Susan Sarandon, Jason Sudeikis, and Fran Drescher each joined picket lines for the SAG-AFTRA strike on Friday.
The 76-year-old Thelma and Louise star was seen marching in New York City as she held a black sign that read: ‘SAG-AFTRA ON STRIKE!’
Joining her in the Big Apple was Ted Lasso sensation Sudeikis, 47, who held the same sign.
For her part, 65-year-old Drescher – who is the president of SAG-AFTRA, was seen striking in Los Angeles.
It comes after the union announced on Thursday that its leadership had officially voted for a strike to begin at midnight.
Active: Susan Sarandon, Jason Sudeikis, and Fran Drescher each joined picket lines for the SAG-AFTRA strike on Friday
Solidarity: Joining her in the Big Apple was Ted Lasso sensation Sudeikis, 47, who held the same sign
Proud: For her part, 65-year-old Drescher – who is the president of SAG-AFTRA, was seen striking in Los Angeles
The Hollywood halt comes after leaders of the major actors union voted to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades.
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) — which represents approximately 160,000 actors and entertainers — announced on Thursday morning that negotiations from studios ended without a deal.
Later that day Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the National Executive Director of SAG-AFTRA and chief negotiator for its collective bargaining agreement, announced the union leadership had officially voted for a work stoppage.
It began at midnight and comes after the entertainers’ demands for higher wages and protections against artificial intelligence were not met.
Under the rules of a strike SAG-AFTRA members are not able to film any movie or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres, or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.
The announcement marks the first strike for actors from film and television shows since 1980.
It is also the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president.
The strike will affect Disney’s Avatar and Lion King sequels, as well as shows that were scheduled to return to television in the fall, like The Simpsons.
Historic: Hollywood has grinded to a halt after leaders of a major actors union voted to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades
No deal: The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) — which represents approximately 160,000 actors and entertainers — announced early Thursday morning that negotiations from studios ended without a deal
It has begun: Duncan Crabtree-Ireland announced the union leadership officially voted for a work stoppage to begin at midnight
On Thursday Crabtree-Ireland said that dead-end discussions with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers left the union ‘no choice’ but to go forward with a strike.
‘It came with great sadness that we came to this crossroads. We had no choice,’ Drescher said in an impassioned speech.
‘We are the victims here. We are being victimized by a very greedy entity. I am shocked by the way the people we have been in business with are treating us.
‘I cannot believe it, quite frankly, how far apart we are on so many things. How they plead poverty that they’re losing money left and right while giving hundreds of millions of dollars to CEOs,’ the former Nanny star emphasized.
She added, ‘It is disgusting. Shame on them. They stand on the wrong side of history at this very moment.’
George Clooney is among the creators who have spoken out about the strike.
The 62-year-old filmmaker issued a statement to ET, describing the movement as a turning point in Hollywood’s history.
The longtime performer stated, ‘This is an inflection point in our industry. Actors and writers in large numbers have lost their ability to make a living. For our industry to survive that has to change. For actors that journey starts now.’
Consequential: The strike will affect Disney’s Avatar and Lion King sequels, as well as shows that were scheduled to return to television in the fall, like The Simpsons
Effect: Under the rules of a strike, SAG-AFTRA members are not be able to film any movie or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres, or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con
History repeats: The announcement marks the first strike for actors from film and television shows since 1980. It is also the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors’ guild president
Jamie Lee Curtis also weighed in as she posted an image on Instagram that said, ‘It looks like it’s time to take down the masks and pick up the signs.’
And Jamie Lynn Spears posted: ‘Today will likely be my last day of being able to post about any of my upcoming projects until there is a resolution to the strikes.’
‘We will just have to make up for it with the next Zoey project,’ she said, referring to the planned reboot of her Nickelodeon show Zoey 101.
Meanwhile, Disney CEO Bob Iger argued in an interview on CNBC that actors are being ‘unreasonable’ with their demands.
‘There’s a level of expectation they have that is just not realistic,’ he claimed. ‘And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing. That is, quite frankly, disruptive.’
