Damon Lindelof: “Picketing Disney is a lot more fun than writing a Star Wars movie”

As of this moment, Hollywood writers have been on strike for over 100 days, holding out for better pay, increased job security, guardrails on the use of AI, and more. Hollywood actors have since joined them, marking the first time both actors and writers have been on strike since the 1960s.

There’s no end to the strikes in sight, although at least some of the picketers remain in good spirits. That includes Damon Lindelof, the guy behind Lost, The Leftovers, HBO’s Watchmen and most recently Mrs. Davis on Peacock. He was also once drafted by Disney to write a Star Wars movie, but was, in his words, “asked to leave the Star Wars universe.” The movie itself is still going forward without him; the plan is that it will star Daisy Ridley in her return as Rey, although given how chaotic the state of Star Wars movies were even before the strikes, who knows if that will happen?

That seemed to be on his mind when speaking to The Hollywood Reporter outside the Disney offices. “99 days of steps under my belt and I don’t know if there’s any end in sight, but I’m feeling good, strong, convinced, and unified,” he said. “Justin [Britt-Gibson] and I wrote a Star Wars movie together and picketing Disney is a lot more fun than writing a Star Wars movie.”

Britt-Gibson was on hand as well. “This will be done so we have a better future for writers, for actors, for everybody out here on the line,” he said. “Strike the Empire back.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger totally wants to resolve the Hollywood strikes, you guys

One man who could help resolve the strikes is Bob Iger, the CEO of Disney. Although after he said that the writers’ demands were “not realistic” in a July interview, few are holding out hope that he’ll take any action. “And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing that is, quite frankly, very disruptive,” he added at the time.

I’ll add at this juncture that Iger has personally taken home nearly $200 million over the last five years working at Disney. You don’t think maybe some of that could go to pay writers and actors…No…?

Anyway, according to Deadline, Iger was singing a different tune during a recent Disney earnings call. “It is my fervent hope that we quickly find solutions to the issues that have kept us apart these past few months,” he said. “And I am personally committed to working to achieve this result.”

"Nothing is more important to this company than its relationships with the creative community … that includes actors, writers, animators, directors and producers. I have deep respect and appreciation for all those who are vital to the extraordinary creative engine that drives this company and our industry."

Hopefully some of these words are borne out in his actions. Until then, the picketing continues.

2023 Emmy Awards pushed back to 2024

Hollywood studios had a lot of material banked before the strikes went into affect, so we haven’t yet experienced a content drought…but if nothing gets done, one is very likely coming. And we’re already seeing some adverse effects.

For instance, the 2023 Emmy Awards were originally going to air on Fox on September 18. Now they’ve been pushed back to January 15, 2024. According to The A.V. Club, the press release announcing this didn’t mention the strikes, but I think we all know the reason. How do you honor actors and writers when none of them are willing to show up?

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