International Insider: SAG Strike Week One; Layoffs & Closures; Barbieheimer Goes Global

Days of Our Lives recasts Eric Brady and some fans may be confused. That’s right, this week Greg Vaughan who has been playing the legacy character for the better part of a decade was replaced by actor Jason Gerhardt. The recast is only temporary as Gerhardt stepped into the role at a time when Vaughan was unable to fulfill his duties.

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 is taking a small break between arcs. Season Two episode 6 will not be in its usual time slot as instead there will be a few recap episodes coming up. Given how the series has just returned this may be a little confusing.

If The Cleveland Browns are looking to make it back into the NFL Playoffs this coming season, a few things need to happen. Arguably the most important two things would be the play of QB1 Deshaun Watson, and Cleveland’s new Dc Jim Schwartz’s plan. Watson has looked sharp all offseason so far and there is belief from players and management in Cleveland that their QB1 will be ready to rock.

Ashanti and Nelly stuck by each other's side in a new Instagram Story appearance together. ET has learned there are no labels right now and they are just enjoying their time together.The couple, who announced their rekindled romance earlier this year after splitting in 2013, sang along to Usher's «Nice & Slow» in a video posted to Nelly's Instagram.

Taylor Swift, Doja Cat and SZA leading the list.Swift is leading the way with eight nominations, SZA earned six and Doja Cat, Kim Petras, Miley Cyrus, Nicki Minaj, Olivia Rodrigo, and Sam Smith have all earned five each. The entire group of artists are also in the running for this year’s Video of the Year category.This year’s edition of the VMAs also features a slew of first-time nominees, 35 to be exact.

Travis Scott has announced a run of North American shows for later this year.The ‘Utopia Tour Presents Circus Maximus’ tour kicks off in Chicago on September 25 and includes shows in Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Nashville, and DC before finishing in Miami on November 27.Notably, this is Scott’s first tour since the Astroworld tragedy, in which 10 people died and hundreds more were injured following a crowd crush at the festival in November 2021.Last month, it was revealed that a grand jury in Texas had decided that Scott would not face charges over the incident, and a full report has now been filed.Tickets will go on sale on August 11 at 10am – you can see the full list of dates below and buy your tickets here.SEPTEMBER25 – Chicago, IL, United Center27 – Detroit, MI, Little Caesars Arena29 – East Rutherford, NJ, MetLife StadiumOCTOBER1 – Boston, MA, TD Garden4 – Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center5 – Washington, DC, Capital One Arena8 – Atlanta, GA, State Farm Arena11 – Charlotte, NC, Spectrum Center12 – Raleigh, NC, PNC Arena14 – Orlando, FL, Amway Center17 – Dallas, TX, American Airlines Center19 – Houston, TX, Toyota Center21 – Oklahoma City, OK, Paycom Center23 – Denver, CO, Ball Arena26 – Phoenix, AZ, Footprint Center28 – Las Vegas, NV, MGM Grand Garden Arena30 – Oakland, CA, Oakland ArenaNOVEMBER 4 – Inglewood, CA, SoFi Stadium7 – Seattle, WA, Climate Pledge Arena9 – Vancouver, BC, CA, Rogers Arena12 – Portland, OR, Moda Center18 – Austin, TX, Moody Center ATX24 – Nashville, TN, Bridgestone Arena27 – Miami, FL, Kaseya CenterMeanwhile, Scott’s new album ‘Utopia’ has become the second-most streamed album of 2023, less than two weeks after it was released.The rapper’s first album since 2018 has been streamed

Sophia Scorziello editor Viola Davis is stepping away from producing “G20,” announcing the decision in a statement signaling support for Hollywood’s ongoing strikes. Like over 100 other independent films, the upcoming action thriller received an interim agreement from SAG-AFTRA to continue production through the ongoing actors strike. But Davis won’t move forward with filming, setting a precedent for A-list talent negotiating the prospect of continuing work as the actors’ guild and AMPTP wait to reach an agreement.

Sarah Silverman is letting her feelings be known.

Sophia Scorziello editor Sarah Silverman has seen the so-called SAG waivers — and she’s not a fan. In a recent video posted to Instagram, the comedian slash actor slammed fellow Hollywood stars for continuing to film independent, SAG-AFTRA-approved projects under interim agreements as actors and writers remain on strike.

Sarah Silverman isn’t holding anything back about the actors who are working during the SAG-AFTRA strike.

Instagram to call out her Hollywood peers continuing to film independent, cleared projects amid the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes. While both groups have have banded together to halt major studio productions, a whopping 45 independent movies and TV shows have been given the green light — so far — under an interim agreement.The 52-year-old Saturday Night Live alum shared her honest thoughts in a three-minute video.“I feel f—ing pissed off, and I know I just must not be understanding something.

“The Boy and the Heron,” the first film in a decade by Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki, will open the 48th Toronto International Film Festival, organizers announced Thursday.

Matt Donnelly Senior Film Writer There’s an old joke used in show business when events and gatherings lack major celebrity attendance: “Somebody punch me in the face so I can see some stars.” But it’s no joke when it comes to the picket lines of the SAG-AFTRA and Writers Guild of America strikes, according to some of the protesters on the ground and select industry players who spoke to Variety. There’s been a “palpable” lack of headliners, said one prominent SAG-AFTRA member, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “If our stars were all out there in force advocating for us, we’d know it,” they added. Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Rami Malek all signed a June letter telling union leadership they were prepared to strike, but none of them have surfaced holding signs or chanting at studio gates. Leonardo DiCaprio posted an Instagram story saying he stood “in solidarity with my guild,” but has yet to stand for any in-person protest. On day one of the actor’s strike in mid-July, one protester straddled a median at the drive-on gate at Netflix headquarters holding a sign that read, “Where the fuck is Ben Affleck?” So far, no one’s seen him on the front lines.

Given the chaos wrought by the SAG-AFTRA strike, Toronto has just announced a surprisingly strong first-wave lineup.

The dual WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes aren’t stalling the 48th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival, which announced the first 60 feature films in what’s expected to be a 200-plus-title schedule. Last year counted some 260 full-length films.

The Toronto International Film Festival is back for another big year.

EXCLUSIVE: For those awards strategists wondering whether stars from indie U.S. films can promote at the fall film festival troika, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland says “We’re looking at that issue.”

Clayton Davis Senior Awards Editor The Toronto Film Festival is at a critical moment after three difficult years following the COVID-19 pandemic, but “the festival will take place,” says Cameron Bailey, CEO of TIFF. TIFF has typically been a star-studded affair and staple of awards season. However, what the red carpets at the gala premieres and tribute ceremonies that have gone to significant A-listers like Kate Winslet will ultimately look like, remains unknown. The longtime festival director doubled down on moving forward with this year’s festival, whether the big stars are in attendance or not. This comes amid ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes that have halted the Hollywood industry, putting the remaining months of movies and TV shows into unknown territory.

Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra has claimed the AMPTP offer made to the actors union was “the best offer that has ever been made to the SAG-AFTRA group.”

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Tony Vinciquerra, chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures, took a guarded tone in talking about the SAG-AFTRA strike during an industry panel in Italy on Friday. But it was clear that he hopes it will be over soon. “We are very dismayed about having these strikes” said Vinciquerra, referring to the combined WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes that mark the second time in Hollywood history that actors have joined writers on the picket lines. “We want to make a deal,” the Sony chief went on, adding: “Even though there have been a lot of headlines saying the opposite.”

“TIFF is on,” beamed the Toronto International Film Festival CEO Cameron Bailey to Deadline, “Our dates are the same, the films are coming.”