‘Deadpool 3’ Halts Shooting as Actors Go on Strike

‘Deadpool 3’ the Biggest Production to Shutdown Yet as the SAG-AFTA Strike Impacts Hollywood

Other movies and TV shows will be following suit, though some companies are finding loopholes to allow them to keep filming.

Hugh Jackman will return as Wolverine in Marvel Studios' 'Deadpool 3.'

Given how much of the ‘Deadpool’ movies have been written on the fly, you might have expected the latest –– ‘Deadpool 3’ to shut down when the Writers Guild of America went out on strike earlier this year. And yet… it kept going, with no official explanation other than the fact that the script had already been written.

But now, as SAG-AFTRA –– the union that represents actors –– joins the writers on the picket line, ‘Deadpool 3’ is among the productions shutting down.

The third ‘Deadpool’, which also features Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine, had been shooting in the UK, and it’s clear the strike is having a global impact as other productions, such as the ‘Mortal Kombat’ sequel, which had been filming in Australia, are also shutting down.

Many movies and shows had already been delayed by the writers’ strike, and the actors’ action promises to affect output even further. This represents the first time in decades that two branches of filmmaking unions have been on strike at the same time.

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What’s happening with the actors’ strike?

SAG-AFTRA on strike. Photo courtesy of SAG-AFTRA.

Much like the Writers’ Guild, the actors’ unions had been negotiating with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) to secure a new contract. Actors have long been unhappy with reduced residuals brought about by streaming services and are displeased by studios claiming they can’t pay more while company CEOs earn millions.

Here’s SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher on the strike announcement:

“The gravity of this move is not lost on me or our negotiating committee or our board members who have voted unanimously to proceed with a strike. It’s a very serious thing that impacts thousands, if not millions, of people all across this country and around the world.”

Another key issue has been studios’ concerning efforts to bring in new technology to replace physical performers. When the strike was called yesterday, SAG-AFTRA revealed one pertinent detail of a studio offer –– digitizing the likeness of background players (or extras), paying them for one day’s work but then being able to use their image in perpetuity and however they please with no other payment.

The AMPTP replied to that with the following statement:

“The claim made today by SAG-AFTRA leadership that the digital replicas of background actors may be used in perpetuity with no consent or compensation is false. In fact, the current AMPTP proposal only permits a company to use the digital replica of a background actor in the motion picture for which the background actor is employed. Any other use requires the background actor’s consent and bargaining for the use, subject to a minimum payment.”

Loopholes

(L to R) Emma D’Arcy as "Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen" and Matt Smith as "Prince Daemon Targaryen" in 'House of the Dragon.' Photograph by Ollie Upton/HBO.

Not everything that had been shooting is shutting down, however –– some productions have been able to keep going through the writers’ strike (which started on May 2nd) because their scripts are complete. That includes HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-off ‘House of the Dragon’, which is continuing to shoot through even through the actors’ strike as much of its cast is British and covered by the Equity actors’ union. And while some Equity members have promised to abide by the strike in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA, they have no legal protection if they end up fined or fired by companies they’re working for.

Welcome, then, to the summer of strikes…