Disney boss Bob Iger says actors like Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence are 'not being realistic' as they threaten to bring Hollywood to a halt and join writers on the picket line - and slams them for being 'disruptive'

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Disney boss Bob Iger slammed actors who are threatening to go on strike on Thursday, saying they 'are not being realistic' and are being 'disruptive' to the industry.

The Disney CEO, whose $27million-a-year contract was extended yesterday through 2026, discussed the pending Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) strike with CNBC's David Faber Thursday morning on the network's Squawk Box.

'It's very disturbing to me,' the 72-year-old said, claiming that actors like Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence are 'not being realistic' about the compensation benefits they are asking for.

He added that an actors' strike 'will have a very, very damaging effect on the whole business' and even affect the economy, amid the ongoing Writer's Guild strike.

Such a 'double strike' of actors and writers has not been seen in Hollywood since 1960, and would bring nearly all US film and television productions to a halt. 

Disney CEO Bob Iger slammed actors who are threatening to go on strike on Thursday, saying they 'are not being realistic' and are being 'disruptive' to the industry

He spoke to CNBC's David Faber from the so-called 'billionaire summer camp' in Sun Valley, Idaho Thursday morning

In his remarks from the so-called 'billionaire summer camp' in Sun Valley, Idaho, Iger slammed SAG-AFTRA for being 'disruptive' at an already difficult time for the entertainment industry.

'We've talked about disruptive forces on this business and all challenges we're facing, the recovery from COVID, which is ongoing, it's not completely back,' he told Faber. 'This is the worst time in the world to add to that disruption.'

He continued to say he understands 'any labor organization's desire to work on behalf of its members to get the most compensation and be compensated fairly based on the value that they deliver.

'We managed, as an industry to negotiate a very good deal with the director's guild that reflects the value that the directors contribute to this great business,' Iger noted. 

'We want to do the same thing with the writers, and we'd like to do the same thing with the actors.'

But, he claimed: 'There's a level of expectation they have that is just not realistic. And they are adding to the set of the challenges that this business is already facing. 

'That is, quite frankly, disruptive.' 

Iger continued to say that while he respects the rights of the unions to 'get as much as they possibly can in compensation for their people,' they must 'be realistic about the business environment and what this business can deliver.

'It has been a great business for all of these people and it will continue to be, even through disruptive times,' he claimed. 'But being realistic is imperative here.'

Any strike, he said, 'will have a very, very damaging affect on the whole business, and unfortunately, there's huge collateral damage in the industry to people who are support services, and I could go on and on.

'It will affect the economy of different regions, even, because of the sheer size of the business.

'It's a shame, it really is a shame,' Iger concluded. 

Meryl Streep is set to strike following failed talks between the union and studios. She is pictured at 'The Laundromat' premiere, at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Canada, September 9, 2019. Jennifer Lawrence is also set to strike. She is pictured on the set of a Longines watch commercial on June 29, 2023 in New York City

Mark Ruffalo (left at the premiere of 'Lakota Nation vs. United States' in New York City) is also set to strike, as is Quinta Brunson (right at the 60th Annual ICG Publicists Awards)

SAG-AFTRA had announced earlier in the day that talks with studios had ended without a deal, paving the way for a vote on the first actors strike in more than four decades.

The union, which represents 160,000 performers including A-list stars, had sought to address dwindling pay and the threat posed by artificial intelligence.

It is demanding higher pay to counteract inflation, and guarantees for their future livelihoods.

In addition to salaries when they are actively working, actors earn payments called 'residuals' every time a film or show they starred in is aired on network or cable — which is particularly helpful when performers are between projects.

But today, streamers like Netflix and Disney+ do not disclose viewing figures for their shows, and offer the same flat rate for everything on their platforms, regardless of its popularity.

Muddying the waters further is the issue of AI. 

The union was seeking 'a groundbreaking AI proposal that protects actors' digital likenesses.' Actors are worried that their digital images could be used without their permission or proper compensation.

But when film and television studios failed to adequately meet those demands, the union's negotiators recommended a strike to its national committee, which was set to vote Thursday morning.

It could set the stage for performers to join writers on picket lines as early as today and disrupt scores of shows and movies. 

Actors including Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence and Mark Ruffalo are among those who are expected to take to the picket lines. 

