Unstoppable, starring Jennifer Lopez, is the most recent film to be affected by the ongoing writers’ strike, which has wreaked havoc on the film industry.
The film, produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity, was in the middle of production in Los Angeles when it was shut down indefinitely by picketing strikers. The precise timeline for resuming production is currently unknown.
This development follows Aziz Ansari’s Lionsgate film Good Fortune, which confronted similar picketing two weeks ago and also had to indefinitely suspend production. It is hoped that production will resume once the strike is resolved.
Moreover, Marvel Studios has decided to postpone production on Blade and Thunderbolts until after the strike, as Marvel scripts frequently undergo revisions during filming.
The Writers Strike continues to reverberate throughout the industry, causing significant disruptions and unpredictability for numerous film productions.
What does Unstoppable refer to?
Unstoppable is their second feature film, following the 1980s-set Air, which centered on Nike’s pursuit of a sponsorship agreement with a teenage Michael Jordan.
In the film, Jennifer Lopez is joined by Jharrel Jerome, who portrays the real-life wrestler Anthony Robles. Robles, who was born with a single limb, defied the odds by winning the NCAA championship.
Notably, the film marks the directorial debut of esteemed editor Billy Goldenberg, who won an Oscar for his work on Ben Affleck’s Argo.
Why is the WGA on strike?
The strike is a consequence of content growth, which is largely attributable to the emergence of streaming services. With Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and other streaming services emerging as significant competitors, the market is suddenly congested, with every major studio coming on board.
The abundance of content has resulted in an increase in the number of series and films produced each year, thereby creating more opportunities for writers. However, this has come at a cost, as writers report earning less money and laboring under more stressful conditions than before.
Consequently, the WGA is pursuing more compensation for writers up front, as many of the payments writers have historically received on the back end, such as syndication and international licensing, have been largely eliminated by the advent of streaming.
