Which Productions Are Continuing During the SAG-AFTRA Strike? ‘Death of a Unicorn,’ ‘Beneath the Grass,’ and More

AMC Shows: “Walking Dead” Spinoffs and “Interview With the Vampire”

In something of a first for major TV shows during the dual strikes, three AMC Networks productions have been allowed to resume during the strike after the company struck interim agreements with SAG. AMC, an “authorized company” in the AMPTP that is not involved in guild negotiations, finalized the agreement with SAG at the end of August. 

The shows allowed to resume production are “Interview With the Vampire,” an adaptation of the Anne Rice vampire classic starring Jacob Anderson and Sam Reid and developed for TV by Rolin Jones; “The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,” a spinoff of the popular “Walking Dead” series starring Norman Reedus as the title character; and “The Ones Who Live,” another “Walking Dead” spinoff starring Andrew Lincoln and Danai Gurira. “Interview With the Vampire” and “Daryl Dixon” will resume production on their second seasons, while “The Ones Who Live” will finalize work on the first season. 

“The 4:30 Movie”

“The 4:30 Movie” is the latest upcoming film from “Clerks” director Kevin Smith. The movie focuses on a group of ’80s teens who spend a day seeing different movies at various theaters. 

“The Assessment”

“The Assessment” is a sci-fi drama from writer/director Fleur Fortuné about a future where the state decides which couples are allowed to have children. Elizabeth Olsen and Alicia Vikander star in the film. 

“Back on the Strip”

“Back on the Strip” shot last year, but received an interim agreement for its release this August. The film stars Wesley Snipes as a man who moves to Las Vegas to become a magician, only to end up the emcee for a Black male strip show. 

“The Bar”

Little is known about “The Bar,” except that it’s a TV pilot being produced by “Casino” star James Woods.

“Beneath the Grass”

The directorial debut of William Bermudez and Sam Friedman, “Beneath the Grass” stars Mía Maestro, Quincy Isaiah, and Jeff Kober. Per Variety, the film — which is set in 2008 and focuses on a Latina mother who supports her son through a marijuana business — began production in New Jersey in June, after appearing on the Cannes Film Festival market. 

“Bob Trevino Likes It”

Barbie Ferrera and John Leguizamo star in “Bob Trevino Likes It,” from first-time feature director Tracie Laymon. Inspired by a true story from Laymon’s life, the movie focuses on a young woman who searches for her estranged father on Facebook and ends up connecting with a grieving man who shares her dad’s name. The film already wrapped production and will launch sales out of the Toronto International Film Festival. 

“Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction?”

An anthology series hosted by “Star Trek” legend Jonathan Frakes, “Beyond Belief” ran for four seasons from 1997-2002, and presented viewers with a mix of segments based on real life events and other scenes that were totally fabricated. Since 2021, new seasons of the show have come out with Frakes again hosting. It’s produced for German TV RTL Zwei, and the show received a waiver to continue filming new episodes for its upcoming season. 

“Blackwater Lane”

Thriller “Blackwater Lane” stars Minka Kelly as a woman who drives by a stranded motorist who is later murdered and grows paranoid that she’s the next victim. Dermot Mulroney also stars. 

“Bride Hard”

Rebel Wilson stars in the upcoming action comedy “Bride Hard,” which launched international sales at the Cannes Film Festival this May (via Deadline). “Expendables 2” director Simon West helms the film about a secret agent who struggles with the maid of honor duties at her best friend’s wedding.  

“The Chosen”

A retelling of the life of Jesus Christ, Christian online series “The Chosen” has been running since 2017, and has recently been picked up to air on The CW. The show, created by Dallas Jenkins, has received a waiver to continue filming its upcoming fourth season. 

“Coup!”

“Coup!” is a comedic thriller starring Peter Sarsgaard, Billy Magnussen, Sarah Gadon, and Skye P. Marshall. Directed by Austin Stark and Joseph Schuman, the film focuses on a servant leading a revolt against his employer during the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak. 

