The mega-strike that could destroy Hollywood

Image source, Getty Images

By Regan MorrisBBC News, Los Angeles

The Hollywood writers have been on strike for two months and soon actors could join them, trading the red carpet for the picket lines.

The Screen Actors Guild- American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) contract expires at midnight local time on July 12, following a deadline extension that delayed the possibility of a mega-strike by nearly two weeks. /p>

They would join the Writers Guild of America, which went on strike May 2 after failing to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), an umbrella group representing studios like Disney, Netflix, Amazon and Apple.

SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP said they would only no comment while contract negotiations are ongoing.

This would be the first time unions representing both writers and actors have struck at the same time time since 1960, when future US President Ronald Regan was president of the actors union.

A third union, the Directors Guild of America, has already negotiated a contract and will not join the strike.

Dozens of productions have already been shut down since writers went on strike, including Stranger Things, Billions and Marvel's Blade.