Premiere of “Oppenheimer” brought forward: the reason for this could paralyze all of Hollywood

As you know, a strike is already raging in Hollywood. The screenwriters retired on May 2, 2023. Following the end of their previous framework contract with the Alliance Of Motion Picture And Television Producers (AMPTP), representing major studios, streaming services and TV channels, they are pushing for better pay and various rights in the negotiations for a new contract for the coming years. But a second strike is imminent today and could be even bigger.

Because on the night of today July 12, 2023 on July 13, 2023, the framework contract of the actors, which actually expired on June 30, but was extended again in the short term, finally expired. In the morning hours, the leadership of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA will meet to vote on whether or not to strike their own demands. The aforementioned postponement of an “Oppenheimer” premiere shows in a bizarre and graphic way what a big problem this is.

“Oppenheimer”: fear of bizarre red carpet photos

The premiere was actually scheduled to take place on July 13 at 5:45 p.m. local time in London. Now it has been brought forward to 4.45 p.m. in the short term. The ulterior motive: Los Angeles is eight hours behind London. If the premiere now starts at 4:45 p.m., it’s only 8:45 a.m. in LA. No decision has yet been made on a strike.

With the old start an hour later, the danger would have been slightly greater than the red carpet in London, on which the stars around Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh give their interviews, while the strike is being announced .

In the event of a strike, the approximately 160,000 members of the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA will no longer be able to film – but that’s not all: they will no longer do work related to their acting job – that also means: You no longer advertise films and series – whether in interviews, promotional appearances or on the red carpet. Should a strike break out on the Oppenheimer red carpet, Matt Damon and Co. having to give up and go home. That would be pretty bizarre.

Probably excessive caution with “Oppenheimer” …

There is already debate in the industry whether the previous move at “Oppenheimer” is not a completely over-caution. So the question is whether a decision will be made and announced so early in the morning. A press conference to announce the decision is currently not scheduled until 12:00 in Los Angeles (ie around 9:00 pm German time).. By then, the “Oppenheimer” red carpet is over.

In addition, a strike announcement will probably not be implemented immediately. It is more likely that, in the worst case, the strike will not have to start until Friday. After all, an immediate strike would be difficult to implement. Should not only a premiere be canceled, as in “Oppenheimer”, but should continuous shooting be done first – and then the actors would have to stop in the middle of filming a scene and leave everything as it is? No, such strikes are usually announced in advance. So there will be more of an announcement like “We’ll stop working in twelve hours!”

…but still a sign of Hollywood’s biggest crisis

But ‘usually’ is also a difficult term. Because a strike by the actors is not “normal”. This was last in the sixties! If there is a strike, Hollywood will stand still. Almost nothing would work. No new films and series can be developed for the distant future – because the authors are on strike. And no titles can be filmed for the foreseeable future – because the actors are on strike. And even the movies and series that are coming out now could not be promoted by the stars. Numerous start date shifts would result. If the strike continues for a long time, there is even a threat of a phase in which hardly any new Hollywood films will be released.

The big question is whether there will be a strike. But it’s always more than likely. 98% of actors voted in favor of giving union leaders a mandate to call a strike if the AMPTP fails to heed key demands. It seems at this point that all the last-minute negotiations that were left have failed. It’s already been said that Hollywood is facing the biggest crisis in its history – a time when nothing works and everyone loses a lot of money.

For us moviegoers, too, this would probably be felt in the near future, but not right away. “Oppenheimer‘ begins in cinemas in Germany on July 20 – regardless of whether the strike takes place or not.