Gladiator 2, Mortal Kombat 2 and more to pause filming due to SAG strike

A strike is expected to be called after talks between the SAG-AFTRA union and the Hollywood studios broke down.

By James Hibbs

Published: Thursday, 13 July 2023 at 12:00 am

With a strike now expected to be called by the SAG-AFTRA actors union, it has been reported that a number of major film and TV productions are preparing to shut down.

Variety has reported that international shoots set to pause production if a strike does take effect would include Gladiator 2, Ridley Scott’s sequel to the 2000 historical epic starring Russell Crowe.

Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat 2 is also reportedly set to pause its filming in Australia, and Sky and Peacock series The Day of the Jackal, which is set to star Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch, is also expected to go on a break.

Many productions across the industry are already paused because of the ongoing WGA writers strike, which has delayed production on shows including Stranger Things season 5 and The Last of Us season 2.

"Lewis
Lewis Tan in Mortal Kombat.
Warner Bros

It is expected that an actor’s strike by the US union would impact UK productions as well, with a top agent representing British stars telling Variety that “a lot of actors are talking about striking in support, and it will undoubtedly affect the business in the UK as a whole.”

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Gladiator 2 will not see Russell Crowe return to his role as Maximus, but will instead star Paul Mescal as Lucius, the nephew of Joaquin Phoenix’s Commodus, along with Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, Derek Jacobi and Joseph Quinn.

Meanwhile, Mortal Kombat 2 will once again see Lewis Tan as Cole Young, reprising his role from the 2021 video game adaptation.

The strike is expected to be called after talks with the Hollywood studios failed, with a vote being held later today (Thursday 13th July).

Last month the DGA (Directors Guild of America) voted to approve a contract with the AMPTP (The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), meaning they did not go on strike.