“Cuckoo”

Neon will distribute “Cuckoo,” a horror film starring Hunter Schafer, Jan Bluthardt, Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick, Marton Csókás, and Greta Fernández. The movie from writer/director Tilman Singer already filmed in Germany, and presumably received an interim agreement for promotional purposes. A release date hasn’t been announced. 

“Crust”

Alan Ruck stars in “Crust, the directorial debut of Sean Whalen, which focuses on a laundromat owner who unintentionally creates a monster out of leftover socks that seeks vengeance on his enemies. 

“Daddio”

Christy Hall directs “Daddio,” about a woman (Dakota Johnson) who takes a cab ride from JFK and engages in a meaningful conversation with her taxi driver (Sean Penn) about their past relationships. The film will receive a special presentation screening at the Toronto Internatinal Film Festival. 

“Dance First”

“Dance First” stars Gabriel Bryne as Irish writer Samuel Beckett. The film is directed by Oscar winner James Marsh, and also features Aidan Gillan as James Joyce. 

“The Dead Don’t Hurt”

Viggo Mortensen directs and stars in “The Dead Don’t Hurt,” a western about two immigrants attempting to build a life together in a small Nevada town during the 1860s. Vicky Krieps also stars. The movie will premiere at TIFF on September 8. 

“Death of a Unicorn”

One of the A24 projects granted waivers to continue with production during the strike, “Death of a Unicorn” is directed by first-timer Alex Scharfman. Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd star in the film as two people who hit a unicorn with their car and bring it to the wilderness retreat of a pharmacuetical CEO. 

“Dogman”

Luc Besson’s “Dogman” will premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival, and stars Caleb Landry Jones as an abused man who finds comfort through his love of dogs.  

“Dream Scenario”

Premiering at TIFF in September and followed by a release from A24 on November 10, “Dream Scenario” stars Nicolas Cage as a professor who becomes a celebrity after appearing in the dream of every single person on the planet one night. Julianne Nicholson, Michael Cera, Tim Meadows, Dylan Gelula, and Dylan Baker also star in the film, the first English language movie by Norweigen “Sick of Myself” director Kristoffer Borgli. 

“Dust Bunny”

“Hannibal” creator Bryan Fuller reunites with his muse Mads Mikkelsen for his feature directorial debut about an 8-year-old girl who enlists the help of a neighbor to kill a monster under her bed. Entertainment One and Thunder Road produce the film. 

“Exhibiting Forgiveness”

Per a casting notice, “Exhibiting Forgiveness” is a film directed by American contemporary painter Titus Kaphar. The film is “based on a true story of a successful artist’s inner turmoil over attempting to reconnect with his estranged and abusive father.” 

“Ferrari”

Michael Mann’s biopic of racecar mogel Enzo Ferrari has obtained an interim agreement for press at the upcoming Venice Film Festival. Adam Driver stars as Ferrari, while Penelope Cruz plays his wife Laura. 

“Fremont”

“Fremont” premiered at Sundance in January, and received an interim agreement shortly before its August 25 theatrical release for promotional purposes. Babak Jalali’s drama stars Anaita Wali Zada as a Afghan refugee in America attempting to find herself. 

“G20”

An odd case, Patricia Riggen’s film “G20” received an interim agreement. But Viola Davis — who was set to star as the U.S. president in a thriller about terrorists taking over the summit, has stepped away from the film — leaving its status unclear. 

“Hal & Harper”

“Hal & Harper” is the first TV project from Cooper Raiff, known for his films “Shithouse” and “Cha Cha Real Smooth.” The independent production will star Raiff and Lili Reinhart as two children raised by a single father, played by Mark Ruffalo, who forces them to grow up too fast.  

