Actor James Cromwell's character Ewan Roy made a surprise appearance in the penultimate episode of HBO's hit series Succession, delivering a powerhouse performance that matched the Emmy-worthy breakdown of Kieran Culkin's character.
Despite Cromwell's limited presence this season, his portrayal of Ewan Roy, the environmentally conscious brother of Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, left a lasting impact.
Cromwell's return to the series was marked by a captivating eulogy at Logan's funeral, which not only reduced Roman Roy to tears but also ignited discussions surrounding fair compensation for talented writers amidst ongoing strikes.
Capitalizing on the buzz surrounding his performance, Cromwell took to Twitter to address the current state of the entertainment industry, emphasizing the importance of compensating writers for their invaluable contributions, particularly in light of the ongoing writers' strike.
Cromwell praised the exceptional writing that allowed him to deliver a brilliant speech, not only illuminating his character but also enriching the overall narrative of the show.
He wrote:
"It begins with the words. Nothing happens without them. Sometimes, the writing achieves transcendence, but, in every case, it’s seminal."
"I got to a give a brilliant speech recently, which not only explicated my and my brother’s characters, it illuminated an entire narrative."
You can see Cromwell's tweet below.
\u201cIt begins with the words. \nNothing happens without them. Sometimes, the writing achieves transcendence, but, in every case, it\u2019s seminal. I got to a give a brilliant speech recently, which not only explicated my and my brother\u2019s characters, it illuminated an entire narrative. 1/3\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
Cromwell proceeded to passionately advocate for fair compensation, stressing that writers should be able to support themselves and their families adequately:
"This is what great writers do. And they need to be compensated in accordance with their contribution. At the very least, they need to be able to provide for themselves and their families."
"In this era of corporate greed and union busting, management seems to hold all the cards. Except for the most important ones: Unity; Solidarity; Fraternity. All of us win when the writers win. And we will win."
"Union! Strike!"
You can see his tweets below.
\u201cIn this era of corporate greed and union busting, management seems to hold all the cards. Except for the most important ones: Unity; Solidarity; Fraternity. All of us win when the writers win. And we will win. Union! Strike! #wgastrike #UnionStrong #Succession @jessearmstrong1\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
Many praised Cromwell for speaking out.
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 I was an extra on last night's SUCCESSION. As someone who loved BABE as a kid, it was an honor and a thrill to be in that church with you. I regret not getting the chance to tell you in person, so if you're reading this, thank you. Cheers!\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 Mr. Cromwell, that was beautiful acting on my television last night. Thanks for elevating the drama in my living room. And thanks for supporting writers. I'm proud to say I've earned my living writing for decades. #Succession #UnionStrong\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 Thank you James. And bravo for last night and the entire show.\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 And we will! Thank you, James.\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 We love you, good sir. Thank you for the support.\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 What a stunning episode...\n\nTHANK YOU for that incredible performance, and for your support of the WRITERS. \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\ud83d\ude4c\ud83c\udffe\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
\u201c@jamesocromwell @jessearmstrong1 Sir I salute your brilliance, in life and as an actor. Thank you!\u201d— James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37 (@James Cromwell \ud83d\udc37) 1684792194
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is taking a firm stance, declaring their preparedness to continue striking until they secure a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that safeguards writing as a viable profession.
Since talks collapsed on May 1, the two parties have not returned to the negotiating table. They have now entered a "cooling-off" phase, as described by a well-informed source within the television industry who spoke with Vanity Fair.
Unfortunately, the relationship between the groups has become increasingly strained, with both sides issuing statements that highlight their substantial disagreements, particularly regarding the integration of artificial intelligence (AI).
As of now, no date has been set to resume negotiations.
