According to Deadline, local SAG-AFTRA pickets in Nantucket disrupted the B-roll shoot of Netflix’s limited series, The Perfect Couple, starring Nicole Kidman.
Some SAG-AFTRA pickets learned about Netflix commencing the B-roll filming of the series without its main cast, which also consists of performers like Dakota Fanning, Liev Schreiber, and Omar Epps, apart from Kidman. This forced them to drop a visit to the shooting location on the Massachusetts island. Soon, they discovered that the production wanted to hire people to drive cars for a scene. This job belonged to the union’s actors.
It is unclear if the series’ cast and producers are aware of this incident. Ironically, Kidman recently donated $1 million to the SAG-AFTRA foundation’s emergency assistance initiative. In addition, she donated a handsome amount to IATSE. The Aquaman 2 star belongs to the group of actors who are heavily supporting the strike.
“Netflix was trying to film pedestrians and make them unintentional scabs. They didn’t get to do it. IATSE didn’t cross the picket line, and they didn’t get the filming done,” one SAG-AFTRA captain said.
The overall incident appears like a cheap move from Netflix to insult or neglect the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, which has nearly reached its third month. It also tells how ‘seriously’ the streaming giant is taking the strike. We don’t know if Kidman or any other cast member from the limited series has reacted to this incident or not. This scenario may adversely impact the series’ shoot along with Netflix’s reputation.
This is not the first time the SAG-AFTRA pickets have shut down ‘The Perfect Couple’ shoot. Some of the pickets also did the same in Chatham, Massachusetts, some time ago.
It seems like Netflix is desperate to commence shooting its upcoming projects, including ‘The Perfect Couple’, which is inspired by Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel. Stay tuned for more updates.