-AFTRA Strike Explained

SAG-AFTRA members have until June 30 to negotiate a fair deal with the AMPTP before a potential strike. If no agreement is reached by then, actors will join writers in their ongoing strike starting at midnight on July 1. The studios and SAG-AFTRA are discussing several crucial matters, such as the appropriate use of AI in creating an actor's likeness, fair residual payments, increased compensation, and reasonable guidelines for self-taped auditions. These issues align with the key concerns of the Writers Guild of America strike, particularly regarding streaming residuals and the unregulated employment of AI in screenplay writing.

While it remains uncertain whether SAG-AFTRA members will initiate a strike, numerous studios are bracing themselves and making preparations for potential disruptions. Notably, Marvel Studios, Universal, HBO, Sony, and Netflix have announced their decision to skip the 2023 edition of San Diego Comic-Con due to a lack of available actors to promote their upcoming projects. Additionally, Disney has rearranged its release schedule, halting productions such as Daredevil: Born Again, Blade, and Thunderbolts due to the ongoing WGA strike, which may be further delayed indefinitely if an actors' strike ensues.

Before engaging in negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, the AMPTP successfully reached a new contract with the Directors Guild of America, ratified on June 23. While this development may suggest a willingness on the part of the AMPTP to strike a deal with SAG-AFTRA, the situation is not necessarily straightforward. Despite a potential tentative agreement being reached by June 30, many actors are still prepared to go on strike if their demands are not met. The outcome of the current negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the studios will only become clear once they conclude soon.

Source: Rolling Stone