Is There Any Way House Of The Dragon Will Continue Its S2 Production Despite The Strike?

On July 13, SAG AFTRA officially declared the actors' strike. Since the union could not negotiate a reasonable common ground with the studios and producers, the actors decided to join the writers in their fight, making the joint strike the first in 63 years.

In simple terms, it would mean the near-total shutdown of Hollywood. Starting this Friday, actors won't be allowed to work on any productions, with the exception of student and artistic productions, such as low-budget films or music videos, and they won't be allowed to participate in promotional events.

The strike will continue until the studios agree to meet their demands. But some productions are already looking for a loophole.

The U.S.-based network's shows that are produced overseas, such as House of the Dragon, which is currently filming its second season in the U.K., may have a chance to continue production.

As Equity, the British actors' union, has advised its members, under British law they can't join the strike without exposing themselves to potential sanctions from the studios with which they have signed contracts, which could include lawsuits and fines.

Technically, the actors would have to continue working regardless of their own stance on the issue.

What is confusing is that some of the actors in the House of the Dragon cast are actually members of the US-based SAG, and are still required to join. For example, Olivia Cooke, who portrays Queen Alicent Hightower in the show, signed an open letter from SAG members earlier this year.

This adds a layer of uncertainty for several actors who have also appeared in major Hollywood productions and may also be part of SAG-AFTRA.

Like Matt Smith, who plays Daemon Targaryen. Since both actors are crucial to the cast and their characters have a huge impact on season 2, it's hard to imagine the production going on without them.

If they continue filming, they may face sanctions from the SAG, as the union has already expressed that it has all the tools at its disposal to deal with those who don't follow its strict strike rules.

So far, we haven't seen any official comments on the matter from either the actors or the House of the Dragon production team. Keep an eye out for any important news or behind-the-scenes updates.

Source: Variety