The Hollywood labor fight has escalated as top movie and TV actors joined picket lines alongside screenwriters on the first full day of a walkout.

Jason Sudeikis, star of the hit show Ted Lasso, was among the picketers outside NBC in New York, while Sean Astin, known for his role in Lord of the Rings, joined chanting protesters outside Netflix's offices in Hollywood.

Other notable actors present at Netflix included Frances Fisher and Fran Drescher, who is also the president of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

The actors' presence energized the picket lines, with music blaring and demonstrators filling the sidewalks. The actors' strike, which marks the first double-barreled strike by actors and screenwriters in over six decades, immediately shut down production across the entertainment industry after contract negotiations with studios and streaming services broke down.

In a show of solidarity, 65,000 members of the actors' union have formally joined the writers on strike. Both guilds share similar concerns regarding contracts, inflation, residual payments, and the use of artificial intelligence in their work. Fran Drescher delivered a fiery rebuke of studios and streaming services, expressing shock at how they are treating the unions.

She criticized the companies for pleading poverty while allocating hundreds of millions of dollars to their CEOs. No talks are currently planned, and there is no end in sight for the work stoppage.

This is the first time both guilds have walked off sets since 1960, when Ronald Reagan was SAG's leader. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, representing employers such as Disney, Netflix, and Amazon, has expressed concern over the impact of the strike on thousands of workers in industries that support film and television production.

The strike will not only affect filming but also prevent stars from promoting their work, campaigning for awards, or participating in auditions and rehearsals. While international shoots can technically continue, the stoppage among U.S.-based writers and performers is expected to have a drag effect on those as well.

The previous writers' strike resulted in the shutdown of late-night talk shows and Saturday Night Live, along with several scripted shows. With performers now joining the strike, more shows are likely to be affected, such as Stranger Things, Hacks, and Family Guy.

The situation has sparked concerns about the overall impact on the entertainment industry and the economy. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass called for all parties to work around the clock until an agreement is reached, recognizing the significance of the entertainment industry and its contribution to the economy.