Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt made a powerful statement of support by walking out of the UK premiere of Oppenheimer in solidarity with striking writers.
The talented actors, who play leading roles in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated war film, left the event before its conclusion.
“Earlier on the red carpet, you saw them,” Nolan informed the audience at the cinema. “Unfortunately, they’re now preparing their picket signs in anticipation of an imminent strike by SAG-AFTRA (Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists), joining the ranks of my own guild, the Writers Guild, in the fight for fair wages for the hardworking members of these unions, and we stand behind them.”
Prior to the screening, Murphy and Blunt graced the red carpet, engaging with fans and the press in attendance.
#FlorencePugh #EmilyBlunt #MattDamon and #CillianMurphy all walked out of the #Oppenheimer premier in London earlier today as the actors strike was called. Director #ChristopherNolan confirmed that the cast left in solidarity with with SAG-AFTRA strike.
♬ original sound – FloArchives
SAG-AFTRA, a prominent American labor union representing around 160,000 actors and media professionals in film and television, recently approved a strike. This means that both actors and writers, the latter of whom have already been on strike, will suspend their work commitments simultaneously, an unprecedented event in the industry in the last six decades, effectively bringing Hollywood to a halt.
The decision to strike came after contract negotiations with major companies like Amazon, Disney, and Warner Bros. failed to yield an agreement by the midnight deadline on Wednesday, July 12th.
Now that SAG-AFTRA’s members have the green light to strike, they will join the screenwriters who have been picketing since May to protest working conditions.
During the red carpet event, Emily Blunt shared with Deadline that she and her fellow cast members would stand in unity and leave if a walkout was approved. She expressed, “I think right now we are just sort of… I hope everyone makes a fair deal, and we are here to celebrate this movie. And if they call [a strike], we’ll be leaving together as a cast in unity with everyone… We are gonna have to. We are gonna have to. We will see what happens. Right now, it’s the joy to be together.”
Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon were among the stars who staged a walk-out from the London premiere of Oppenheimer to “write their picket signs” ahead of the Sag-Aftra strike announcement on Thursday evening. The anticipated announcement cast a shadow over the London film premiere at the Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, with the film’s major stars including Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek leaving before the screening of the film. #fyp #trending #tiktok #fy #world #oppenheimer #oppenheimermovie #oppenheimerwalkout #actorstrike #cillianmurphy #emilyblunt #mattdamon #ramimalek #florencepugh #robertdowneyjr #kennethbranagh #moviepremiere #showbiznews #sagaftrastrike #odeonluxe #leicestersquare #london
♬ original sound – The Independent
During a press conference, SAG National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland explained, “Because the AMPTP [Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers] remains unwilling to offer a fair deal on key issues essential to protecting the livelihoods of working actors and performers, SAG-AFTRA’s national board unanimously voted to issue a strike order against studios and streamers.”
This landmark decision marks the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have united on the picket line in film and television productions. It comes after the writer’s union, the Writers Guild of America, announced that contract talks had concluded without a resolution. The writers are striking to demand increased funding, job security, and limitations on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in writing.
The joint action by actors and writers serves as a powerful testament to their resolve in advocating for fair treatment, just compensation, and improved working conditions within the entertainment industry. Their unwavering commitment to their craft and their fellow professionals sets a precedent for solidarity and raises awareness about the challenges faced by those behind the scenes, whose contributions are vital to the creation of compelling on-screen experiences.
As the strike unfolds, the world watches with anticipation, hoping that a fair resolution can be reached, acknowledging the immense talent and dedication of these individuals while ensuring their voices are heard and their demands are met.
