The cast of “Oppenheimer” made a remarkable exit from their UK premiere in alignment with the impending strike announcement from SAG-AFTRA.
After concluding negotiations without a fruitful agreement or an extension following the expiry of the current deal on July 12, SAG-AFTRA officially decided to strike. The union will join forces with the Writers Guild of America in the strike, starting from midnight, with SAG-AFTRA members participating in the picket lines from the following day. This is the first time both unions have simultaneously been on strike since 1960.
The Screen Actors Guild, representing 160,000 performers, last went on strike in 1980.
As the strike was officially announced this afternoon, the “Oppenheimer” cast, already present at the London premiere, chose to show solidarity by joining the strike early. Stars like Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon, among others, were present at the premiere while the SAG-AFTRA strike loomed.
The red carpet event was even rescheduled an hour earlier to accommodate the cast’s participation before the official strike declaration. Emily Blunt told Deadline that they, as a cast, discussed collectively leaving in case the strike was declared during the premiere.
In an interview with Variety at the premiere, Matt Damon shared similar sentiments, confirming, “Once the strike is officially called, [we’re leaving]. That’s why we moved this [red carpet] up because we know the moment it’s called, we’re heading back.”
Upon completing the red carpet walk and before the screening of “Oppenheimer” began, director and writer Christopher Nolan informed that the cast had left the premiere in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA.
Christopher acknowledged the work of his cast on stage at the UK premiere, as reported by Deadline, with the words, “The list is enormous: Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, and so many more. You saw them on the red carpet earlier, but they have left to prepare their picket signs for the impending SAG strike.”
Christopher added, “Joining my guild, one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in their fight for fair wages for working union members.”
“Oppenheimer,” the much-anticipated movie of 2023, depicts the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American scientist instrumental in creating the atomic bomb. The film’s premiere coinciding with Greta Gerwig’s Barbie added more excitement to the event, which fans dubbed “Barbenheimer.”
With the strike from SAG-AFTRA now in effect, it will likely halt all remaining US union physical productions that have persisted despite the Writers Guild strike. The strike will also cause an immediate pause in the ongoing project press.
Notably, Ryan Murphy productions, Deadpool 3, and a few other projects drew criticism for continuing filming amidst the Writers Guild strike.
The simultaneous strikes from both SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild mark a significant moment in the film industry, emphasizing the collective effort of actors and writers for fair wages and better working conditions. As the cast of “Oppenheimer” takes a stand in solidarity, the outcome of these strikes may shape the future of Hollywood. With current productions on hold and press coverage paused, all eyes are now on the negotiation tables. The road ahead may be challenging, but the unity of industry members is a testament to their resolve and dedication to their craft.
