Warner Bros. is treading on thin ice as it decides on a release date for the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune. Looks like Dune 2 will be pushed to 2024 amid two contentious Hollywood labour strikes -- WGA and SAG-AFTRA, as in addition to writers, now Hollywood actors are also striking.&nbsp;

Variety reports that Warner Bros. is seriously considering moving Dune 2 from its November 3 premiere date to sometime in 2024. The film is a co-production with Legendary Entertainment and both parties must agree on a new release date. While some report that Legendary will be approached by Warner Bros. for a date change, others believe that they plan on moving with the film as originally planned. There is no official word on this yet.&nbsp;

Dune 2 stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in leading roles.

<h2>Other films could also face a premiere date change</h2>

In other news, Warner Bros. is assessing potential new dates for the anticipated movie musical, The Color Purple. The feature will have Oprah Winfrey as a producer. There is also DC Studios' sequel Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom.

If things change for Dune 2, there could also be a change in premiere dates for other tentpoles like MCU’s The Marvels starring Brie Larson and others. The film is scheduled for November 10. There’s also Lionsgate’s franchise reboot The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds &amp; Snakes for November 17. Another film to hit theatres at the same time is Apple Studios' film Napoleon which is scheduled for November 22, directed by Ridley Scott. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the emperor.

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Warner Bros. is treading on thin ice as it decides on a release date for the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune. Looks like Dune 2 will be pushed to 2024 amid two contentious Hollywood labour strikes -- WGA and SAG-AFTRA, as in addition to writers, now Hollywood actors are also striking.

Warner Bros. is treading on thin ice as it decides on a release date for the sequel to Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune. Looks like Dune 2 will be pushed to 2024 amid two contentious Hollywood labour strikes -- WGA and SAG-AFTRA, as in addition to writers, now Hollywood actors are also striking. Variety reports that Warner Bros. is seriously considering moving Dune 2 from its November 3 premiere date to sometime in 2024. The film is a co-production with Legendary Entertainment and both parties must agree on a new release date. While some report that Legendary will be approached by Warner Bros. for a date change, others believe that they plan on moving with the film as originally planned. There is no official word on this yet. Dune 2 stars Timothee Chalamet and Zendaya in leading roles. Other films could also face a premiere date change In other news, Warner Bros. is assessing potential new dates for the anticipated movie musical, The Color Purple. The feature will have Oprah Winfrey as a producer. There is also DC Studios' sequel Aquaman and The Lost Kingdom. If things change for Dune 2, there could also be a change in premiere dates for other tentpoles like MCU’s The Marvels starring Brie Larson and others. The film is scheduled for November 10. There’s also Lionsgate’s franchise reboot The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes for November 17. Another film to hit theatres at the same time is Apple Studios' film Napoleon which is scheduled for November 22, directed by Ridley Scott. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the emperor. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Warner Bros. considering shifting premiere date of Dune 2 amid Hollywood strikes

The union representing 160,000 actors and performers on Friday agreed to extend contract negotiations with Hollywood studios, staving off a potentially crippling strike until at least July 12.

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has been locked in lengthy negotiations with the likes of Netflix and Disney, but as a midnight deadline loomed, both sides announced they would continue to negotiate.

The current contract has been extended until July 12 at midnight Los Angeles time, SAG-AFTRA said in a statement, adding that a media blackout on the negotiations would remain in effect.

Fears had mounted that the actors would join writers on the picket line, a "double strike" not seen in more than 60 years, and which would bring nearly all US film and television productions to a halt.

SAG-AFTRA's members -- from A-listers to extras -- have pre-approved industrial action if negotiators cannot reach a deal.

Like writers, who have already spent nine weeks on the picket lines, the actors are demanding higher pay to counteract inflation, and guarantees for their future livelihoods.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-fire-at-warner-bros-studio-lot-in-burbank-successfully-extinguished-no-damage-or-injuries-reported-610734">Fire at Warner Bros Studio lot in Burbank successfully extinguished; No damage or injuries reported</a>

In addition to salaries when they are actively working, actors earn payments called "residuals" every time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable -- particularly helpful when performers are between projects.

But today, streamers like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, and offer the same paltry flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity.

