Star Power Returns! Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Fassbender, ‘The Crown’ Cast and More to Attend First Hollywood Premieres After Strike Ends
Hollywood is ready to dust off the red carpet.
After months-long dual labor strikes that prevented top actors and screenwriters from promoting their projects, star power will finally return to premieres, panels and other splashy events. It’s a huge relief for once-struck companies because too many major movies, like Sony’s starry Game Stop-stock comedy “Dumb Money” and Martin Scorsese’s big-budget crime epic “Killers of the Flower Moon,” haven’t lived up to box office expectations without Pete Davidson, Seth Rogen, Leonardo DiCaprio or Robert De Niro on the late-night and talk show circuit. Studios and networks wasted almost no time celebrating the news that A-list talent can once again promote, promote, promote to the heavens.
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At 12:03 a.m. — approximately two minutes after the 118-day SAG strike ended — Netflix issued an updated invitation to include the cast for the Los Angeles premiere of the final season of “The Crown” on Sunday. Now, Elizabeth Debicki, Imelda Staunton and Dominic West, who play key members of the royal family in the hit historical drama, will be able to walk the red carpet and talk to the press about the jaw-dropping, scandalous moments of the sixth season before new episodes drop on Netflix on Nov. 16.
Also on Sunday, DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone are expected at the official Academy screening of “Killers of the Flower Moon” in Hollywood.
Several events, like Lionsgate’s London premiere of “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” on Nov. 9, were already on the calendar. The Panem-set prequel secured an interim agreement before the end of the strike, so Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage were already allowed to go to Thursday’s event. They will fly across the pond (and the continental United States) to appear at an L.A. screening on Monday before the movie graces the big screen on Nov. 17.
A veritable blitz of premieres will take place on Nov. 14 with three anticipated screenings across the City of Angels and beyond: Emerald Fennell’s sexy drama “Saltburn,” starring Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan; Taika Waititi’s feel-good sports comedy “Next Goal Wins,” led by Michael Fassbender; and Ridley Scott’s war epic “Napoleon,” featuring Joaquin Phoenix as the French ruler and Vanessa Kirby as his true love, Josephine. Phoenix and his co-stars will fly to the Paris-based celebration of Mr. Bonaparte. But with the mad dash to put plans together, it has not been immediately clear which stars from the other two films will be attending their respective premieres, which will be held in L.A.
To close out the week, Nov. 16 will host a smattering of step-and-repeats across the city for the L.A. premieres of Netflix’s soapy romantic drama “May December,” with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore; and the musical adaptation of “The Color Purple,” a Warner Bros. production that features Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson and Colman Domingo.
Other November happenings that will get a boost from talent include GQ Men of the Year party; the Academy Women’s Luncheon, where Kristen Stewart, Lupita Nyong’o and America Ferrera will be on hand; and Baby 2 Baby’s gala honoring Salma Hayek-Pinault.
Let the dress and suit fittings commence!
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