The ongoing strike by US actors has sparked concerns that it could spread to the UK, as production companies consider shifting filming to Britain to avoid industrial action. The British actors’ union, Equity, has pledged to support their American counterparts and will keep a close eye on any attempts to relocate productions to the UK. According to Equity’s general secretary, Paul Fleming, the union will reserve the right to take British industrial action against productions that try to avoid the strike by moving to the UK.
Fleming emphasized that the union will be watching for any attempts by US production companies to relocate to the UK, saying, “We will be clamping down on those sorts of productions.” He also hinted that the union might take a stronger stance if US productions try to exploit loopholes in British contracts, saying, “We do reserve the right to use British legislation to take British industrial action in those sorts of instances.”
The strike, called by the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-Aftra), has already affected several high-profile productions, including the London premiere of the historical epic Oppenheimer, where stars like Robert Downey Jr, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh staged a walkout. The strike has also impacted British productions, with Equity members working on US contracts now on strike.
Fleming expressed hope that a settlement with SAG-Aftra will be reached soon but warned that any attempts to shift productions to the UK could have a significant impact on the British film industry. He explained that the union’s stance is one of solidarity with SAG-Aftra, saying, “Our view is that we have complete and utter solidarity and support with Sag-Aftra. We will do all we legally can do to support and uphold their industrial action.”
SAG-Aftra strike
Major productions in the UK that could be affected by the strike include the filming of Deadpool 3, House Of The Dragon, The Sandman, and Slow Horses, among others. However, Fleming stressed that the impact on the British film industry would depend on whether an actor is under an Equity or Sag-Aftra contract. He warned that if the dispute continues, it could have a major impact on the industry, with some British actors working on American contracts now on strike.
The studios, production companies, and streamers have been urged to get to the negotiating table quickly before the strike has a global impact. Freming warned that the industry’s resolve is “absolute” and that producers will not win by trying to avoid the strike. The strike has become a major issue in the global entertainment industry, with Equity and SAG-Aftra releasing a joint statement calling for solidarity and urging support for the striking actors.
The implications of the strike are far-reaching, and the situation remains uncertain as negotiations continue between the unions and the production companies. However, one thing is clear: the actors’ strike has the potential to have a significant impact on the global entertainment industry, and the stakes are high for both the US and British film industries.