“Hell of a Summer”

“Stranger Things” star Finn Wolfhard makes the jump to the director’s chair with “Hell of a Summer,” premiering at TIFF this September in its Midnight Madness section. Wolfhard wrote, directed, and stars in the film with Billy Byrk, and the two play counselors at a summer camp, who are terrorized by a masked killer. Fred Hechinger, Abby Quinn, Pardis Saremi, and D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai also star. 

“In Cold Light”

Maika Monroe stars in the thriller “In Cold Light,” about a woman forced to go on the run after her twin gets murdered in a shooting. Maxime Giroux directs the film, which also stars Troy Kotsur. 

“Iron Lung”

Youtuber Markiplier (real name Mark Fischbach) directs “Iron Lung,” a sci-fi film where a convict is set to search a desolate planet with an ocean of blood for signs of life. 

“The Killer’s Game”

Starring “Guardians of the Galaxy” lead Dave Bautista, “The Killer’s Game” focuses on assassin Joe Flood, who orders a hit on himself after he is diagnosed with a life-ending illness. He must fend off several of his former colleagues when he finds out it was a misdiagnosis. Per Deadline, Ben Kingsley and Sofia Boutella also star in the film, which is based on the novel by Jay Bonansinga. JJ Perry directs from Lionsgate; it is expected to go into production sometime this summer. 

“King Ivory”

James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, Michael Mando, Rory Cochrane, and Melissa Leo star in “King Ivory,” from director John Swab. Currently in production, the crime drama focuses on the underground fentanyl trafficking ring inside the Oklahoma State Penitentiary System. 

“Longlegs”

Oz Perkins directs “Longlegs,” a sci-fi thriller starring Nicolas Cage as an FBI agent tracking down a serial killer with ties to the occult. Neon distributes the movie, which also stars Maika Monroe, Alicia Witt, and Blair Underwood. 

“The Mannequin”

“One Day at a Time” star Isabella Gomez leads “The Mannequin,” an indie horror film about a stylist assistant haunted by the ghost of a serial killer.  John Berardo writes and directs. 

“Megalopolis”

A long-awaited passion project from legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, who funded the film himself, “Megalopolis” wrapped filming in March 2023, but received an interim agreement in August, presumably so the cast — including Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Dustin Hoffman, Forest Whitaker, and controversially Shia LaBeouf — can promote it. A release date or distributor for the film, described as an epic love story in a futuristic New York, hasn’t been announced. 

“Mother Mary”

An A24 production, “Mother Mary” is directed by “A Ghost Story” and “The Green Knight” directer David Lowery. Anne Hathaway stars in the “epic pop melodrama” as a fictional music star who forges a relationship with a fashon designer, played by Michaela Coel. Jack Antonoff and Charli XCX contributed original songs to the upcoming film. 

“Partenope”

“The Hand of God” filmmaker Paolo Sorrentino’s next film “Partenope” focuses on a woman living in Naples named after the titular character of Greek Mythology. Gary Oldman stars, along with Celeste Dalla Porta, Silvia Degrandi, Isabella Ferrari, Lorenzo Gleijeses, Peppe Lanzetta, Silvio Orlando, Luisa Ranieri, Stefania Sandrelli and Alfonso Santagata. Production on the film began this summer in Naples. 

“Priscilla”

Sofia Coppola’s next film “Priscilla,” starring Jacob Elordi and Cailee Spaeny as Elvis Presley and his titular wife, makes its debut at the Venice Film Festival this September, where the cast will be able to do press thanks to the interim agreement. A24 will distribute the highly-anticipated film in theaters this October. 

“Queen of the Ring”

Emily Bett Rickards, best known for starring in the CW’s “Arrow,” leads as real-life female pro-wrestler Mildred Burke in  the upcoming biopic, “Queen of the Ring.” Directed by Ash Avildsen, the film’s ensemble cast includes Walton Goggins, Josh Lucas, Deborah Ann Woll, and Cara Buono. 

