EXCLUSIVE: The writers have turned up to the theme parks.
The WGA surprised Universal Studios by turning up Thursday evening to the opening of its annual Halloween Horror Nights event in the Valley.
A group of writers, thought to be around 50 of them, turned up to the entrance of the NBCUniversal-owned theme park to leaflet as thousands of customers were streaming in to get their fill of frights. The plan is to hand out around 5,000 flyers to give horror fans an idea of why they’re striking.
Related Stories
Labor
Dispatches From The Picket Lines: WGA & SAG-AFTRA Rally To Support California Granting Unemployment Benefits To Striking Workers; NYC Event Focuses On Climate Change
Breaking News
DeSantis Denied Move To Toss Out Disney Suit; Mouse House Now Allowed To Pursue Alleged First Amendment Violations – Update
It’s a new method in the strikes, which has seen writers picket the studio entrances for nearly 130 days since they walked out. The theme parks business has been largely unaffected by the strikes, helping keep revenues rolling in at the studios as the TV and film worlds have been shut down.
Deadline understands that the writers are considering leafletting – an important distinction compared to picketing – at other theme parks in order to try new ways to send a message to the studios, which have, so far, refused to reengage since their last offer was rejected.
“We might go to Disneyland next,” one writer told Deadline.
In May, Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said that the theme parks were a lucrative part of its business and the “most underappreciated part of the company”.
In its first quarter theme park revenue rose 25% to $1.95B.
Similarly, Disney’s parks business, which also includes experiences and products, had revenues of $7.78B during its 2023 second financial quarter.
CEO Bob Iger said earlier this year that he had “huge optimism” about its parks and resorts business and that the “investments” that it has made “over the years are really paying off today”.
Tonight was the kick off for Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights, its annual event that runs through the end of October.
It features eight haunted houses featuring characters from Netflix’s Stranger Things, HBO’s The Last Of Us as well as its own Chucky and The Exorcist: Believer, which comes out next month. There are also live shows involving The Purge and a selection of Blumhouse movies such as Five Nights at Freddy’s and M3gan.
Must Read Stories
Surprise Guest At ‘Boy And The Heron’ Premiere, Read The Review; Photo Gallery; More
Francois-Henri Pinault Artémis Buys TPG’s Majority Stake; Bryan Lourd To Be CEO
Sentenced To Decades In Prison; Leah Remini Rips Scientology
CEO Reports Little Progress In Carriage Talks With Disney, Talks Leaner TV Bundles
Read More About:
Source: Read Full Article
