How Will the Actors’ Strike Affect ‘Gladiator 2’ and ‘Mortal Kombat 2’ as Filming Comes to a Halt? This is the historic double strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), which earlier had in 1960.
It is the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers are on strike at the same time – the impact on the wider film and TV industry will bring both the film and TV industry to its knees but is expected to be seismic.
The strikes influenced films such as Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, which is a sequel to the 2000 Russell Crowe film. It was being shot in Morocco and was to star Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.
Only Gladiator 2 isn’t influenced by preparing to halt production. Mortal Kombat 2, which is the re-adaptation to the 2021 video game action film, was being filmed in Australia, but due to a strike, it is also set to halt filming.
Other movies and shows finished filming ahead of the strike, some of the movies and shows include Roland Emmerich’s gladiator series Those About to Die, starring Anthony Hopkins, and Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
UK several film productions take place and prior to the strike, there had been a slowdown. A senior British union executive, who asked not to be identified, has said, “We’ve always said if the circus leaves town, what sorts of indigenous production do we have?”
“Large parts of Europe and Australia will be in the same situation, and this will have a global impact. We have been relying on inward investment and this exposes a weak point.”
A top agent who manages several high-profile British stars said, “A lot of actors are talking about striking in support, and it will undoubtedly affect the business in the U.K. as a whole.”
When a U.S. financier asks, “Some British actors have done one or two U.S. movies and gotten into SAG-AFTRA. Will they go in solidarity with the strike?”
Another European movie executive said, “Let’s say we’re shooting something with a big European director in Europe, and 90% of the cast is European and non-SAG-AFTRA, but you have two key roles played by U.S. talent. Will the movie stop and not get done or will those roles be substituted with European non-SAG-AFTRA actors?”
“I suspect what will happen is it will depend on the talent. If the reception is, ‘This is going to be a quick strike,’ directors will say, ‘Let’s wait.’ But if it looks like a long one, it could mean those roles will be changed.” (External link: Variety)