The impending dual strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the first of its kind since 1960, is set to have a severe impact on the global film and television industry. After a tumultuous 12-day period of negotiations, talks between the U.S. actors union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) broke down on Wednesday. With no agreement reached, the SAG-AFTRA National Board is expected to call for a strike vote on Thursday morning, effectively instructing its 160,000 members to cease all scripted film and TV work worldwide.
The ongoing writers’ strike in the United States has already halted numerous productions based in the country, and a concurrent actors strike will bring any remaining shows abroad involving SAG-AFTRA talent to a standstill. This labor dispute is sending a clear message to major markets like the United Kingdom, where production has experienced a noticeable slowdown in recent months, about the vulnerability of local shows.
“We have always been concerned about the impact on indigenous production if the industry were to leave. Many parts of Europe and Australia will be in a similar situation, and the global repercussions will be significant. We have heavily relied on foreign investment, which exposes our vulnerability,” says a senior executive from a British union who wishes to remain anonymous.
The strike’s impact extends beyond international borders. The key issues affecting U.S. writers and actors, such as artificial intelligence and streaming residuals, are also shared by their international counterparts, who operate in an increasingly globalized content landscape. While local unions cannot authorize their strikes, industry insiders anticipate immense pressure on performers to halt work irrespective of their union affiliations.
“Many actors are considering going on strike in solidarity, and it will undoubtedly impact the entire business in the United Kingdom,” says a top agent representing prominent British stars.
A U.S.-based financier-producer raises a pertinent question: “What about British actors who have worked on one or two U.S. films and become members of SAG-AFTRA? Will they join the strike in solidarity?”
A senior executive at a major European production company, juggling projects now in limbo, echoes the same concern: “Let’s say we’re shooting a film in Europe with a prominent European director, and 90% of the cast is non-SAG-AFTRA European talent, but American actors play two crucial roles. Will the film come to a halt, or will those roles be recast with non-SAG-AFTRA European actors? I suspect it will depend on the circumstances. If it seems like a brief strike, directors may wait it out. However, if it appears to be prolonged, they might opt to make changes.”
In recent weeks, international productions featuring SAG-AFTRA talent have been racing against time to wrap up filming before the potential strike. Sky’s drama series “Mary & George,” starring Julianne Moore, completed its shoot in the United Kingdom earlier this summer. At the same time, the highly anticipated Season 2 of Prime Video’s “Rings of Power” finished production a few weeks ago. Jacques Audiard’s musical thriller “Emilia Perez,” starring Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña, recently concluded filming in Paris, France.
However, not all international productions have been as fortunate. FX’s series adaptation of the “Alien” franchise, written by Noah Hawley and Ridley Scott, is currently in pre-production in Thailand. Sources indicate that the show, expected to be a large-scale production, has already reserved multiple studios in Bangkok and procured extensive lighting equipment. Since the cast includes both SAG-AFTRA and Equity members (with two main leads reportedly belonging to SAG-AFTRA), the production must navigate the absence of key cast members. Chris Lowenstein, the show’s producer based in Thailand, declined to comment.
HBO’s Season 3 of “White Lotus” is another primary production scheduled to shoot in Thailand, likely to employ SAG-AFTRA members. While the show is on pause due to the writer’s strike, an actor’s strike could further delay production and disrupt talent schedules.
Several other significant international productions, including the Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal-starring “Gladiator 2” movie filmed in Morocco and the martial arts sequel “Mortal Kombat 2” shooting in Australia, are also expected to halt production due to the actor’s strike. Additionally, the Sky and Peacock series “The Day of the Jackal,” featuring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, currently shooting across Central and Eastern Europe, will likely be affected.
Like the United Kingdom, Australia has numerous “runaway productions” in the English-speaking world. The country boasts a large pool of talented members of local guilds and SAG-AFTRA. Like their British counterparts, it is unlikely that prominent Australian actors would want to risk their Hollywood careers by engaging in activities that could label them as strikebreakers.
A spokesperson for Australia’s Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance stated earlier this week that they had been kept informed of the strike situation by their U.S. counterpart. They expressed solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and mentioned they would work together to determine appropriate actions for any impacted productions in Australia should the strike occur in the United States.
Strike action has already had a devastating effect on Australian production. Sam Esmail’s UCP-produced reimagining of the 1927 Fritz Lang classic “Metropolis” was abruptly canceled in June due to escalating costs and unfinished scripts, making the big-budget Apple TV+ show unviable amidst the writer’s strike.
Likewise, France, a popular location for streaming platforms like Netflix to film some of their most successful European originals, has also experienced disruptions. Season 4 of “Emily in Paris” was scheduled to begin filming in the French capital during late summer or early fall. However, the shoot was delayed until October due to the writer’s strike. The actor’s strike will likely further postpone the production and necessitate changes in filming locations since the Cité du Cinéma, where the first three seasons were filmed, is booked for the Olympic Games from December 1, 2023, to October 1, 2024.
Even series planning to shoot in Paris before the year’s end may face postponements due to the extended strike. This includes the Prime Video ballet drama “Étoile” from the creators of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino, as well as the Apple TV+ period drama “The New Look,” which chronicles the rise of French fashion designer Christian Dior and stars Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche. The latter show is scheduled to begin filming in November, but sources indicate that the scripts are still awaiting approval.
Laurent Gregoire, a prominent talent agent at Adéquat representing sought-after French actors, finds himself in a precarious situation with his clients, many of whom have had to withdraw from projects.
“We are all in a state of uncertainty due to this strike. It would be better if shoots were canceled rather than delayed because we cannot wait any longer in this fog. We need clarity about the future,” says Gregoire.
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