The cinematic world is feeling the tremors of the unyielding stand taken by studios against their writers and actors, with clear repercussions rippling out into movie release schedules. The August release of A24’s much-anticipated film, ‘Problemista‘, has been stalled indefinitely due to the refusal of studios to engage in dialogue with the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). These initial setbacks are merely a taste of the delays and complications the entertainment industry will have to grapple with due to the rigid position held by the studios.
A series of debuts slated for August have been thrown into disarray. ‘White Bird’, Lionsgate’s new production, is another film that has seen its release date left hanging in uncertainty amidst the strikes. It remains unclear if an end to the strike would automatically reschedule these films or how the August calendar will be restructured in the interim. However, it does stand as a swift reaction to the strike action. The studios’ unwillingness to engage with their writers and actors has landed them in a predicament where their promotional ambassadors cannot fulfill their roles. This leaves them with the unenviable choice of releasing films without the accompanying actor-driven promotion or postponing the release until they initiate meaningful contract negotiations.
A few films remain in the pipeline, with SAG-AFTRA permitting certain productions to proceed, including some from A24. The decision by A24 to delay ‘Problemista‘ is therefore noteworthy. The initial plan was for Julio Torres, the film’s main protagonist, to engage in a country-wide tour conducting Q&As for a gradual rollout of the movie. However, the post-strike scenario has complicated matters. The film, popular among fans of other A24 works and Torres as an artist, had already garnered attention with a successful premiere at South by Southwest (SXSW). But without Torres’ promotional involvement, the decision to postpone the film’s release seems logical.
Just the Tip of the Iceberg
The problem is not isolated to just a handful of films. While some major releases like ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’ had their promotional activities completed before the formal declaration of the strike, many others were not as fortunate. The promotional aspects of these movies are now hanging by a thread, likely leading to further delays in their respective release dates. Several studios, despite having banked reviews ready for release, are finding themselves in a bind, as illustrated by ‘Problemista‘ postponing its August release and films like Luca Guadagnino’s ‘Challengers’ being completely shifted to a 2024 debut. This shift in release schedules hints at a significant upheaval at the expense of the studios.
Given the studios’ continued disregard for the concerns of the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, it seems inevitable that such announcements of delay and disruption will become a recurring theme. Currently, the release date of ‘Problemista‘ remains a mystery, and until it’s confirmed, it’s paramount to uphold our support for SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, as their fight for fair treatment rages on.
