Wicked film set is DEMOLISHED with 10 days of filming left to go as the actors’ strikes brings Hollywood to a standstill
The set of the new Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande has been demolished after Hollywood ground to a halt amid the actors’ strike.
Images show the set, located in the UK’s Ivinghoe Village, being taken apart amid the transatlantic SAG-AFTRA strike by actors.
The set in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, which features quirky, colourful, thatch-roofed homes, has lay abandoned for weeks after film stars united and downed tools last month.
And weeks after filming ceased on the new adaptation amid the strikes, the set has been pulled apart, after it was previously reported that there was only ’10 days left of filming’ for the production.
Images show several large containers filled with debris and building material, with tipper trucks seen driving away from set.
AFTER: The set of the new Wicked movie starring Ariana Grande has been demolished after Hollywood ground to a halt amid the actors’ strike
BEFORE: Scores of people could be seen on the brightly-coloured set of Wicked in April, before the strikes took place
Movie: Ariana Grande stars as Glinda the Good in the new film adaptation of the popular musical
Cranes and other vehicles also populated the set as the fictional homes were taken down, leaving a vast expanse of muddy land.
Surrounding the fictional village, there appeared to what be production tents set up, but those appear to be deserted amid the early shutdown following the strikes.
Meanwhile, the film’s famous yellow brick road, located in Munchkin Country, was seen covered in dirt and rumble as the set was shut down.
Munchkin Country is the fictional eastern region of the Land of Oz and home to the famous Yellow Brick Road.
The strike comes after the union representing Hollywood stars ordered members to down tools amid a row over how streaming services are pushing down pay and the increasing use of AI in production.
Pop star Grande who is set to portray heroine Glinda the Good in the upcoming film, signalled her support for the strike on Instagram last month by sharing news of the protest.
Other productions in the UK, including Deadpool 3, Beetlejuice 2, Speak No Evil and the next Avatar sequel are also set to be affected.
The strike, coordinated by US actors’ union the Screen Actors Guild (Sag-Aftra), began in July, prompting the star-studded cast of upcoming Christopher Nolan epic Oppenheimer to walk out of the film’ UK premiere in London.
Taken down: Images show the set, located in the UK’s Ivinghoe Village, being taken apart amid the transatlantic SAG-AFTRA strike by actors
Quiet: The set in Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, which features quirky, colourful, thatch-roofed homes, has lay abandoned for weeks after film stars united and downed tools last month
Done: Weeks after filming ceased on the new adaptation amid the strikes, the set has been pulled apart, after it was previously reported that there was only ’10 days left of filming’ for the production
Hard at work: Images show several large containers filled with debris and building material, with tipper trucks seen driving away from set.
Stars including Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh were visibly emotional as they exited the premiere early.
Director Nolan later said the cast had left the event to ‘write their picket signs.’
Under the rules of a strike, all Sag-aftra members will not be able to film any movie or TV series – which means that almost every show and film that’s currently in the works will be delayed indefinitely until the problem is resolved.
US networks have responded to the strike by expanding the amount of ‘unscripted content’ for their autumn schedules, including The Masked Singer, The Amazing Race, Survivor and Kitchen Nightmares.
British union Equity, the sister organisation to Sag-aftra, said in a statement that they are are ‘full square behind’ their US counterpart.
However, they said they have been advised that the action is not lawful under UK law, meaning any performer who joins the strike or refuses to cross a picket line in Britain will have no protection if production companies sack them or sue them for breach of copyright.
Demolition: Cranes and other vehicles also populated the set as the fictional homes were taken down, leaving a vast expanse of muddy land
Abandoned: Surrounding the fictional village, there appeared to what be production tents set up, but those appear to be deserted amid the early shutdown following the strikes
Oh dear: Meanwhile, the film’s famous yellow brick road, located in Munchkin Country, was seen covered in dirt and rumble as the set was shut down
Location: Munchkin Country is the fictional eastern region of the Land of Oz and home to the famous Yellow Brick Road
Busy: Huge shipping containers were filled with debris and material from the set
Support: Pop star Grande who is set to portray heroine Glinda the Good in the upcoming film, signalled her support for the strike on Instagram last month by sharing news of the protest
Sag-Aftra represents more than 160,000 screen actors, broadcast journalists, announcers, hosts and stunt performers.
The walkout affects only the union’s 65,000 actors from television and film productions.
Wicked’s release date is set for November next year, meaning the halt to production could push that back.
Last month, Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz shared his frustration that there was only 10 days of filming left before the film stars walked out, but emphasised he was in support of them.
He told Variety: ‘It’s quite frustrating in a way because we have, I think, 10 days worth of shooting to go finish all the shooting for both movies…But on the other hand, I might as well declare it, I’m in great sympathy and support of the unions that are striking.’
Star: Ariana is one of the stars of the film, starring as Glinda the Good
Leading lady: Cynthia Erivo takes on the role of Elphaba and sported green face paint for the role
Deserted: Actors downed tools amid the actors’ strike
What a view: The set is located in the stunning Bedfordshire countryside
While director Jon M. Chu posted on social media about how close production – which also stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba – was to being completed.
He shared: ‘We were only a few days away from being done so we were SO close. It’s been very painful to put a halt to it all but we will be back.’
He added to the striking actors: ‘We stand with you.’
Wicked is based on Maguire’s novel of the same name and was first performed on Broadway in 2003 before opening at the Apollo Theatre in London three years later.
