Oppenheimer: Robert Downey Jr & Cast Exits Premiere As Hollywood Actors' Go On Strike

The Hollywood industry is currently experiencing its largest shutdown in the past four decades as the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), headquartered in Los Angeles, has officially initiated a strike. This strike, along with the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, marks the first double strike in 60 years. The cast of the film 'Oppenheimer,' including Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., and Cillian Murphy, had been touring to promote their upcoming movie, set to release on July 21, 2023. However, they had to leave the premiere as the strike commenced, informed by director Christopher Nolan during the event.
 
The primary objective of this strike, initiated by SAG-AFTRA (the union representing screen actors), is to exert pressure on streaming giants to meet their demands. These requests cover more equitable profit distribution and improved working conditions. After last-minute discussions failed to result in a suitable agreement, the decision to strike was made. Among the issues being advocated for by the actors are better pay, better working conditions, and a commitment from streaming services to refrain from replacing human actors with artificial intelligence and computer-generated faces and voices.

Official: Christopher Nolan just confirmed the cast of #Oppenheimer have LEFT the U.K. premiere due to the #SAGAFTRA strike

The first time in 60 years that writers and actors are striking together. #SAGStrike pic.twitter.com/BQBo2jRfCd

— The Weekly Cut (@weeklycut) July 13, 2023

 
The day before, talks between the major studios and the union, referred to as SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), came to a standstill, prompting the negotiating committee of the union to unanimously vote in favor of taking strike action.
 
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), representing the studios, expressed disappointment and spoke about the situation. In a statement, they said "a strike is certainly not the outcome we hoped for as studios cannot operate without the performers that bring our TV shows and films to life. The Union has regrettably chosen path that will lead to financial hardships for countless thousands of people who depend on the industry."