Is the trade war winter coming for American shows and actors in China?
- US-themed productions are disappearing from Chinese TV schedules and industry insiders say projects are falling through as the two countries tussle over tariffs
While the rest of the world tuned in to watch the final episode of the hit US drama Game of Thrones this week, fans in China were left disappointed.
Tencent Video, the exclusive distributor for the show on the Chinese mainland, said the finale was not available because of “media transmission issues”. Four days later, the episode had still not been released.
At the same time, various American actors said they began hearing from casting directors and agents in China that there was an “unofficial ban” on hiring Americans.
One American said he was suddenly dropped from three television roles in just a few days, including one show due to be shot in the United States.
“I’d been informed by several different agents that casting productions have been told, under no uncertain terms, not to use American actors,” the actor said.
“This has been on my only occupation, my only profession here in China for the last seven years ... just all of a sudden, gone – at least for now.”