‘Special Ops: Lioness’ Premiere Canceled After SAG-AFTRA Strike

The highly anticipated red carpet premiere of Paramount’s “Special Ops: Lioness” has been called off, according to exclusive information obtained by Variety. The cancellation comes in response to the recent announcement by SAG-AFTRA that the guild will initiate a strike against film and TV companies, aligning with the Writers Guild.

Paramount+ regretted the decision, stating, “We understand the disappointment this news may bring and apologize for any inconvenience caused. Nevertheless, we eagerly await the series’ debut on July 23rd, exclusively on Paramount+.” The premiere of Taylor Sheridan’s military drama was initially scheduled for July 18 at the Directors Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, with appearances by a star-studded cast, including Zoe Saldaña, Laysla De Oliveira, Nicole Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Dave Annable, Jill Wagner, LaMonica Garrett, James Jordan, Austin Hébert, Jonah Wharton, Stephanie Nur, Hannah Love Lanier, and Sam Asghari.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher delivered a passionate speech during a press conference, officially announcing the strike. “At this critical juncture, they find themselves on the wrong side of history. We stand united, displaying an unprecedented level of solidarity. Our union, sister unions, and labor organizations worldwide support us in this cause, as the streaming, digital, and AI technologies have revolutionized the industry,” Drescher declared.

The guild’s key concerns include better wages, improved residual payments, and safeguards concerning using artificial intelligence. Negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are underway to find a resolution.

As part of the strike, all principal on-camera and off-camera work, such as acting, singing, dancing, voice acting, and narration, has been suspended temporarily. Promotional and publicity services, including tours, personal appearances, interviews, premieres, and screenings, are also prohibited. A memo detailing the list of regulations was disseminated on Thursday.

Canceling the “Special Ops: Lioness” premiere marks one of the first casualties of the ongoing strike. In solidarity with the guild, the film’s cast walked out of the London premiere of “Oppenheimer” on Wednesday.

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