Disney premieres without stars at its first major event after the actors’ strike
Disney held a premiere for the upcoming live-action movie “Haunted Mansion” starring Tiffany Haddish and Jamie Lee Curtis at the first major event affected by the actors’ strike.
Hollywood was thrown into chaos on Thursday when SAG-AFTRA members walked out — and as a result, the red carpet for the theme park’s Haunted Mansion attraction was notably devoid of celebrities.
Instead of actors like Danny DeVito, LaKeith Stanfield, and Rosario Dawson on the red carpet, Disney brought their theme park characters to do the rounds. Dan Levy, Hasan Minhaj, Marilu Henner and Lindsay Lamb were also scheduled to attend the event in Anaheim, California, but did not strike.
Their strikes have shut down production across the entertainment industry and plunged it into chaos.
The event comes three days after Bob Iger berated actors for being “unrealistic” and “disruptive” to the industry.
People dressed as Maleficent, Micky and Minnie Mouse, and Snow White’s Evil Queen Grimhilde posed and walked the carpet instead – while the cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strikes
An empty red carpet can be seen on Saturday at the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’. Actors and screenwriters did not walk the red carpet due to protests that have shut down production in the entertainment industry
Cruella de Vil walked the carpet – because actors went on strike
Costumes and props can be seen on the red carpet. Cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strikes
People dressed as Maleficent, Cruella de Vil and Evil Queen Grimhilde of Snow White posed and walked the carpet instead – while the cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strikes.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse also showed up and snapped photos with fans on the two-hour red carpet before attendees watched a screening of the move at California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater.
Bob Iger slammed actors threatening to go on strike, saying they are ‘unrealistic’ and ‘disruptive’ to the industry
Influencers and social media personalities were among some of the few people photographed on the carpet by photographers on Saturday night.
Director Justin Simien attended, dressed in a velvet cape and black hat.
He told the Hollywood reporter“I feel very ambivalent about it, but at the same time I’m just so proud of this cast and I’m so, so proud of Katie Dippold who wrote the script, and so much of the reason I did this was to honor her words and to honor their work.
“If they can’t be here to speak for it, I felt like I should be here to speak for it.
“It’s sad that they aren’t here, at the same time I fully support why they aren’t here. And I’m glad I’m the one to ring the bell in their place.’
This comes after Bob Iger slammed actors ahead of the strike, saying they “are not realistic” and are “disruptive” to the industry.
Disney’s CEO, whose $27 million-a-year contract was extended yesterday through 2026, discussed the strike with CNBC’s David Faber on the network’s Squawk Box Thursday.
Social media personality Carolina Urrea arrives for the world premiere of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Social media influencers and personalities were among some of the few people photographed on the carpet by photographers on Saturday night
American amusement ride designer and Imagineer Bob Gurr and Andrea Gurr at the event
“It’s very upsetting to me,” he said — claiming that actors like Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence “are not being realistic” about the fees they’re asking for.
“This is the worst time in the world to add more disruptions,” Iger said.
Speaking of the actors’ strike, Jonathan Taplin, director emeritus of USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, told the LA Times, “There’s going to be a lot of blood in the water. This isn’t going to end well.
“People worry, in the abstract, about AI replacing workers, but here it is, it’s really happening. They don’t want to pay more for extras, so they can have a scene with 5,000 AI extras in the background.”
Media analyst Michael Nathanson added: ‘The industry’s economics are very challenging – the worst we’ve ever seen. A prolonged strike will only make things worse
‘It’s not just about their work agreements, but also about statements they want to make about society and fairness.
“Working class people are trying to take their anger out on the studio executives.
“We’re seeing accelerated cable cuts as people drop the cable bundle and advertisers no longer support the networks as they have in the past.”
He added: “Consolidation is going to happen. Perhaps the attack will accelerate those moves when the weakness sets in. Some of these players will get weaker.’
Park guests line up outside the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ on Saturday
Director of Photography Jac Cheairs and his son, actor Wyatt Cheairs, 11, participate in a gathering of striking writers and actors outside the Netflix studio in Los Angeles on Friday, July 14
Jonathan Taplin said of the strikes, “There will be a lot of blood in the water. This isn’t going to end well’
Michael Nathanson said: ‘The industry’s economics are very challenging – the worst we’ve ever seen’
The strike will mark the first time film and television actors have unionized since 1980, and the first time two major Hollywood unions have gone on strike at the same time since 1960.
The last time actors and writers joined forces against Hollywood executives was in 1960, when Marilyn Monroe was at her peak and Ronald Reagan was the head of the actors’ union.
Under the rules of a strike, SAG-AFTRA members would not be able to film movies or TV series, participate in press or movie premieres, or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.
It will affect Disney’s sequels to Avatar and Lion King, as well as shows that would hit television in the fall, such as The Simpsons.
SAG-AFTRA demanded higher wages to counter inflation and guarantees for their future livelihoods.
In addition to salaries when they’re actively working, actors earn payments called “residuals” every time a movie or show they starred in airs on network or cable — which is especially helpful when performers are in between projects.
The strike will mark the first time film and television actors have unionized since 1980, and the first time two major Hollywood unions have gone on strike at the same time since 1960.
The last time actors and writers joined forces against Hollywood executives was in 1960, when Marilyn Monroe was at her peak and Ronald Reagan was the head of the actors’ union.
Under the rules of a strike, SAG-AFTRA members would not be able to film movies or TV series, participate in press or movie premieres, or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.
It will affect Disney’s sequels to Avatar and Lion King, as well as shows that would hit television in the fall, such as The Simpsons.
SAG-AFTRA demanded higher wages to counter inflation and guarantees for their future livelihoods.
In addition to salaries when they’re actively working, actors earn payments called “residuals” every time a movie or show they starred in airs on network or cable — which is especially helpful when performers are in between projects.