San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
HOW A STRIKE MIGHT SHAKE UP COMIC-CON
Hollywood labor fights could change how San Diego Comic-con looks this year. Last week, the Screen Actors Guild overwhelmingly approved a strike authorization that could eventually lead to a strike. The union, known as SAG-AFTRA, represents roughly 160,000 performers in TV and movies — some of whom often find themselves in front of large crowds in San Diego. If the strike goes through, the union does not allow its members to promote events at places like Comic-con International. It could be a big change for attendees as actors have become an oversized part of the convention over the last decade as Hollywood has eagerly embraced the festival as a place to promote movies, TV shows and video games.
Heidi Macdonald, editor of comic book news website The Beat, said actors not participating would leave a big hole for attendees, and might limit media attention for San Diego.
“It’s part of the glamour of the show,” she said. “(If actors can’t go) it would make for a quiet convention.”
Macdonald said Comic-con is like a “big tent” of fans of different interests — toy collectors, comic book readers, Lego fans, Star Wars die-hards — so it’s not like your average attendee would necessarily be heartbroken not to run into Hugh Jackman or Chris Pine.
She said if the strike happens, it would shift a lot of the attention to comic book creators, or WWE pro wrestlers — who are almost always there but considered an afterthought.
The vote by the actors’ guild comes at the same time as a lot of upheaval in entertainment as streaming has changed how writers, actors and people involved in productions are paid. There is also concern about how artificial intelligence could disrupt the industry. The Writers Guild has been on strike for more than a month, canceling late night shows, movie productions, events and TV shows.
In a statement, Comic-con spokesman David Glanzer said the convention didn’t want to speculate on what might happen because SAG-AFTRA has not gone on strike.
“Our hope is for a speedy resolution that will prove beneficial to all parties and allow everyone to continue the work they love,” the statement read. “Until then, we continue to diligently work on our summer event in the hopes of making it as fun, educational, and celebratory as in years past.”
Some of the most talked about things coming out of Comic-con tend to come from Hollywood stars.
Last year featured Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson dressed up as his character from the upcoming DC “Black Adam” movie and standing on a platform — with a fog machine and lightning display — rising above the 6,500-person crowd in Hall H. There was also actor Chukwudi Iwuji who appeared in Hall H, later in the evening, dressed and acting like his character High Evolutionary from the upcoming Marvel Studios film
“Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3.”
How much each appearance made a difference in the box office is up for debate. Johnson’s appearance made the most news, but his film was a major box-office disappointment and plans for a sequel were canceled. “Guardians,” on the other hand, is the No. 2 highest-grossing movie in the worldwide box office this year, said Box Office Mojo, behind “The Super Mario Bros. Movie.”
Johnson and Iwuji are exceptions to usual actor appearances at Comic-con. Typically, they come out for a few minutes, talk about appreciation of the fans and, sometimes, take questions from the audience — although the questions asked are never hard-hitting and border on ridiculous.
The real stars of most large panels tend to be the studio chiefs who would not be affected by the strike. Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, is known for — year after year — whipping fandom into a frenzy as he announces the latest film and TV slate. He makes big announcements, plays trailers and takes time to explain the new direction of the successful franchise. Feige will bring out actors to talk briefly, but most social media buzz comes from his announcements.
A wrinkle in that possibility, however unlikely, is Marvel just deciding not to attend to be in solidarity with striking actors and writers.
With the writers on strike, the entertainment world has found some ways around the situation. The Tony Awards, for example, still took place Sunday as an unscripted show. The argument for putting on the show: Writers who worked on plays before the strike began were being honored. A lot of the biggest comic book movies coming out later this year — “Blue Beetle,” “The Marvels,” “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” — were likely finished long before the writers strike.
Jonathan Handel, an entertainment attorney and journalist, said the actors union is not likely to grant exceptions to actors to promote films they worked on before a potential strike. He used the example of “For your Consideration” events in L.A., where writers typically meet with award judges to talk about their projects. Handel said the Writers Guild was firm on writers not attending.
Handel said actors often have contracts that require promotional events — like at comic conventions — but that is not allowed to contradict their union agreement, which would prevent a Comic-con appearance.
Timing is not on the side of Comic-con organizers. The actors guild’s contract runs until midnight on June 30, setting up a potential strike to start July 1 — less than 20 days before the start of the convention.
Miro Copic, a marketing expert and professor at San Diego State University, said there is no doubt studios will “promote the living daylights” out of new films at Comic-con, but some of the luster might be gone.
He said the global media exposure from Comic-con for an actor or a project — with dozens of journalists from all over the world at the convention — greatly exceeds what they might get at a red carpet event. Even if actors can’t go, Copic said Comic-con is good at adapting and there will probably be a lot of emphasis put on outside installations.
“The show must go on,” he said.
Even if big movie studios decide to cancel all Comiccon promotions — despite it being highly unlikely — there are still other pop culture aspects of the show that gather attention. For example, legendary comic book artist Jim Lee, recently made president of DC Comics, has regularly filmed rooms with thousands of fans just by himself. When DC and Marvel hold panels featuring several of their biggest artists and writers, it is common for rooms to fill up and create long lines outside meeting halls.
Comic-con has weathered other issues in recent years, namely becoming online-only for two years during the pandemic. It returned last year with a strict mask policy and attendees had to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test within 72 hours.
phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phillipmolnar