The 'Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One' actor joined a negotiating session where he expressed concerns about AI use and project promotion one month before actors union announced a strike.
- Jul 18, 2023
AceShowbiz - Even Tom Cruise, an actor and producer who is credited with saving Hollywood post-COVID pandemic with his movie "Top Gun: Maverick", failed to prevent the actors' strike. Amid the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, it's unveiled that the "Mission: Impossible" star had entered into negotiations between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and actors union last month.
According to Deadline, the 61-year-old zoomed into one bargaining session between the two parties in June. During the discussion, he raised the issues about AI use and project promotion as well as some specifically concerning stunt professionals.
The "Jack Reacher" star asked the AMPTP to recognize the gravity of SAG-AFTRA's ask as far as guardrails around generative use. He also wanted to urge the AMPTP to support the guild's position on stunt performers.
Cruise additionally implored with SAG-AFTRA reps to consider allowing further member promotion of studio projects, even in the midst of a strike. A source clarified that his request had nothing to do with his latest movie "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" as the movie already wrapped its PR campaign. He was, instead, worried about the delicate post-pandemic state of movie theaters as he recognized the power actor PR has in influencing box office results.
Despite Cruise's participation in the negotiations, both parties failed to reach agreement by the time the previous contract expired earlier this month, with SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher announcing that the strike officially began on July 14.
Showing support to the strike, Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek walked out of the premiere of Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" in London on July 13. The likes of Olivia Wilde, Jason Sudeikis, Mark Ruffalo, Nina Dobrev, Joey King and more have also joined the picket lines.
