Alien Series Kicks Off Amid SAG-AFTRA Strike Drama
FX's highly anticipated Alien series has officially begun production in Thailand. However, several of its stars who are members of the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) are noticeably absent, due to an ongoing strike. Sydney Chandler, critically acclaimed for her role in Don’t Worry, Darling, has been confirmed as the only cast member. In a surprising reveal, Deadline has confirmed that Alex Lawther of The End of the F*cking World fame has been cast as the male lead, a soldier named CJ.
Joining them are Samuel Blenkin, who you may recognize from Black Mirror, as Boy Kavalier, a CEO. The avant-garde film also stars Essie Davis of Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries as Dame Silvia and Adarsh Gourav of The White Tiger fame as Slightly. The contracts for these actors were all secured well before the commencement of the SAG-AFTRA strike that began on July 14.
The filming started on Wednesday, July 19th, at The Studio Park without the involvement of any SAG-affiliated actors. The American Chandler is confirmed to be not included in the current production while English actor Lawther is in Thailand, actively participating in the shooting. American performers were explicitly instructed that they stand the risk of getting sued for breach of contract if they decide to show solidarity with American colleagues by walking off set.
Noah Hawley's prequel to the legendary Alien franchise has booked most of the sound stages in Bangkok, including an impressive section of camera and lighting equipment. Three of the cast members who are affiliated to SAG-AFTRA have delayed their participation due to the strike while some of the main cast are members of the UK acting union Equity.
While reports have surfaced that about 400 Thai Nationals have been included in the production crew, no details have emerged about the Thai cast yet. Despite all this hullabaloo, Studio Park and the series' Bangkok-based producer Chris Lowenstein have declined to comment.
The Alien series is believed to be set in a time span much before Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley and it would be the first ever narrative of the franchise based on Earth.
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Now that we’ve got the facts squared away, let’s cut to the chase or rather the action in this case, which is ironically the inaction of certain Alien players. It seems the Alien franchise has found its old nemesis, not in the form of a silver, slimy extraterrestrial, but a terrestrial union strike. Talk about reality invading fantasy!
One can’t help but imagine the production set resembling a deserted ghost-town with the notable absence of SAG-AFTRA stars. It paints quite the stark contrast considering this franchise is universally renowned for pulse-racing on-screen drama. On a lighter note, to the fans waiting with bated breath: you may just have to content yourself with watching those uneventful behind-the-scenes clips.
Jokes aside, the production adaptation amid the SAG-AFTRA strike is commendable. Their prompt reshuffling of the shooting schedule in order to delay the stars’ participation showcases the industry’s resilience. It’s showbiz after all- the show must go on, and with or without certain actors it seems.
What the Alien series presents us with, though, is a case study of how industrial strikes can throw quite a futuristic curveball. From contracts signed in pre-strike times to the backstage drama unfolding, these Hollywood dynamics have certainly, for lack of a better term, "gone interstellar".
But, don’t just take my word for it. Keep your pop-corn bowls at the ready and watch this space - and I mean, quite literally!
