Actors strike explained — in 10 dramatic memes

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s largest employers are wrestling over complicated contract proposals in a business turned inside-out by the transition from linear to streaming. But some of what’s on the table isn’t so complicated. Some of the discord between labor and management that led SAG-AFTRA to go on strike on July 13 is rooted in money and the hard reality of making minimum rates in Hollywood. SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher has vowed publicly that securing a hefty increase in minimum pay rates across the board is a deal-breaker issue for the union. Talk to any established working actor and it becomes clear why. Most of them say they’ve been dragged back to working for scale in a marketplace that has paid high-wattage stars record fees but put the squeeze on everyone else down the call sheet.

After months of filming, the cast and crew of both Barbie and Oppenheimer celebrated each other with thoughtful — and funny — gifts. 

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Cillian Murphy is earning some of the best reviews of his career for leading Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer, but no praise might be higher than this rave from co-star Robert Downey Jr.: “I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career,” the “Iron Man” star told People magazine about Murphy’s performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. “He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris called him,” Downey Jr. added. “But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this. We’d be like, ‘Hey, we got a three-day weekend. Maybe we’ll go antiquing in Santa Fe. What are you going to do?’ ‘Oh, I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch. Have a nice time.’ But that’s the nature of the ask.”

"Oppenheimer" has generated buzz for a variety of reasons, including a few brief sex scenes between stars Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh. Murphy plays J. Robert Oppenheimer, the "father of the atomic bomb," in the film, who engages in an affair with Jean Tatlock, played by Pugh.

Cillian Murphy is opening up about the “powerful” and “perfect” sex scenes that feature in his new  biographical-thriller, “Oppenheimer”. 

Robert Downey Jr. says he has “never witnessed a greater sacrifice” by an actor than by Cillian Murphy in Oppenheimer.The new biopic, which hit cinemas on Friday (July 21) stars Murphy as scientist and “father of the atomic bomb” J. Robert Oppenheimer.In an interview with People, his co-stars Downey Jr. and Florence Pugh lauded his commitment to the role.The former said: “I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career.

Jenelle Riley Deputy Awards and Features Editor Cillian Murphy quite literally wandered into acting. At the age of 20, he walked up to the door of the Corcadorca Theatre Company in his hometown of Cork, Ireland, and knocked. He told the person who answered that he’d be interested in getting involved in any upcoming shows, and the man suggested he try out for a new play called “Disco Pigs,” about a pair of reckless teenagers.

Christian Bale‘s performance as Batman in Christopher Nolan‘s Dark Knight trilogy is critically acclaimed.

William Stanford Davis has been acting for decades yet receives a pittance of residuals.

Warning: Oppenheimer spoilers ahead. Let me begin by saying that I worship at the altar of Christopher Nolan. From The Prestige to The Dark Knight, Inception to Dunkirk, I can never resist his particular brand of steely, high-concept blockbusters – their knotty plots, epic cinematography, thundering scores, sleek interiors, and mysterious and tortured protagonists.

Director Christopher Nolan is known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking.

Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Oppenheimer fans have been left stunned after spotting Hollyoaks legend, Guy Burnet, in the hit Blockbuster film. Soap fans will recall that Guy, 39, played Craig Dean in the popular Channel 4 soap from 2002 until 2008.

Manori Ravindran Executive Editor of International Decades before Christopher Nolan set his sights on a movie about J. Robert Oppenheimer, a science-obsessed BBC executive ventured to America in 1979 to make a $1.5 million TV show about the father of the atom bomb. Peter Goodchild began his career at the BBC in radio drama, but eventually migrated to the storied “Horizon” science unit to put his chemistry degree to some use. The division began experimenting with factual dramas in the 1970s, and after delivering a hit series on French-Polish physicist Marie Curie, Goodchild set his sights on the New York-born Oppenheimer. “I’d seen a play on J. Robert Oppenheimer at the Hampstead Theatre Club way back in 1966,” the 83-year-old tells Variety from his home in Exeter, southwest England, where his Zoom background reveals a room teeming with books on heaving shelves.

