Christopher Nolan Stands in Solidarity with Actors and Writers in SAG-AFTRA and WGA Strikes, Halts Filmmaking in Support

Deadline reported that British-American filmmaker director Christopher Nolan is in support of actors and writers in the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes and is withdrawing from filmmaking until the strikes are over.

As the SAG-AFTRA strike began, the cast members of Nolan’s new upcoming movie departed prior to the screening in the London premiere. According to the report by Deadline, the ‘Inception’ director is now speaking up about the strike, stating, “It’s not about me.”

The five times Academy Awards nominee director told BBC News,

“No, absolutely. It’s very important that everybody understands it is a very key moment in the relationship between working people and Hollywood. This is not about me, this is not about the stars of my film. This is not about me, this is not about the stars of my film.”

During the London premiere of ‘Oppenheimer,’ Nolan got up on the stage and acknowledged the actors’ departure to support the strike. Deadline reported that Nolan said,

“I have to acknowledge the work of our incredible cast, led by Cillian Murphy. The list is enormous — Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, and so many more. … You’ve seen them here earlier on the red carpet. Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union.”

The strikes are taking place as actors and writers are standing up to the studios in order to defend themselves from the threat of artificial intelligence and to demand a fairer residual structure in the age of streaming.

The upcoming war drama ‘Oppenheimer’ is slated for its theatrical release by Universal Pictures on July 21, 2023.