Tom Cruise Reportedly Took Part In SAG-AFTRA's Negotiations With The AMPTP

"Mission: Impossible" and "Top Gun" superstar Tom Cruise reportedly took part in a negotiating session between the actors union, SAG-AFTRA, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), before the recent labor strike went into effect.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, renowned actor and producer Cruise took part in a June Zoom session urging the AMPTP to hear out the union's concerns regarding the issue of AI, which has been a major point of concern in SAG-AFTRA's talks with AMPTPT, which came to a halt earlier this month.

SAG-AFTRA recently sent notice to its 160,000 members that the guild is on strike against the AMPTP as of July 14. The guild joins the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in their own ongoing strike against the AMPTP, representing the major studios and streamers.

Interestingly enough, when Cruise was speaking during the earlier negotiations, THR reports that he also urged SAG-AFTRA reps to allow union actors to continue promoting their films during the strike due to the current delicate state of movie theaters and theatrical business, which is still trying to recover following the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a debilitating and devastating effect on the theatrical business scene.

Cruise reportedly asked the union to allow actors to promote their films during the strike since promotion also matters to actors. A source who was present told THR said Cruise's comments on the matter felt "uncomfortable."

Cruise's appearance during the talks is due to SAG-AFTRA sometimes calling in notable talents during its negotiation sessions to speak about issues where they have specific expertise. Also, any member of the union can request to address a negotiation session, and SAG-AFTRA can evaluate the value of having them take part in the negotiations. THR also notes that no other star of Cruise's caliber took part in the recent negotiations with the AMPTP.

Negotiations also included proposals for stunt professionals, including stunt coordinators and performers, who are also represented by SAG-AFTRA. With regard to generative AI, the union is seeking protections against the use of generative AI for its members, with the union wanting to ensure members will be allowed to give consent and be appropriately compensated when their performances are "ingested" by AI technology.

While Cruise did speak during the negotiations, SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP failed to come to a new deal. The original contract was extended past the original deadline to Wednesday, July 12. SAG-AFTRA members began their labor strike on July 14, and members are currently picketing at studio lots and corporate HQs in New York and Los Angeles.

The SAG-AFTRA strike, coupled with the ongoing WGA strike, has effectively shut down scripted and acted Hollywood entertainment. THR reports that productions that had already started shooting, such as "Venom 3" and "Deadpool 3," had to be halted. "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part Two," which had already had its production on hiatus due to the media tour for the release of "Dead Reckoning Part One," will not be able to resume production until the strike issues have been resolved.

Under SAG-AFTRA's current strike rules, publicity by its members such as "conventions, interviews, tours, or promotion via social media of any struck work or struck companies" is forbidden during the strike. Cruise's latest film, "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" is now in theaters, with Cruise and writer-director Christopher McQuarrie heavily promoting the film just before the SAG-AFTRA strike began.