Awkwardness was within the air at Disneyland this weekend, the place the studio cast forward with their “Haunted Mansion” premiere amid the SAG strike … with none of the solid in sight.
The premiere went down Saturday on the Anaheim park — in entrance of the particular Haunted Mansion experience, no much less. Like we stated, not one of the main stars who act within the movie confirmed up — clearly, they’re displaying solidarity with their union, which went on strike final week.
In their place, a bunch of randos walked the carpet as an alternative … together with a handful of Disney solid members who have been dressed up as ‘HM’ ghosts and even simply common Disney characters. There have been additionally some influencers there — Holly Madison and different Playboy-adjacent folks — plus some Disney Imagineers and composers/BTS people tied to the film as nicely.
The large names who have been notably lacking … Lakeith Stanfield, Danny DeVito, Owen Wilson, Tiffany Haddish, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jared Leto, Winona Ryder, Rosario Dawson … and each different solid member. One one who did present was director Justin Simien.
Amid the SAG-AFTRA strike, #HauntedMansion director Justin Simien weighs in on strolling the purple carpet with out his solid, in addition to his issues over AI pic.twitter.com/M5QvvDDXGq
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 16, 2023
@THR
He did some interviews with press, and stated he was feeling “ambivalent” over the very fact his solid could not communicate for themselves … whereas additionally expressing help for his or her trigger.
Simien additionally addressed Disney chief Bob Iger‘s current feedback concerning the ongoing strikes — the place he stated the union’s calls for weren’t “realistic,” whereas lamenting the very fact they have been hurting showbiz at massive — and JS walked the road … saying he’d be completely satisfied to speak to BI to see the place the hole is between what he desires and what actors at massive are asking for.
It’s a bit of unclear why Simien attended the “Haunted Mansion” premiere. We know he is a part of the DGA, which lately struck its personal take care of studio heads, and presumably … he is obligated to go to this form of stuff, regardless of the very fact he says he is standing with the actors. Christopher Nolan did one thing comparable on the UK “Oppenheimer” premiere final week.
In any case, he did his finest to appease either side, it appears. Dude’s sorta caught between a rock and a tough place proper now … as are a ton of different administrators caught on this battle.
Considering how empty this occasion felt — ya gotta marvel if different studios will scrap their very own premieres within the coming months. Loads of summer time blockbusters already did their press, however there’s nonetheless a number of big-budget flicks slated to be launched by the remainder of the 12 months.
Hollywood appears primed to turn into a ghost city … beginning with “Haunted Mansion.” 😬
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