Hollywood went into preparatory mode. The big entertainment corporations and striking actors announced a tentative deal on Thursday.
Following 118 days in which the majority of productions were shut down and stars were unable to market their work, publicists, studios, and strategists for awards went into overdrive, strategizing how to best utilize their now accessible talent for the remaining portion of the year and the awards season.
Iman Vellani, the star of “The Marvels,” was already being given interviews by the press a few hours after the announcement of the tentative agreement. This weekend marks the premiere of the Walt Disney Co. film, which was produced for more than $200 million. Showtimes begin as early as this Thursday afternoon. Additionally, Searchlight Pictures began making preparations for Michael Fassbender, who is the lead actor in Taika Waititi’s “Next Goal Wins.”
Getting actors back on set is one of the industry’s top concerns, whether it’s for big-budget films like “Deadpool 3” or “Gladiator 2,” in an attempt to preserve the 2024 movie release schedule, which has already been damaged by the six-month strike by writers and performers.
With Jason Momoa attached to “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and Timothée Chalamet suddenly able to discuss “Wonka,” others were rushing to begin promoting their Christmas film season blockbusters. Prior to the deal being struck, both had been confirmed as the upcoming hosts of “Saturday Night Live.”
As studios and publicists attempt to make up for lost time in conveying the stories of their Oscar and Emmy contenders, planners for the awards season will also be examining calendars.
There was general relief that the standoff would not extend into 2024, even though the agreement still needs to be approved by Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists members. The accord was praised by President Joe Biden, who declared that “collective bargaining works.”
“Workers can secure pay and benefits that help them raise families and retire with dignity when both sides come to the table to negotiate in earnest,” Biden stated on Thursday.
“The final say on this contract will belong to SAG-AFTRA members, but all workers deserve a fair share of the value they helped create, and the sacrifices they’ve made will ensure a better future for them and their families.”
The proposed agreement, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom, “will benefit our economy statewide and kickstart a new wave of exciting projects.”
“I am grateful that we can now get this legendary industry back to work,” the speaker continued. “Not only are we grateful for our writers and actors, but we are also grateful for the more than two million workers who fuel our elite entertainment sector.”
Co-star of “Barbie,” Simu Liu, expressed his pride in “SAG for continuing to fight for the livelihood of every actor” in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“I know firsthand how important these things are because I used to live below the poverty line, haul my ass to auditions, and struggle to make ends meet,” Lui wrote. Bravo! I’ll see you on the set.
It was finally possible for Albert Brooks, who was also on X, to urge people to watch the documentary on him. “Albert Brooks: Defending My Life,” directed by his buddy Rob Reiner, will debut on HBO and Max on Saturday.
“I am eager for you to view it,” wrote Brooks. “I couldn’t speak until now!”
Octavia Spencer posted on Instagram, saying she was happy to “stand in solidarity with all SAG members over the last 118 days” and that she was “ready to work now that the strike is over.”
Top Hollywood performers, especially those vying for awards, will undoubtedly be busy over the holidays. Some of the contenders—like “Priscilla” and “Ferrari,” which have interim agreements that allow stars to work—will be starting over with their actors hitting the campaign trail. These include “The Color Purple,” “Poor Things,” which won the Venice Film Festival with Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo, “American Fiction,” which won the TIFF with Jeffrey Wright, and Ridley Scott’s “Napoleon,” which starred Joaquin Phoenix.
Others, such as Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Lily Gladstone, and Robert DeNiro, Alexander Payne’s “The Holdovers,” starring Paul Giamatti, and “Nyad,” starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster, are already available in cinemas or on streaming services, but they can now catch up as well.