“Radical”

“Radical” from director Christopher Zalla premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this January and will release in U.S. theaters this October. Eugenio Derbez stars in the based-on-a-true-story film as a teacher who shakes up his sixth grade class’ approach to learning. The agreement is presumably for promotional purposes. 

“The Rivals of Amziah King”

Matthew McConaughey leads the cast of this upcoming independent production, financed by Black Bear Pictures. A thriller set in rural Oklahoma, “The Rivals of Amziah King” is the second feature of “The Vast of Night” director Andrew Patterson, and launched international sales at Cannes in May. 

“Rotting in the Sun”

“Rotting in the Sun” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and obtained an interim agreement for press. Sebastián Silva’s comedy focuses on an influencer who attempts to solve a murder case. 

“She Came to Me”

“She Came to Me” premieres September 29, and stars Peter Dinklage as a composer who rediscovers his passion after a one-night stand. Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei also star in the film, directed by Rebecca Miller. 

“Tuesday”

“Tuesday” premiered at the Telluride Film Festival this September, with Julia Louis-Dreyfus in attendance thanks to the film’s interim agreement. From director Daina O. Pusic, the film stars Louis-Dreyfus with Lola Petticrew as her titular daughter. A24 will distribute the film, which does not yet have a theatrical release date set. 

“Tehran”

An Israeli spy series about an Iranian-Jewish Mossad agent, “Tehran” has aired two seasons and has been renewed for a third, which will feature Hugh Laurie in a new role. 

“The Watchers”

M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan makes her directorial debut with “The Watchers”: a film from New Line set for release on June 7, 2024. Dakota Fanning stars in the movie as an artist who gets stranded in the forests of Ireland, and becomes trapped with three strangers who are stalked by creatures at night. 

“What Happens Later”

Meg Ryan makes her directorial debut with “What Happens Later.” The rom-com queen and “In the Cut” actor stars alongside David Duchovny as two ex-lovers who see each other for the first time in years when they’re snowed in at an airport overnight. 

“When Calls the Heart”

Hallmark Channel’s “When Calls the Heart” stars Erin Krakow as a schoolteacher who relocates to a small coal-mining town. The series received an agreement to film for its upcoming 11th season. 

“Witchboard”

Chuck Russell directs and Jamie Campbell Bower stars in “Witchboard,” a remake of the 1986 horror film of the same name about a college student who unleashes an evil spirit during a Ouija board session. 

“The Yellow Tie”

Per Variety, Sean Bean, Miranda Richardson, and John Malkovich will lead the cast of “The Yellow Tie”: a biopic of Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache. Celibidache’s son Serge Ioan Celebidachi directs the feature. 

“Your Lucky Day”

“Your Lucky Day” is one of the final films starring the late Angus Cloud, and completed production before his death in July. Daniel Brown directs the film about a Christmas Eve hostage situation at a small convenience store over a lottery ticket. The film does not have a release date, but received an interim agreement in August. 

Additional Films

Here’s a list of other films, some very indpendent, that have reached interim agreements to continue filming during the strike. 

– “The 3-2 Pulldown”

– “47 Days”

– “1996”

– “Adult Best Friends” 

– “Aguadilla” 

– “Ali 1978: The Butterfly’s Last Dance” 

– “American Deadbolt” 

– “American Nightmare” 

– “Amerikatsi”

– “Anniversary” 

– “The Ar Racist” 

– “Armadilla” 

– “Asian Persuasion”

– “Autobahn”

– “Baby Blue”

– “Beyond the Walls” 

– “Bloody Bridget” 

– “Bootyology” 

– “Buffalo Daze”  

– “The Cafone” 

– “Conduit”

– “Cuando Volvimos A La Tierra”

– “Daddy” 

– “Darkness Trail” 

– “Decibel” 

– “Departing Seniors”

– “A Desert”

– “Didi”

– “Don’t Let’s Go To The Dogs Tonight” 

– “Don’t Move”