"Residuals are our livelihood in between projects," said 48-year-old Shon Lange, whose resume includes small roles on television shows such as NCIS: Los Angeles&nbsp;and The Terminal List.

"For those of us who aren't as lucky to be going from project to project yet, residuals put food on the table, they help put my kid in school. So it's very important."

<h2>- 'Gig to gig' -</h2>

While the writers' strike has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production, an actors' walkout would shutter almost everything.

Some reality TV, animation and talk shows could continue, but even high-profile events like television's Emmy Awards, set for September 18, would be at risk.

Popular series set to return to television as soon as this fall would be delayed. And further down the line, blockbuster films could be postponed too.

This week, hundreds of high-profile actors including Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence signed an open letter insisting they were ready to strike unless SAG-AFTRA is able to reach a "transformative deal."

The letter said the showbiz industry is at an "unprecedented inflection point."

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-arnold-schwarzenegger-terminator-movies-predicted-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-610729">Arnold Schwarzenegger: Terminator movies predicted the future of artificial intelligence</a>

Actors also want guarantees to regulate the future use of artificial intelligence.

"We need to modernize the contracts for new technologies," 52-year-old actress Kim Donovan told AFP, saying she was worried about studios using the likeness or voice of an actor without offering compensation. 
&nbsp; 
A-list actors "have the bigger voices -- we need their support," she said.

"Most actors have to live from gig to gig."

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The union representing 160,000 actors and performers on Friday agreed to extend contract negotiations with Hollywood studios, staving off a potentially crippling strike until at least July 12.

The union representing 160,000 actors and performers on Friday agreed to extend contract negotiations with Hollywood studios, staving off a potentially crippling strike until at least July 12. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) has been locked in lengthy negotiations with the likes of Netflix and Disney, but as a midnight deadline loomed, both sides announced they would continue to negotiate. The current contract has been extended until July 12 at midnight Los Angeles time, SAG-AFTRA said in a statement, adding that a media blackout on the negotiations would remain in effect. Fears had mounted that the actors would join writers on the picket line, a "double strike" not seen in more than 60 years, and which would bring nearly all US film and television productions to a halt. SAG-AFTRA's members -- from A-listers to extras -- have pre-approved industrial action if negotiators cannot reach a deal. Like writers, who have already spent nine weeks on the picket lines, the actors are demanding higher pay to counteract inflation, and guarantees for their future livelihoods. Also read: Fire at Warner Bros Studio lot in Burbank successfully extinguished; No damage or injuries reported In addition to salaries when they are actively working, actors earn payments called "residuals" every time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable -- particularly helpful when performers are between projects. But today, streamers like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, and offer the same paltry flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity. "Residuals are our livelihood in between projects," said 48-year-old Shon Lange, whose resume includes small roles on television shows such as NCIS: Los Angeles and The Terminal List. "For those of us who aren't as lucky to be going from project to project yet, residuals put food on the table, they help put my kid in school. So it's very important." - 'Gig to gig' - While the writers' strike has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production, an actors' walkout would shutter almost everything. Some reality TV, animation and talk shows could continue, but even high-profile events like television's Emmy Awards, set for September 18, would be at risk. Popular series set to return to television as soon as this fall would be delayed. And further down the line, blockbuster films could be postponed too. This week, hundreds of high-profile actors including Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence signed an open letter insisting they were ready to strike unless SAG-AFTRA is able to reach a "transformative deal." The letter said the showbiz industry is at an "unprecedented inflection point." Also read: Arnold Schwarzenegger: Terminator movies predicted the future of artificial intelligence Actors also want guarantees to regulate the future use of artificial intelligence. "We need to modernize the contracts for new technologies," 52-year-old actress Kim Donovan told AFP, saying she was worried about studios using the likeness or voice of an actor without offering compensation. A-list actors "have the bigger voices -- we need their support," she said. "Most actors have to live from gig to gig." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Hollywood actors extend contract negotiations just before deadline, strike avoided

There is no denying this now. Artificial Intelligence is all around us. In the past few months, there has been an increase in AI-generated realistic content, such as deep fakes which has in turn caused grave concern in Hollywood. The rise of AI has now sparked a debate&nbsp;among actors, writers, and studios about their compensation and content creation. 
 
