The SAG-AFTRA strike has brought Hollywood to its knees. The industrial action has seen actors all over the industry down tools and refuse to work unless their demands are met. Because of the strike, production has ceased on almost every film and television series.
However, this is only partially true for the second season of Star Wars: Andor, the sci-fi action adventure television series from Disney. According to Deadline, the show was a few weeks away from wrapping up production. Unfortunately, the SAG-AFTRA strike rolled in and threw a wrench in the plans.
Andor Season 2 was under production in the UK with actors from both sides of the Atlantic. Where US actors belong to SAG-AFTRA, actors from the UK are members of Equity, the British acting union, which is not currently participating in any kind of strike.
Even though SAG-AFTRA members are on strike and, as a result, not showing up to work, production is still ongoing. The reason for this is that UK-based actors are still required to show up at work because they belong to a different trade union and have different terms of employment from their counterparts.
Because of this, Equity actors stand the risk of being sued for breach of contract if they down tools in solidarity with their colleagues from across the pond. This is just the first notable example of international productions encountering this odd scenario, but likely not the last.
Even though production is ongoing with the actors that remain, we doubt it is sustainable for much longer. When the show’s staff film every possible scene that can work without the presence of SAG-AFTRA actors, we do not doubt that production on the series will come to a complete stop.
For example, Diego Luna, who stars as the titular character of the series, is undoubtedly a SAG-AFTRA member. Surely his absence on set opens up a gaping hole that Equity actors, no matter their number, can’t fill. Unless he finished shooting his scenes before the strike began, we don’t think the Andor crew will have a choice but to fully halt production – and soon.
Besides, Tony Gilroy, who created the Star Wars-based series, is also on strike. The filmmaker is a member of the SAG-AFTRA sister union, the Writers’ Guild of America, which has also been on strike even longer, since May.
Both unions are fighting for better pay for their members as well as job security from the looming threat of Artificial Intelligence. With both actions happening concurrently, there were always going to be problems with the production of Andor Season 2, never mind the dilemma posed by Equity actors.
Andor Season 2 covers the titular character and his involvement in the growing rebellion against the empire. It will have 12 episodes with the last three episodes chronicling the three days that lead up to the events of Star Wars: Rogue One.
At the moment, Andor Season 2 is slated for release in August 2024. But if there is no resolution to the ongoing strikes, there is a possibility the release date will be pushed back.