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor There was a large crowd in the room when SAG-AFTRA and Hollywood’s major studios and streamers formally began contract bargaining negotiations on June 7. About 80 participants from both the labor and management sides gathered at the Sherman Oaks headquarters of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for the first day of what everyone knew would be a difficult negotiation for the performers union, which has been on strike since July 13. One big presence in the negotiations process who was not there in person on Day One was Fran Drescher, president of SAG-AFTRA. But Drescher had no trouble making herself heard that day. She addressed the gathering via video conference call from Paris – and she definitely got management’s attention.

Elsa Keslassy International Correspondent The double SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes are worrying exhibitors in France, where the box office is driven by Hollywood blockbusters. In an interview with French news channel BFM Business, Richard Patry, who presides over the National Federation of Cinemas, predicts “the strike might go on for a long time” because it’s aimed at streaming services. “Many U.S. films have already started to be delayed, and it worries us a lot for 2024,” Patry said. The dearth of U.S. releases during the pandemic hurt the French box office, which was down by about 30% in 2022. Even if French movies have a large market share domestically, U.S. blockbusters typically drive an upward trend. Case in point: the French B.O. finally recovered this year and has been up 33%, bolstered by a spike in anticipated American movies, which skyrocketed from 29 in 2022 to 51 in the first five months of 2023, according to Comscore France. 

Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated thriller Oppenheimer hits cinemas today. The movie stars Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy, Iron Man Robert Downey Jr and Emily Blunt, and tells the story of the creation of the atomic bomb dropped on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagaski.

Director Christopher Nolan said he once considered a couple of his Oppenheimer cast members for a very different role – Batman.

Christopher Nolan delivers his first biographical epic in Oppenheimer.Based on the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the film follows the life of theoretical physicist J.

Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan are marking their sixth collaboration with Oppenheimer, the biographical epic about the titular complicated and brilliant physicist tasked with leading the Manhattan Project, the secret effort to create the atom bomb, and the moral and political struggles that followed. This is the first time Murphy, who plays Oppenheimer, is essaying a lead role for Nolan – “Finally!”, as he enthuses with a wink below.

Zack Sharf Digital News Director Josh Hartnett revealed to Playboy magazine in 2015 that he talked with Christopher Nolan about taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in the director’s “Batman Begins,” which launched Warner Bros.’ billion-dollar grossing “Dark Knight” trilogy. How far did those talks go before Nolan settled on Christian Bale instead? In a new interview on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Nolan confirmed talks with Hartnett took place, but his casting never got too serious. “No, it never got that far,” Nolan said when asked if he screen-tested Hartnett for the role of Batman. “I met with Josh and if I recall, he was a young actor whose work I was very interested in,” Nolan added. “I had an initial conversation with him but he had read my brother’s script for ‘The Prestige’ at the time and was more interested in getting involved with that. So it never went further than that.”

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor “Oppenheimer” has burst into the Oscar race. With the earnest and urgent cultural fabric of “To Kill a Mockingbird” and the philosophical measure of “The Tree of Life,” writer, director and producer Christopher Nolan’s chronicle of the creation of the most destructive weapon ever used stands as the most ambitious and vital piece of filmmaking of his career. Adapted from the book “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, “Oppenheimer” tells the complicated and morally fraught story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer who led the effort to develop the atomic bomb. Nolan and his stellar ensemble of actors have amassed 27 Oscar nominations collectively throughout their careers. One of those who surprisingly hasn’t nabbed one is Irish actor Cillian Murphy, who plays the titular scientist. With dry wit and womanizing charm that effectively makes him the scientific version of Michael Fassbender in “Shame,” Murphy is an effective vehicle to lead the viewer through through reams of scientific terminology. In addition, his tour-de-force performance, which is sure to be in real consideration for best actor, is best displayed when showcasing the emotional toll such a creation can have on a person. Lead actors from competitive best picture players, especially from biopics, have been consistently recognized over the past few decades in Oscar history (see Benedict Cumberbatch for “The Imitation Game” or Christian Bale for “American Hustle”). Murphy could find his time has come after decades of memorable turns in “28 Days Later” (2002) and “Breakfast on Pluto” (2006).

