It could be a rough time for new content in the entertainment industry.
For the first time in more than 60 years, a “double strike” has commenced following failed negotiations between Hollywood studios and SAG-AFTRA. At this point, both actors and writers are now on strike.
With film and television studios part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers unable to reach a deal with SAG-AFTRA as of July 12, the strike officially begins at midnight and will impact 160,000 union members.
Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP began on June 7, with SAG looking to gain protections against studios using generative AI in films and shows, in addition to better overall compensation for streaming films and shows. SAG has said the AMPTP has not budged on any single talking point, leading to the strike vote.
Oddly enough, the Apple TV+ service, may not see that much of a downside to the strike, as the streaming service, plays only a small role in Apple’s Services division, which rakes in billions of dollars every quarter.
As the strike continues, participating actors that are part of the union will stop working on projects, from films to TV shows and promotional efforts. In spite of the ongoing writer’s strike, actors had been working on projects that were already written and completed.
The writer’s strike already affected Apple TV+, especially for notable series like “Severance” and the highly anticipated “Metropolis.” But the second season of “Loot” starring Maya Rudolph has also seen production halt due to the strike, and even the third season finale for “Ted Lasso” at the Paley Center in California was canceled over the issue. With the strike continuing, any and all Apple TV+ productions will come to a halt as of today. There’s also no way of knowing how long the strike will continue for, and when production will begin for new films and series for any studio.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider and @THR