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently expressed concern about the rise of AI deep fakes in Hollywood, reports Interesting Engineering.&nbsp; 
 
The actors union is preparing to negotiate labour contracts with studios, and the use of AI is among the top issues that they wish to address.&nbsp; 
 
According to SAG-AFTRA Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the actors` "digital doubles" should be controlled to ensure fair compensation when using their personas. 
 
Actors and writers in Hollywood are concerned that studios will try to cut costs and increase revenue by using AI to generate new content without the assistance and guidance of production. 
 
Moreover, the report said that celebrities such as Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves have been the victims of unauthorised deep fakes and hyper-realistic AI-generated videos. Clearly, everyone is at risk.&nbsp; 
 
Such&nbsp;incidents have fuelled actors'&nbsp;growing concern about the unregulated use of AI.&nbsp;Meanwhile, top researchers, experts and CEOs (including Sam Altman of OpenAI) have issued a fresh warning about the existential threat artificial intelligence (AI) poses to humanity. 
 
In a 22-word statement, they said that "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." 
 
The statement was published by US-based nonprofit, the Center for AI Safety, and was co-signed by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis as well as Geoffrey Hinton and Youshua Bengio. 
 
The move also comes at a time when writers across mediums in Hollywood have been on strike for better pay.&nbsp;AI has emerged as a major concern of writers and actors, who see their jobs as especially vulnerable to the new technology.

(With inputs from agencies)

There is no denying this now. Artificial Intelligence is all around us. In the past few months, there has been an increase in AI-generated realistic content, such as deep fakes which has in turn caused grave concern in Hollywood.

There is no denying this now. Artificial Intelligence is all around us. In the past few months, there has been an increase in AI-generated realistic content, such as deep fakes which has in turn caused grave concern in Hollywood. The rise of AI has now sparked a debate among actors, writers, and studios about their compensation and content creation. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) recently expressed concern about the rise of AI deep fakes in Hollywood, reports Interesting Engineering. The actors union is preparing to negotiate labour contracts with studios, and the use of AI is among the top issues that they wish to address. According to SAG-AFTRA Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, the actors` "digital doubles" should be controlled to ensure fair compensation when using their personas. Actors and writers in Hollywood are concerned that studios will try to cut costs and increase revenue by using AI to generate new content without the assistance and guidance of production. Moreover, the report said that celebrities such as Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves have been the victims of unauthorised deep fakes and hyper-realistic AI-generated videos. Clearly, everyone is at risk. Such incidents have fuelled actors' growing concern about the unregulated use of AI. Meanwhile, top researchers, experts and CEOs (including Sam Altman of OpenAI) have issued a fresh warning about the existential threat artificial intelligence (AI) poses to humanity. In a 22-word statement, they said that "Mitigating the risk of extinction from AI should be a global priority alongside other societal-scale risks such as pandemics and nuclear war." The statement was published by US-based nonprofit, the Center for AI Safety, and was co-signed by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis as well as Geoffrey Hinton and Youshua Bengio. The move also comes at a time when writers across mediums in Hollywood have been on strike for better pay. AI has emerged as a major concern of writers and actors, who see their jobs as especially vulnerable to the new technology. (With inputs from agencies)

AI deepfake videos worry Hollywood actors ahead of wage talks

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Sean Penn expressed strong support for the ongoing Hollywood screenwriters strike, referring to the dispute over artificial intelligence (AI) as "a human obscenity." Penn, a veteran writer-director and actor, addressed the mistreatment of writers, actors, and directors in the industry. He criticised producers for resisting new concepts, including the use of AI, and called for changes in the behaviour of the Producers Guild, which he suggested should be renamed the "Bankers Guild."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-hollywood-writers-vs-artificial-intelligence-how-their-strike-is-also-a-fight-against-ai-588446">Hollywood writers vs artificial intelligence: How their strike is also a fight against AI</a>

<h2>What is WGA strike?</h2>

The strike by film and TV screenwriters began due to failed negotiations with producers. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is seeking improved pay, updated contracts for the streaming era, and protections against the use of AI-generated scripts. Penn highlighted the difficulties faced by many writers and industry professionals who are unable to work during this time. He anticipated a self-reflective process within the industry and questioned which side would endure.

