Hollywood Production Set to Soar as Actors’ Strike Ends
LOS ANGELES, Nov 10 (Reuters) – Following the resolution of the Hollywood actors’ strike, the entertainment industry is poised for a major resurgence as production is set to resume. The tentative deal reached by the SAG-AFTRA actors’ union with major studios and streamers has effectively paved the way for a wave of new projects and opportunities.
The conclusion of the actors’ strike comes on the heels of a previous writers’ strike. With both strikes in the rearview mirror, the halt in filming is expected to be lifted, allowing the industry to get back to work. One of the immediate beneficiaries of this development is Beth Goodnight, head of a prominent Hollywood construction company and prop shop. Almost as soon as the strike ended, Goodnight’s phone began ringing incessantly with opportunities. Her company has already started bidding on multiple projects, including a Super Bowl commercial, a television show, and various smaller ventures that collectively amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The impact of the strike’s resolution is reverberating throughout Hollywood, and major film projects are projected to recommence production in the coming months. For instance, Ridley Scott’s highly-anticipated historical epic, Gladiator 2, is expected to resume filming by the end of the year or early next year. The necessary preparations, such as coordinating schedules, booking flights and accommodations, are already underway. Additionally, Walt Disney’s priority project, Deadpool 3 from Marvel Studios, will likely resume filming before Thanksgiving after experiencing a halt in production due to the actors’ strike. The production delay has prompted Disney to announce a new release date for the film in late July, as opposed to the original plan for an early May premiere. Meanwhile, the martial arts film Mortal Kombat 2 is set to resume shooting on the Gold Coast of Australia.
Despite the optimistic outlook for the industry, there are challenges moving forward, particularly concerning coordination of schedules among A-list actors. With various actors juggling commitments, including promotional activities for upcoming films in the Oscar race, conflicting schedules could potentially hamper production schedules. Some projects may even face the possibility of being dropped altogether due to scheduling conflicts.
While the return to production is eagerly anticipated, it will take time for projects to fully restart. Production executives are currently reaching out to lighting houses, prop shops, and costumers who were forced to lay off workers, in order to make the necessary arrangements for returning to the set. However, booking facilities, hiring staff, constructing sets, and renting props are tasks that need to be completed before filming can resume. As a result, the industry will likely experience a transition period that extends into the new year, with a return to business as usual expected sometime thereafter.
Broadcast TV networks are also seeking to salvage their schedules, having resorted to airing reality shows and repeats during the strike. Executives hope to air new episodes of popular shows like Abbott Elementary, NCIS, and Law & Order in the upcoming year. Meanwhile, ABC Studios plans to commence production on new seasons of long-running dramas such as Grey’s Anatomy and The Rookie this month, with fresh episodes expected to debut early next year. Additionally, Tracker, a new drama produced by 20th Television for CBS, is slated to begin filming this month.
Actors, who were previously prohibited from promoting their films and TV shows during the strike, are now ready to hit red carpets, talk shows, and social media to generate buzz for their projects. Studios are particularly keen to have actors promote potential Oscar contenders like Leonardo DiCaprio’s Killers of the Flower Moon and Bradley Cooper’s Maestro.
With the end of the actors’ strike comes renewed hope for the Hollywood production industry. The wave of new projects and the resumption of filming promises to bring back the glitz and glamour that define the entertainment capital of the world.