So close; Last month, Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz shared his frustration that there was only 10 days of filming left before the film stars walked out, but emphasised he was in support of them
Nearly there: While director Jon M. Chu posted on social media about how close production was to being completed
Exciting: Wicked is based on Maguire’s novel of the same name and was first performed on Broadway in 2003 before opening at the Apollo Theatre in London three years later
Film: Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who co-wrote the music and lyrics to the Broadway show, have adapted the screenplay while Jon M Chu is directing
Cast: Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum will also feature in the movie, which is set for release late next year
In the play, Elphaba arrives at Shiz University and becomes roommates with Glinda but their relationship becomes fraught years later when they meet the Wizard of Oz.
Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman, who co-wrote the music and lyrics to the Broadway show, have adapted the screenplay while Jon M Chu is directing.
Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum will also feature in the movie, which is set for release late next year.
Jonathan Bailey appears as Fiyero Tigelaar, who gets engaged to Glinda in the Wicked play and film, even though his true love for Elphaba pulls him away from her.
Later, he becomes the character known as the Scarecrow, who was played by Ray Bolger in Judy Garland–starring film.
US ACTORS’ UNION SAG-AFTRA STRIKE: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
Hollywood and the creative industry at large has been dealt another blow following the announcement of strike action by US actors’ union Sag-Aftra.
Strikes from sister unions in the US have already derailed multiple productions and industry events in recent months.
Here’s what you need to know about the strike.
Who is on strike?
Sag-Aftra, the US union representing thousands of industry professionals, officially declared a strike on Thursday.
The union, which has a membership of around 160,000, represents actors across film, television and radio.
It is the union’s first major members’ strike in over 40 years.
It comes as over 11,500 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) also remain on strike, having begun their own action on May 2.
Why are the actors striking?
The strike has been called after Sag-Aftra failed to negotiate new contracts with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
Negotiations with the AMPTP had been going on for more than four weeks, and the contracts expired at midnight Pacific Time (8am UK time) on Wednesday, having been pushed back previously from June 30.
Issues up for negotiation included base compensation, which actors say has been undercut by inflation and the streaming services, the threat of unregulated use of artificial intelligence, and benefit plans.
In a previous statement, Sag-Aftra president Fran Drescher said the AMPTP’s response to the union’s proposals had been ‘insulting and disrespectful of our massive contributions to this industry’.
Does the strike affect just actors in the US?
Sag-Aftra has members all over the world, all of whom are expected to respect the decisions of the union.
‘Simply put, a Sag-Aftra member must always work under a union contract around the globe,’ the union’s website states.
Which big names are publicly supporting the strike?
Several Hollywood stars including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Ben Stiller, have previously expressed their support in favour of strike action, if a deal with AMPTP could not be reached.
On Thursday, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Rami Malek, all walked out of the London premiere of upcoming blockbuster Oppenheimer.
Sir Kenneth Branagh told the PA news agency beforehand: ‘Everybody is working very hard to make sure it doesn’t happen, if it happens I stand in solidarity with our Sag members.’
Murphy told PA: ‘I stand by my colleagues, that’s all I can say to you.’
What are striking actors not allowed to do?
The union’s Global Rule One states: ‘No member shall render any services or make an agreement to perform services for any employer who has not executed a basic minimum agreement with the union.’
It clarifies that members do not work without a contract in films, scripted television, commercials, non-broadcast, interactive, new media, independent and student film productions, among others.
‘If you are behind a microphone or in front of a camera, you should assume that (Global Rule One) applies until and unless an authorised representative of Sag-Aftra confirms that it does not,’ the union’s website states.
Sag-Aftra says that it takes the rule ‘very seriously’, with violations resulting in disciplinary action ranging from reprimands, to fines to expulsion from the union.
How long will the strike last?
Sag-Aftra has not given a time limit for the strike, which is due to begin at midnight Pacific Time (8am UK time) on Friday.
Asked how long the strike would last, Ms Drescher told a Los Angeles press conference: ‘That’s up to (the AMPTP), we are open to talking to them tonight.
‘All of this is because of their behaviour, it’s up to them if they want to talk in a normal way.’
How will this affect productions in the UK?
A number of major projects that are currently under way in the UK may be affected by the strike.
Among them is superhero blockbuster Deadpool 3, starring Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman – which may have its scheduled release date of May 2024 significantly impacted by the strike.
Similarly, new film Wicked starring US singer Ariana Grande, actress Cynthia Erivo, Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey and Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh, which is being shot in a village in Buckinghamshire could also be affected, as the release date is currently set for November next year.
Other UK productions include Beetlejuice 2, vampire thriller The Radleys and psychological thriller Speak No Evil.
The second series of hit HBO TV series House Of The Dragon and Netflix’s The Sandman may also be affected, if actors can not participate under union guidelines.
What does it mean for the upcoming awards ceremony?
The strike casts much doubt on upcoming award ceremonies, including the 75th annual Emmy Awards, the nominations for which were announced on Wednesday.
Sag-Aftra chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland told a press conference on Thursday: ‘I anticipate this will bring any Emmy campaigning to a close.’
How will the strike affect films that have already been shot?
The strike does not allow actors to engage in any form of promotion for films.
Some studios, including Disney, have said they still plan to host events including world premieres, though there will not be opportunities for press interviews.
How does the Sag-Aftra strike relate to the Hollywood writers’ strike?
On Thursday the WGA entered its 73rd day of strike action, after their own contracts also expired earlier this year.
The writers’ union, which has a membership of around 20,000, is striking primarily over royalties from streaming media.
The WGA is seeking higher minimum pay, more writers per show and less exclusivity on single projects, among other demands – all conditions it says have been diminished during the content boom of the streaming era.
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