End of the actors' strike: What movies are on the horizon?
11:21 AM EST, November 13, 2023
After 118 days of silence, Hollywood is churning once more with the end of the actors' strike. This dramatic end suggests that work on hanging projects will resume swiftly. Fans, take a breather; the creators of many anticipated titles will be back on set soon.
The actors' strike was declared in July of this year, aligning with a protest by screenwriters that had been ongoing since March. Key demands included a significant reduction in artificial intelligence's involvement in production processes, an increase in minimum rates, better working conditions, and a fairer protocol for cooperation with streaming platforms. On the night of November 8 to November 9, 2023, Polish time, SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild, penned a preliminary agreement bringing a pause to these turbulent times.
Resuming the artistic endeavour
The cessation of the strike signifies a swift return of the creators to their respective sets. While this may not transpire overnight, it's bound to occur not too far in the future. The constantly deferred premieres we've been hearing about spell substantial financial losses for all parties involved. As is often the case in this industry, time truly is money.
We can expect filming to resume for footage that was stalled due to the protest. Of the many projects awaiting their return, those slated to hit theatres next year are tipped to be first in line. As reported by "Deadline", one of these is "Deadpool 3", directed by Shawn Levy, featuring Ryan Reynolds and reportedly halfway completed. The May premiere is in jeopardy, possibly getting pushed to July 26, with its spring slot taken by "Captain America: Brave New World", directed by Julius Onah.
"Beetlejuice 2" and "Juror No. 2", starring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and Clint Eastwood, are also awaiting completion. The first title is slated for a September 6 premiere, while the latter's premiere date, akin to the untitled Apple film about Formula 1 starring Brad Pitt, remains undisclosed.
Later in the year we'll observe Blake Lively, wife of the actor who plays Deadpool, starring in the melodrama "It Ends with Us". Following shortly after, the weekends post-November 8 and 22 will likely be headlined by sequels: "Venom 3", directed by Kelly Marcel and featuring Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and the much-awaited follow-up to the iconic "Gladiator", directed by Ridley Scott and starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal.
Line up!
Besides these, expect a resumption of sprawling productions expected to release in 2025. Among these are "Tron 3", directed by Joachim Rønning and featuring Jared Leto, "Minecraft", starring Jason Momoa, "Mortal Combat 2", and "Good Fortune", a film by Aziz Ansari starring Seth Rogen and Keanu Reeves.
Our favorite superheroes won't be left behind. June 2025 will see the return of the "Superman: Legacy", along with the animated venture, "Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse". With voice recording scheduled to resume shortly, you may expect its release next year.