The ongoing actors’ and writers’ strikes continue to keep Hollywood at a virtual standstill, but that doesn’t mean cool moments won’t still emerge from industry favorites.
A really neat Parks and Recreation mini-reunion took place on the picket lines this week, with show stars like Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Jim O’Heir and Ben Schwartz, show co-creator Michael Schur and guest star Sam Elliott showing their support of the ongoing efforts by both guilds.
Well, another special star made an appearance at the strike efforts this week, too. That’s right; beloved miniature horse Li’l Sebastian posed in the Parks and Recreation reunion photo to show his support for his old co-stars.
While we may never get another episode of Parks and Recreation, it is delightful to see some of the show’s familiar faces together to support the ongoing strike efforts in Hollywood.
Maybe when the strikes are over, we’ll get a Li’l Sebastian spinoff? One can wish on 5,000 candles in the wind.
With the inability for SAG-AFTRA members to do any sort of promotion for upcoming projects, some films have been pushed off the calendar to future releases to better accommodate the possibility for press to take place.
Awards campaigns would be included in that promotional block.
Other films could possibly be delayed in the days and weeks to come as production delays move certain projects off their targeted windows.
Variety reported on Thursday that major Warner Bros. fall releases like Dune: Part Two, The Color Purple and Aquaman: The Lost Kingdom could all move from their planned release dates, though those have not happened yet.
'Dune 2' Eyes Push to 2024; Warner Bros. Considers New Dates for 'Color Purple,' 'Aquaman 2' (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/V78xuxyIPc
However, a few films projects have already made the shift. Let’s take a look at what films you’re going to have to wait a bit longer for on the calendar.
This list will be updated if more film delays are announced.
This is the online version of our daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Subscribe to get irreverent and incisive sports stories, delivered to your mailbox every morning. Here’s Mike Sykes.
So this isn’t exactly a sports story, but it’s hard not to talk about the total and complete gridlock Hollywood is currently in these days.
Just in case you’ve been under a rock, here’s what’s going on: SAG-AFTRA, which is the union that represents most Hollywood actors, moved to go on strike for the first time in more than four decades after failing to reach a collective bargaining agreement with major studios.
That’s the latest, but there’s more. The WGA, which is the guild that represents a sizeable chunk of Hollywood’s writers, has also been on strike for more than 70 days, too. For the first time in six decades, both of these unions are on strike at the same time.
Hollywood’s biggest production companies, known as the Alliance of Motion Pictures and Television Producers, walked away from negotiations with both after failing to meet the union’s demands.
Both are negotiating for a number of things, which include increased pay following the rise of streaming and better working conditions. You can read more about their full demands here. At the center of it all, though, is artificial intelligence.
The rise of AI is a huge sticking point for both unions with both being concerned that the technology could eventually replace some of its workers. And they’re absolutely right to be worried — we’ve already seen instances of deep fakes being used to replace artists. AI screenwriting isn’t a thing just yet, but the ground is fertile for it to begin happening soon.
These are things these unions are pushing back against. And they should. We’re two seconds away from Black Mirror’s Joan is Awful episode actually being a thing. And, I don’t know about y’all, but that sounds pretty terrifying to me.
In the meantime, Hollywood is now in shambles. That show you were looking forward to for this fall? The production has stopped. Your favorite MCU movies coming in 2024 are going to be pushed off schedule. You won’t see your favorite actors out there promoting films or attending award shows. There won’t be any bubbly press interviews about these things.
Everything just stops. And, yeah, that certainly sucks for us.
But, in the end, it’ll be for the better if it produces a better environment for the creatives we love to consume to flourish. To make that happen, though, the bigwigs of Hollywood need to come back to the negotiating table.
But, for the first time in 63 years, both the WGA and SAG are on strike at the same time. That’s unprecedented. It’s clear that Hollywood is broken. Something has got to give.
Let’s hope Iger and the rest of his crew figure that out sooner rather than later.
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