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Why is 'House of the Dragon' still filming despite SAG-AFTRA strike? Fans say 'such a vile loophole'

A fan remarked, 'So SAG members working on a show produced by an American company can still be forced to report to work because of UK union laws?'

LONDON, ENGLAND: 'House of the Dragon', the highly anticipated prequel to 'Game of Thrones', is set to continue filming in the United Kingdom this summer, despite the ongoing strike by the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The decision is attributed to local union rules and the composition of the show's cast, primarily consisting of British actors working under Equity contracts rather than SAG-AFTRA.

Variety reported on Thursday, July 13, that the second season of the HBO series is expected to proceed with production as scheduled. Equity, the British acting union, shared guidance with its members moments before SAG-AFTRA joined the writers' strike, expressing solidarity with the Hollywood trade union. However, due to existing anti-trade union laws in the UK, Equity members are not legally allowed to strike in support of SAG-AFTRA or refuse to report to work under their contracts.

Equity's memo and legal limitations

According to the memo released by Equity, performers working under an Equity UK collective bargaining agreement must continue reporting to work, as joining the strike or refusing to cross a picket line would offer no protection against being dismissed or sued for breach of contract by the producer or engager. The memo also emphasized that if Equity were to encourage its members to join the strike or not cross picket lines, it would be acting unlawfully and could be held liable for damages or an injunction.

Consequently, SAG-AFTRA members working on 'House of the Dragon' but operating under an Equity contract in the UK are required to continue working, despite HBO being a US-based production company. The same situation applies to the HBO series Industry, which also operates under Equity rules, and filming for that show will reportedly proceed as planned.

'Not ok and I love this show'

The decision to continue filming 'House of the Dragon' amid the historic strike has received mixed reactions from fans on social media. Some criticized the show for not halting production, expressing their discontent and accusing the production of prioritizing financial gains. "Not ok and I love this show," one tweeted. "In other words, they found a loophole because they don't actually want to stop working/making money," another added. "I am sorry but no morals, idgaf about your local union rules," someone else fumed.

Others defended the actors caught in the crossfire, highlighting the lack of protection and the strict anti-trade union laws in the UK that prevent them from striking in solidarity. "I’m sure if they could, they would strike in solidarity. The only content you’ll see moving forward is UK and other foreign language content," one offered.

"So SAG members working on a show produced by an American company can still be forced to report to work because of UK union laws? this is such a vile loophole f**k hbo for forcing writers and actors to work on this show through the strikes i hope season two is a f**king mess," another chimed in. "Because??? It is irresponsible to be clickbaity when it comes to these strikes. This is a UK production, shot outside the US, with UK actors. They’re under a different union which has its own rules and thus cannot stop work in solidarity nor do they have to," someone else insisted.

The strike by SAG-AFTRA, which joined the ongoing strike by the Writers Guild of America (WGA), marks the first time since 1960 that both actors and writers have simultaneously picketed film and television production companies. The unions are demanding fair wages, improved working conditions, and higher streaming residuals for writers and actors from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.