– “Don’t Trip” 

– “Dos Lados”

– “Dottie” 

– “Draft Night” 

– “Dream Devil”

– “East Texas Oil” 

– “El Tonto Por Cristo” 

– “Escaping Ohio” 

– “Excelsis” 

– “F-PLUS” 

– “Fairwood” 

– “Fairy” 

– “Fancy Florez’s Summer Staycation” 

– “The Feeling That the Time For Doing Something Has Passed” 

– “Fleeing” 

– “Floating” 

– “Fluxx” 

– “The Fort” 

– “Flight Risk”

– “Fluxx”

– “Freedom Hair” 

– “Friends And Foes”

– “From Ashes”

– “Gaia” 

– “Ganymede”

– “Glitter and Doom” 

– “Godless” 

– “Good Side of Bad” 

– “Gray House” (2023)

– “The Greatest Ever”

– “The Green Veil” 

– “Griffin in Summer” 

– “Grizzly Night” 

– “Growing Pains” 

– “Helga”

– “Ick”

– “If I Had Legs I’d Kick You” 

– “If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing”

– “Isaac”

– “Isle Child” 

– “It Came From Within” 

– “The Italians” 

– “Jules And Jonas: The Vertical Truth” 

– “Jump Scare” 

– “Just Breathe” 

– “Keyz'” 

– “The Killing Moon” 

– “Ladybug” 

– “Leaves Of Glass”

– “Legend of the White Dragon” 

– “The Lemurian Candidate” 

– “Lilies Not For Me” 

– “Lousy Carter” 

– “Love in Storytown” 

– “Love is the Monster” 

– “Martyr Of Gowanus” 

– “The Mattachine Family” 

– “Memories” 

– “The Method” 

– “Midnight Oil” 

– “Mindtraveler” 

– “Monica” 

– “Mother, May I?” 

– “Mountains” 

– “Mourning Rock” 

– “My Hero” 

– “My Valentine Wedding” 

– “Naked in the Park” 

– “Night Talkers” 

– “Nightshift” 

– “No Language” 

– “No Right Way” 

– “Oblivious” 

– “Obsessed With Light” 

– “Omaha”

– “Osiris”

– “The Other You” 

– “Outlaw Johnny Black” 

– “Outen The Light” 

– “The Painted” 

– “A Parascom”

– “Paradise And Lunch” 

– “The Penguin and the Fisherman” 

– “Pep” 

– “The Pishach” 

– “Postcard From Earth” 

– “Press Your Luck” 

– “Publish Or Perish” 

– “Queen of Knives” 

– “Rebel Girls” 

– “Redville” 

– “Relative Control” 

– “Return To Wickensburg” (2023)

– “The Ritual” 

– “Roar of the Fire”

– “Roses On The Vine”

– “Scared Shitless”

– “Scary Tales Anthology” 

– “Scrap” 

– “The Second Coming of John Cooper” 

– “Sell Out”

– “Shakey Grounds” 

– “Shelter in Solitude” 

– “The Short Game” 

– “Sight Unseen” (23/24) 

– “Sod And Stubble”

– “The Sound”

– “The Summer Book” 

– “Sunfish (& Other Stories On Green Lake)”   

– “Superthief”

– “Surviving the Streets” 

– “Til Death…Do You” 

– “The Tower”

– “Transamazonia”

– “Two Neighbors” 

– “Underdeveloped” (23/24) 

– “The Unknown Country” 

– “Until He’S Destroyed” 

– “The Untitled Jazzy Project” 

– “Untitled John Swab Project” 

– “Untitled Rebuilding Project” 

– “The Wayfinders” 

– “Week End Escape Project”

– “What Rhymes With Magdalena” 

– “What She Doesn’t Know”

– “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” 

– “Who’s Watching” 

– “Wild Cards” 

– “Wildcat”

– “The Wilderness”

– “You Can’t Stay Here” 

– “Young Claude”