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<h2>What is behind the writer's strike?</h2>

With Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and other streamers emerging as key players, the space is suddenly crowded, with every major studio jumping on the bandwagon. The wealth of content has led to an increase in the number of series and films that are annually made, leading to more job opportunities for writers. However, this has come at a cost, with writers claiming they are making less than they used to, while working under more strained conditions. As such, the WGA is seeking more compensation for writers upfront, since many of the payments writers have historically profited from the back end, like syndication and international licencing, have been largely phased out by the onset of streaming.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-ai-vs-writers-can-chatgpt-create-the-next-succession-or-breaking-bad-588480">AI vs writers: Can ChatGPT create the next Succession? Or Breaking Bad?</a>

<h2>WGA strike is a hot topic at Cannes</h2>

Following the press conference, Penn clarified his intended reference to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) instead of the Producers Guild of America.

Penn's comments coincide with the potential for a broader work stoppage in Hollywood, as the Directors Guild negotiates a new contract with producers, and SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, seeks strike authorisation for upcoming contract negotiations.

During the Cannes Film Festival, the strike has been a recurring topic among American stars, filmmakers, and producers. Ethan Hawke wore a shirt with "Pencils Down" written on it, and juror Paul Dano expressed his intention to join his wife, Zoe Kazan, on the picket lines.

At another press conference for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Kathleen Kennedy, chief of Lucasfilm and a prominent film producer, stated that most people fully support the writers' rightful demands. She acknowledged the broader industry changes and technological advancements that are impacting the situation, emphasising the need for preparation and adaptation. 
&nbsp;

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Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Sean Penn expressed strong support for the ongoing Hollywood screenwriters strike, referring to the dispute over artificial intelligence (AI) as "a human obscenity.

Speaking at the Cannes Film Festival, Sean Penn expressed strong support for the ongoing Hollywood screenwriters strike, referring to the dispute over artificial intelligence (AI) as "a human obscenity." Penn, a veteran writer-director and actor, addressed the mistreatment of writers, actors, and directors in the industry. He criticised producers for resisting new concepts, including the use of AI, and called for changes in the behaviour of the Producers Guild, which he suggested should be renamed the "Bankers Guild." Also Read: Hollywood writers vs artificial intelligence: How their strike is also a fight against AI What is WGA strike? The strike by film and TV screenwriters began due to failed negotiations with producers. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is seeking improved pay, updated contracts for the streaming era, and protections against the use of AI-generated scripts. Penn highlighted the difficulties faced by many writers and industry professionals who are unable to work during this time. He anticipated a self-reflective process within the industry and questioned which side would endure. What is behind the writer's strike? With Netflix and Amazon Prime Video and other streamers emerging as key players, the space is suddenly crowded, with every major studio jumping on the bandwagon. The wealth of content has led to an increase in the number of series and films that are annually made, leading to more job opportunities for writers. However, this has come at a cost, with writers claiming they are making less than they used to, while working under more strained conditions. As such, the WGA is seeking more compensation for writers upfront, since many of the payments writers have historically profited from the back end, like syndication and international licencing, have been largely phased out by the onset of streaming. Also Read: AI vs writers: Can ChatGPT create the next Succession? Or Breaking Bad? WGA strike is a hot topic at Cannes Following the press conference, Penn clarified his intended reference to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) instead of the Producers Guild of America. Penn's comments coincide with the potential for a broader work stoppage in Hollywood, as the Directors Guild negotiates a new contract with producers, and SAG-AFTRA, the actors union, seeks strike authorisation for upcoming contract negotiations. During the Cannes Film Festival, the strike has been a recurring topic among American stars, filmmakers, and producers. Ethan Hawke wore a shirt with "Pencils Down" written on it, and juror Paul Dano expressed his intention to join his wife, Zoe Kazan, on the picket lines. At another press conference for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Kathleen Kennedy, chief of Lucasfilm and a prominent film producer, stated that most people fully support the writers' rightful demands. She acknowledged the broader industry changes and technological advancements that are impacting the situation, emphasising the need for preparation and adaptation. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sean Penn endorses writers’ strike, rallies in support at Cannes Film Festival