Disney held a premiere for the upcoming live-action movie ‘Haunted Mansion’ without stars Tiffany Haddish and Jamie Lee Curtis in the first major event affected by the actors’ strike.
Hollywood was plunged into chaos on Thursday when SAG-AFTRA members walked out — and as a result, the red carpet laid out in front of the theme park’s Haunted Mansion ride was notably star-studded.
Instead of having actors like Danny DeVito, Lakeith Stanfield and Rosario Dawson on the red carpet, Disney brought in their theme park characters to make the rounds. Dan Levy, Hasan Minhaj, Marilou Henner, and Lindsay Lamb were also scheduled to be at the event in Anaheim, California — but didn’t while on strike.
Their picketing halted production across the entertainment industry, plunging it into chaos.
The incident comes three days after Bob Iger slammed the actors for being ‘not realistic’ and ‘disruptive’ to the industry.
People dressed as Maleficent, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and Snow White’s evil Queen Grimhild posed and walked the carpet instead – while cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strike.
An empty red carpet was seen at the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ on Saturday. Actors and screenwriters did not walk the red carpet due to picketing that halted production across the entertainment industry.
Cruella De Vil walked the carpet – because the actors were on strike
Dresses and props are seen on the red carpet. Cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strike
People dressed as Maleficent, Cruella de Vil and Snow White’s evil queen Grimhilde instead posed and walked the carpet – while cast members stayed home in solidarity with the strike.
Mickey and Minnie Mouse were also in attendance, taking photos with fans in a two-hour red carpet slot before watching a screening of the move at California Adventure’s Hyperion Theater.
Bob Iger slams actors who are threatening to go on strike, saying they are ‘not realistic’ and ‘disruptive’ to the industry
Influencers and social media personalities were among the few snapped by photographers walking the carpet on Saturday night.
Director Justin Simien attended in a velvet cape and black hat.
He told The Hollywood Reporter: ‘I’m very hesitant about it, but at the same time, I’m so proud of this cast and I’m so proud of Katie Dippold who wrote the script and why I did it to honor her words and honor their work.
‘If they can’t speak for it here, I felt I had to be here to speak for it.
‘It is sad that they are not here, at the same time, I fully support the cause of their not being here. And I’m happy to ring the bell instead of them.’
It comes after Bob Iger slammed the actors ahead of the strike, saying they were ‘not realistic’ and being ‘disruptive’ to the industry.
The Disney CEO, whose $27million-a-year contract was extended yesterday through 2026, discussed the strike with CNBC’s David Faber in the network’s squawk box Thursday.
Social media personality Carolina Urrea arrives for the world premiere of Disney’s Haunted Mansion. Influencers and social media personalities were among the only people snapped by photographers walking the carpet on Saturday night.
Bob Gurr and Andrea Gurr of American amusement ride designers and Imagineers at the event
‘It’s very disturbing to me,’ he said – claiming that actors such as Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence were ‘not being realistic’ about compensation benefits.
‘It’s the worst time in the world to add this disruption,’ Iger said.
Speaking about the actors’ strike, Jonathan Taplin, director emeritus of USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, told the LA Times: ‘There will be a lot of blood in the water. This will not end well.
‘People worry, in the abstract, about AI replacing workers but here it’s actually happening. They don’t want to pay for extras anymore, so they can have a scene that has 5,000 AI extras in the background.’
Media analyst Michael Nathanson added: ‘The economics of the industry are very challenging – the worst we’ve seen. A prolonged strike will worsen the situation
‘It became more than just their work contract, but they wanted to make a statement about society and fairness.
‘Working people are taking out their anger on studio executives.
‘We’re seeing accelerated cord-cutting because people are just ditching the bundle, and advertisers are no longer supporting networks like they used to.’
He added: ‘Consolidation is going to happen. Perhaps the strike will accelerate those moves as vulnerability builds. Some of these players are going to be weak.’
Park guests line up outside the world premiere of Disney’s ‘Haunted Mansion’ on Saturday
Director of photography Jack Chairs and his son, actor Wyatt Chairs, 11, attend a rally of Strike Writers and Actors outside Netflix studios on Friday, July 14 in Los Angeles.
Jonathan Taplin said of the strike: ‘There’s going to be a lot of blood in the water. This will not end well’
Michael Nathanson says: ‘The economics of the industry are very challenging – the worst we’ve seen’
The strike marks the first time film and television actors have taken industrial action since the 1980s, and the first time since the 1960s that Hollywood’s two major unions have gone on strike at the same time.
The last time actors and writers joined forces against Hollywood executives was in the 1960s, when Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her power and Ronald Reagan was head of the actors’ union.
Under a strike rule, SAG-AFTRA members will not be able to film a movie or TV series, attend any press or film premieres or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.
This will affect Disney’s Avatar and Lion King sequels, as well as shows scheduled to return to television in the fall, such as The Simpsons.
SAG-AFTRA was demanding higher wages to combat inflation and guarantee their future livelihoods.
In addition to a salary while they’re actively working, actors earn money called ‘residuals’ every time a film or show they star in airs on a network or cable – which is especially helpful when the actors are in between projects.
The strike marks the first time film and television actors have taken industrial action since the 1980s, and the first time since the 1960s that Hollywood’s two major unions have gone on strike at the same time.
The last time actors and writers joined forces against Hollywood executives was in the 1960s, when Marilyn Monroe was at the height of her power and Ronald Reagan was head of the actors’ union.
Under a strike rule, SAG-AFTRA members will not be able to film a movie or TV series, attend any press or film premieres or promote anything at this month’s San Diego Comic-Con.
This will affect Disney’s Avatar and Lion King sequels, as well as shows scheduled to return to television in the fall, such as The Simpsons.
SAG-AFTRA was demanding higher wages to combat inflation and guarantee their future livelihoods.
In addition to a salary while they’re actively working, actors earn money called ‘residuals’ every time a film or show they star in airs on a network or cable – which is especially helpful when the actors are in between projects.
SAG-AFTRA Strike Rules
All covered services and performance must be withheld under the direction of SAG-AFTRA, including but not limited to:
The main functions of the camera, such as:
Acting Singing Dancing Stunt performing On-camera Flying Puppetry Performance capture or motion capture work
The main functions of off-camera, such as:
ADR/Looping
TV Trailers (Promos) and Theatrical Trailers
Voice acting
Singing NarrationStunt Coordinator and Related Services Stand-In WorkPhoto and/or Body Double Fitting, Wardrobe Test, and Makeup Test Rehearsal and Camera Test Scanning Interviews and Auditions (including via self-tape)
Publicity/publicity services for works under TV/Theatrical contracts, viz:
Tours Personal Appearances Interviews Events Fan Expos Festivals Panels for Your Consideration Events Premieres/Screenings Awards Shows Junkets Podcast Appearances Social Media Studio Showcases
Negotiating and/or entering into and/or consenting to:
A contract to perform future covered services Any new contract related to merchandising in connection with a covered project The creation and use of digital copies, including the reuse of prior work performed in a trailer of a struck production or other ancillary content connected to a struck production
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