Hollywood star Tom Cruise has extended his support to the Hollywood actors’ strike demanding fair pay and a check on the rampant use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The Top Gun: Maverick actor made a surprise appearance during a Zoom negotiating session between the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), according to American entertainment portal The Hollywood Reporter.
Reportedly, the Mission: Impossible actor spoke passionately against the increasing presence of AI in the streaming era.
The 61-year-old actor’s statement resonated with thousands of actors and entertainers who are currently on strike alongside the Writers Guild of America (WGA). This joint strike is a significant event, marking the first time in over six decades that both actors and screenwriters have joined forces, halting production across the entertainment industry.
The union unanimously voted to stop working after their contract expired and negotiations stalled with the AMPTP, which represents streaming giants such as Disney, Netflix and Amazon.
Earlier, actress Priyanka Chopra extended her support to the strike. The cast of Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer — including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Florence Pugh and Kenneth Branagh — walked out of their London premiere in solidarity with the movement.
Several A-list Hollywood stars — including Academy Award nominee Paul Dano, Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis, She Said star Zoe Kazan, The Mandalorian’s Rosario Dawson, Adam Scott of The Severance and actor-director Olivia Wilde — were seen joining the ongoing strike on the picket line outside headquarters of major studios.
