Tom Cruise Lobbied Studios on Several Issues Before SAG-AFTRA Strike

Prior to the start of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, actor Tom Cruise reportedly lobbied Hollywood studios on a litany of issues.

Cruise tried to lobby the AMPTP on various issues

According to a recent report from THR, Cruise joined in on a Zoom call during negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP (the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers).

In a rare appearance for a star of Cruise’s caliber, the actor reportedly tried to lobby the AMPTP on a variety of issues, including urging them to listen to the acting guild’s concerns about things like A.I. and stunt performers.

The report also mentions that Cruise tried to lobby the guild on allowing actors to participate in promotion for their movies as well, due to what Cruise called the fragile state of movie theaters. Another report from Deadline notes that Cruise wasn’t interested in promoting his recent film Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One (which had already ended promotion).

Instead, Deadline noted that Cruise was talking about future films, with Cruise trying to mention how important the power of marketing has in getting people to the theater and seeing films. THR notes that Cruise’s sentiments on promotion were “uncomfortable,” and despite his pleas, Cruise was seemingly unable to sway anyone’s mind.

As it stands, both SAG-AFTRA and the WGA (the Writer’s Guild of America) are on strike, with both groups fighting for issues regarding residual pay and the use of A.I. in film and television, among a litany of other issues.