The Lord of the Rings actor Sean Astin is looking for to switch SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher within the upcoming union election.
Astin has submitted a bid to guide the 160,000-member group, Deadline confirmed Friday. Additionally on his ticket are Michelle Hurd for secretary-treasurer, Joely Fisher for president of the Los Angeles Native Board, Lisa Ann Walter for first vice chairman of the Native Board, and David Jolliffe to return for second vice chairman.
If elected, Astin would observe within the footsteps of his mom Patty Duke, the Valley of the Dolls and The Miracle Employee actress who turned the second lady to ever run the then-Display Actors Guild in 1985. She held the place for 3 years.
Astin has beforehand served on 5 separate SAG-AFTRA negotiating committees, together with the newest contract received after a traditionally lengthy, 118-day strike in 2023. He’s additionally a member of SAG-AFTRA Nationwide and LA native boards, and a Nationwide conference delegate.
To this point, the complete image of the race is unclear. Present SAG-AFTRA President Drescher couldn’t be reached for touch upon whether or not she plans to hunt one other time period.
Whether or not Drescher or another person, the individual main the guild subsequent yr could have a herculean process forward of them as SAG-AFTRA returns to the negotiating desk with the Alliance of Movement Image and Tv Producers, which collectively bargains on behalf of the key Hollywood studios.
This would be the first contract negotiation cycle after the 2023 strike, relating to an business that has been hit onerous by a world manufacturing contraction that has resulted in far much less work. There are nonetheless some issues the union is looking for to deal with, primarily relating to technological advances in synthetic intelligence over the previous three years.
SAG-AFTRA political hopefuls have till 5 p.m. Friday to submit their nominating petitions. A full record of candidates is anticipated subsequent week. Election ballots will likely be collected from August 13 to September 12.
The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the information of Astin’s bid.