Ben Stiller (left at Apple TV+'s Severance Celebrati at Nobu Malibu) is also set to strike, as is Rami Malek (right at the Medea opening night in New York)

Crunch talks between Hollywood actors and studios to avert a major industry shutdown ended without a deal

If a strike does occur, popular series set to return to television this year would face lengthy delays and, if strikes continue, future blockbuster films would be postponed too.

'We are deeply disappointed that SAG-AFTRA has decided to walk away from negotiations. This is the Union's choice, not ours,' the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers said in a statement early Thursday. 

'Rather than continuing to negotiate, SAG-AFTRA has put us on a course that will deepen the financial hardship for thousands who depend on the industry for their livelihoods,' the AMPTP said. 

Hollywood studios had called in federal mediators to help resolve the deadlock - a last-minute move described by SAG-AFTRA as a 'cynical ploy.'

Fran Drescher, former star of The Nanny and the president of SAG-AFTRA, said studios' responses to the actors' concerns had been 'insulting and disrespectful.'

'The companies have refused to meaningfully engage on some topics and on others completely stonewalled us,' she said in a statement after a deadline for actors to agree a new contract expired at midnight on Wednesday.

'Until they do negotiate in good faith, we cannot begin to reach a deal,' she added.

'Oppenheimer,' with a starry cast including Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh, is due to hold a glitzy US premiere in New York, but the event could be impacted by an actors strike

SAG-AFTRA represents A-list stars such as Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Glenn Close and all members have pre-approved industrial action if a deal is not struck.

A strike would immediately prevent stars from promoting some of the year's biggest releases, right at the peak of the movie industry's summer blockbuster season.

Under the rules of a strike, SAG-AFTRA members would not be able to film any movie or TV series, take part in any press or film premieres or promote anything at this month's San Diego Comic-Con. 

In London, a premiere Wednesday night for Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' was brought forward by an hour, so that cast including Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and Emily Blunt could attend without breaking union rules, Variety reported.

But a strike would derail the much-hyped film's US premiere, due to take place in New York on Monday, as well as a scheduled red-carpet launch this weekend at Disneyland for the new 'Haunted Mansion' movie.

Even the Emmy Awards, television's version of the Oscars, which is due to take place on September 18, is reportedly mulling a delay to November or even next year.

'We hope the ongoing guild negotiations can come to an equitable and swift resolution,' said Television Academy chairman Frank Scherma, as the Emmy nominations were announced Wednesday.

While the writers' strike has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production, an actors' walkout would shutter almost everything.

Some reality TV, animation and talk shows could continue. 

President of SAG-AFTRA Fran Drescher speaks during the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, California, U.S., February 26, 2023

Earlier on Wednesday, Hollywood unions representing directors, behind-the-scenes film workers and writers issued a statement of 'unwavering support and solidarity' with the actors.

'While the studios have collective worth of trillions of dollars, billions of viewers globally, and sky-high profits, this fight is not about actors against the studios,' it said.

Workers 'across all crafts and departments' stand together 'to prevent mega-corporations from eroding the conditions we fought decades to achieve,' it said.

Members of SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America walk the picket line outside Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, June 7, 2023

Striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) members walk the picket line in front of Netflix offices

A weeks-long strike by Hollywood writers has already dramatically reduced the number of movies and shows in production

Hollywood has not faced two strikes at once since 1960, when members of the WGA and the Screen Actors Guild both walked off the job in a fight over residuals from films sold to TV networks.

Today, the unions are battling over base pay and residuals from streaming services.

'You have to make $26,000 a year to qualify for your health insurance and there are a lot of people who get across that threshold through their residual payments,' actor Matt Damon said at a promotional event held for the film 'Oppenheimer' on Wednesday.

'There's money being made and it needs to be allocated in a way that takes care of people who are on the margins,' Damon added.

Many streaming services, however, have yet to turn a profit after companies spent billions of dollars on programming to try and attract customers.

Disney, Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal and Paramount Global each lost hundreds of millions of dollars from streaming in the most recent quarter. At the same time, the rise of online video has eroded television ad revenue as traditional TV audiences shrink.

The WGA's work stoppage has rippled throughout California and beyond, hitting caterers, prop suppliers and others who rely on Hollywood production for business. Economic damage is expected to spread if actors also strike.

Broadcast networks have already announced fall schedules heavy with reality shows, which are not affected by the current labor tensions. Independent productions not covered by union contracts also can continue.

The strike by roughly 11,500 writers has sent late-night television talk shows into endless reruns, disrupted most production for the fall TV season and halted work on big-budget movies.