Christian Bale famously played Batman in Christopher Nolan‘s acclaimed Dark Knight trilogy. However, we recently learned that another actor was in the running for the part – Josh Hartnett.

Jenna Ortega‘s new film is one of very few set to continue production through the Hollywood actors’ strike.The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) began a strike last week. The union, which represents 160,000 actors and performers, are seeking an increase in base pay and residuals in the age of streaming, along with safeguards against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence in the industry.This means that many projects in Hollywood have currently paused production, and will continue to do so until the strike ends.However, Ortega’s new film Death Of A Unicorn – an A24 production – has been given permission to restart production.The film stars Ortega and Paul Rudd as a father and daughter duo who run over a unicorn, and will see work continue due to SAG-AFTRA giving approval to the continued production of films from studios or companies not represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).The actors’ strike coincides with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike, which began on May 2 and halted production on a number of projects.

Variety, making her one of the highest-paid actresses of 2022.In “Barbie as The Island Princess,” the OG tippy toes, tits up blonde imparts some unexpected poetry, “Life is a sea I’m sailing, riding the winds of time. Looking to find a course that is mine.

Fran Drescher became the "it girl" in Hollywood from the beginning of her career. From dancing with John Travolta in her first film, to creating and starring in her own, award-winning television sitcom, and then pivoting into becoming one of the most powerful people in the industry – Drescher kept her eye on the prize: success.  The New York-native had big dreams as a kid, and wanted to be a writer, hairdresser, actor or politician.

EXCLUSIVE: There is no deal in sight for the writers and actors with the studios and streamers, but one of Hollywood’s consummate dealmakers was on the picket line today in New York City

Alex Wolff and Olivia Thirlby had to skip the red carpet for the NYC premiere of Oppenheimer over the weekend due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, and instead, headed to a bar!

Filmmaker and actor Benny Safdie is speaking about about sexual misconduct allegations lodged against Sebastian Bear-McClard, who was a producer on Safdie’s “Uncut Gems”.

SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher is keen to continue negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), who are allegedly dragging their heels.

Matt Damon is a big fan of Christopher Nolan’s work. The actor, who’d previously worked with the legendary director in the film “Interstellar,” revealed that he treasured the experience so much that he included it in an acting break deal he’d made with his wife while attending couple’s counseling. Matt Damon gets a tattoo dedicated to his late father, then gives his first tattooBen Affleck and Matt Damon talk about the first time they met Michael JordanMatt Damon’s emotional moment with wife Luciana Barroso: ‘She really helped me’A post shared by Oppenheimer (@oppenheimermovie)In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Damon got personal about his relationship to Nolan and his relationship with his wife Luciana Barroso.

It struck me watching Christopher Nolan’s masterful three hour epic telling of the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, long labeled the father of the Atomic Bomb, that this is a period piece with an exclamation point for audiences today.

Fran Drescher, the sitcom star turned actors union leader, preferred to evoke the French Revolution, likening SAG-AFTRA’s struggle to the proletariat’s rebellion against an out-of-touch monarchy. “Eventually the people break down the gates of Versailles,” the “Nanny” star said during a press conference officially announcing the strike.

on the Today Show Tuesday. “We were all there.

Florence Pugh is opening up about her decision to shave off her hair.

Cillian Murphy's portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the «father of the atomic bomb,» in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic,, was an intense undertaking.The actor's traditionally intense visage is only made more dramatic by the sunken cheekbones and dour expression he wears as the theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project during World War II, who seemed to carry the literal weight of the world as he conducted experiments that could lead to the end of humanity.«When Oppenheimer was running the Manhattan Project and they were doing their calculations, early on they saw the possibility that when they triggered the first atomic device, to test it, they might start a chain reaction that set fire to the atmosphere and destroyed the whole world,» Nolan explained to ET ahead of the film's premiere.«A small possibility, [but they] couldn't eliminate it completely through theory, and yet they went ahead and they pushed that button,» he continued.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) seized on the SAG-AFTRA strike in an online conversation with President Fran Drescher on Tuesday evening, as they both bashed Bob Iger and other CEOs, and made the case for why the actors’ walkout should be of concern of all workers.