Ariana Grande’s ‘Wicked’ and Jenna Ortega’s ‘Beetlejuice 2’ Among Movies Put on Pause Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike

By Samantha Nungesser @samjnungesser
Published July 14, 2023, 1:58 p.m. ET

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It looks like we might be waiting a little longer until we get to see Ariana Grande stun as Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked. Following news of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the big-screen adaptation of the iconic Broadway musical — as well as several other upcoming movies — has officially shut down production.

On Thursday (July 13), SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher slammed “disgusting” studio execs for their treatment of actors after negotiations between the union and Hollywood studios failed. In her impassioned speech, she claimed the “greedy entity” cares more about “Wall Street than you and your family.”

Wicked — which was originally slated for a November 2024 release — is one of many films that halted production amid the strike. With chilling photos of the abandoned set in the UK and Grande posting in solidarity with the union on her Instagram story, it’s possible that the highly anticipated movie may not make it to theaters on time.

According to The Daily Mail, other films like Deadpool 3 starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, Beetlejuice 2 starring Jenna Ortega, Gladiator 2 and Speak No Evil may face delays as well as the strike requires that all SAG-AFTRA members stop filming movies and TV shows until the issue is resolved. The outlet also reports that the second Avatar sequel may be pushed back from its original December 2025 release date — despite all filming being completed.

Moreover, the strike forced Oppenheimer stars Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh to exit the UK premiere early. Director Christopher Nolan told crowds that they were “off to write their picket signs” amid the “struggle for fair wages for working members of their union.”

Earlier that night, Blunt told Deadline that she is in full support of the strike.

“If they call [a strike], we’ll be leaving together as cast in unity with everyone,” she said. “We are gonna have to. We are gonna have to. We will see what happens. Right now it’s the joy to be together.”

With SAG-AFTRA joining the Writers Guild of America (WGA), who have been on the picket lines since early May, it may be the end of movies as we know it — for now. And, yes, that was supposed to be read in the tune of the R.E.M song.