Viola Davis Slams Controversial Filming of 'G20' Amidst Union Strike: A Closer Look

Viola Davis, 57, has decided not to proceed with the filming of her upcoming movie G20 due to the ongoing union strike. In a statement to Deadline on Saturday, July 29, Davis expressed her love for the film but felt that it would not be appropriate to continue production at this time. She also mentioned that the producers of the project support her decision and that she stands in solidarity with actors, SAG/AFTRA, and the WGA.

Viola Davis, the EGOT winner, and co-founder of JuVee Productions, along with her husband Julius Tennon, were given a SAG-AFTRA interim waiver on Friday, July 28. This waiver was granted because the MRC-produced picture is not associated with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Additionally, Davis is also a producer of G20, which is set to be distributed by Amazon Studios. The repercussions of Davis' departure on production and the possible temporary halt in filming during the strike are currently unknown.

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher recently announced that the union, representing over 160,000 performers, has authorized a strike. The decision was made as the AMPTP did not make any compromises on important issues such as fair wages, residual check sums, and the use of artificial intelligence in media.

During a press conference on July 13, Drescher expressed the significance of this moment, stating, "This is a critical hour for us. I entered this situation hoping to avoid a strike. The gravity of this action is not lost on me. It affects thousands, if not millions, of individuals both within and outside of our union. Not only our members but also those who work in industries supporting the entertainment field. Unfortunately, we had no alternative. We find ourselves as the victims, being taken advantage of by a highly avaricious party."

Viola Davis Anthony Harvey/Shutterstock

As per the strike terms, unionized actors are prohibited from participating in TV and movie projects and promoting their past, present, and future work through social media. However, some smaller film and TV studios, such as G20, have managed to continue production by obtaining a temporary waiver from SAG-AFTRA, provided they meet the union's demands for their stars. Additionally, international productions have been unaffected by the strike, as their actors belong to Equity rather than SAG-AFTRA. Amy Schumer and Sarah Silverman, among other SAG actors, have expressed their dissatisfaction with witnessing their colleagues continue working during the strike.

"I am extremely frustrated and I realize that there must be something I'm missing. Currently, there are about 40 movies in production," stated Silverman, 52, in a video on Instagram on July 27. "Famous actors are involved in these 'independent movies' and SAG is permitting it on the condition that if the movies are sold to streaming platforms, it must be because the streaming platforms comply with our demands. That's just fair work! The strike will only cease when they are willing to negotiate at the table and we reach an agreement."