It’s been a rough few weeks for Marvel fans, but we’ve finally received some good news as it seems Captain America 4 will avoid any delays.
No one likes a cliffhanger, but the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s latest installment, Captain America: Brave New World, has given us one in the form of its production timeline. After three months of heart-pounding, high-stakes filming, the whistle has blown and the stage lights have dimmed. Officially wrapped up, the production concluded just hours before the Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) could have potentially called “strike!”
This next exciting chapter continues the story from the Disney+ series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. We’ll see Anthony Mackie’s Sam Wilson don his star-spangled suit, wielding the iconic shield as our new Captain America. The film promises to blend new faces with familiar ones, including the talents of Danny Ramirez, Carl Lumbly, Liv Tyler, Tim Blake Nelson, and the legendary Harrison Ford stepping in to fill William Hurt’s shoes as Thunderbolt Ross.
In a recent Instagram story, Cinematographer Kramer Morgenthau gave us a sneak peek behind the scenes. A photo of a clapperboard from the MCU set alongside a caption simply reading “Wrap” revealed that the countdown was over. The timing could not have been more fortuitous, with the prospect of a SAG-AFTRA strike looming on the horizon, a strike that could cause the delay in production of other Marvel titles.
Why are the actors planning to strike?
Rumors of an industry-wide actor strike began to ripple through Hollywood in late June. The SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing the lion’s share of entertainment industry actors, was approaching the expiration of its current contract with the major studios. This necessitated a renegotiation of the deal, and if talks were to stall, a strike had been authorized. High-profile actors including Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, and Mark Ruffalo threw their support behind the cause, with a petition gathering signatures from more than 1,000 guild members.
Echoing the ongoing Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) strike, the potential SAG-AFTRA strike has its roots in the evolving landscape of digital media. Actors and writers alike are seeking fair compensation based on viewership data from streaming platforms, and a standardized method of gauging this data. The union has also raised issues about the use of artificial intelligence to replicate an actor’s likeness, improving compensation structures across various productions, and calling for fairer rules around self-tape auditions.
As of this moment, the ball is still in SAG-AFTRA’s court with no final decision made. Studios are clearly bracing for the worst, with most opting to sit out this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, with the notable exception of Lionsgate.
For fans of the MCU, Captain America: Brave New World represents one of the most eagerly awaited projects on the horizon. Its absence from Comic-Con will no doubt be felt, and the anticipation might have us biting our nails till the July 2024 release. However, the completion of filming is undoubtedly a sigh of relief. Even as the film industry prepares for possible turbulence, knowing that our beloved Cap has safely wrapped up another adventure is comforting.
Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to monitor this ever-evolving story. And until then, keep your fingers crossed that the stars of our favorite franchises won’t be swapping their super-suits for picket signs anytime soon.