Cast of Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' walk out of London premiere to support strike

Oppenheimer team. Pic/AFP

The cast of the upcoming film 'Oppenheimer' walked out of the screening of their film as SAG-AFTRA prepared to go on strike. The guild announced a strike. Director Christopher Nolan told the crowd at the film's London premiere that the cast of his film had left and are off to 'write their picket signs', reported Deadline.

From the stage, Nolan said, "I have to to acknowledge the work of our incredible cast, led by Cillian Murphy," Nolan said from the stage. "The list is enormous - Robert Downey Jr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek and so many more. … You've seen them here earlier on the red carpet. Unfortunately, they are off to write their picket signs for what we believe to be an imminent strike by SAG, joining one of my guilds, the Writers Guild, in the struggle for fair wages for working members of their union."

There were two screenings of 'Oppenheimer' happening in London simultaneously. Nolan addressed the crowd at both the venues after the cast walked out.

At the red carpet of the screening, actor Emily Blunt told Deadline that she and the other cast members would leave the event if the guild's leadership officially approved a walkout. "I think right now we are just sort of - I hope everyone makes a fair deal and we are here to celebrate this movie. And if they call [a strike], we'll be leaving together as cast in unity with everyone. … We are gonna have to. We are gonna have to. We will see what happens. Right now it's the joy to be together."

'Oppenheimer' also stars Cillian Murphy as the titular Manhattan Project leader, Kenneth Branagh, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett and James D'Arcy

Leaders of a Hollywood's actors union voted Thursday to join screenwriters in the first joint strike in more than six decades, shutting down production across the entertainment industry after talks for a new contract with the studios and streaming services broke down. It's the first strike for actors from film and television shows since 1980. And it's the first time two major Hollywood unions have been on strike at the same time since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was the actors' guild president.