Who better to lead the union than Sam himself?
The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is probably the most influential and important labor union for media professionals in America. Many well-known actors such as Jack Black or Florence Pugh have joined SAG-AFTRA strikes before.
For the past four years, the actress Fran Drescher has been the president of the union. She led it through the five-month actors' strike that started in July 2023, which is not to be confused with the writers' strike that happened around the same time.
On August 8, it was made public that Drescher would not seek re-election. Rather, Sean Astin – who is well-known for playing Samwise Gamgee in Lord of the Rings – and background actor and independent movie performer. Chuck Slavin, would be vying for the presidency.
New Leadership – New Challenges
The "Lord of the Rings" actor garnered 79% of the votes cast in the election, with Michelle Hurd being elected as secretary-treasurer. While Astin reacts thankful, he also grasps the responsibility he has been given, as he is not only stepping into the footsteps of Drescher, but also of his own mom. Patty Duke was president of SAG from 1985 to 1988.
People keep saying to me, ‘I hope you have time to celebrate’ and celebrating feels like a foreign thought. This doesn’t feel like a moment for celebration. It feels like a moment to say thank you and get to work.
This means that going forward, Sean Astin will lead the 160,000-member union as it will enter negotiations with major studios next year. After the strike in 2023 the union could negotiate AI protection and streaming bonuses based on viewership numbers. Some actors think that that was not enough and hope for a better outcome next year.
This negotiated contract will expire in June 2026, which means that the union and the studios need to come to a conclusion and negotiate a new contract until then.
In an interview with The Times, Astin seems hopeful and determined to secure a fair deal with the studios.
I have a very good feeling about going into this next negotiation, because it’s clear to me that it’s in both parties’ interest to achieve a good deal.
Fans And The Industry React
Fans reacted overwhelmingly positively to the news. His most famous role, Samwise Gamgee, is known for being the most loyal and courageous character in the entire trilogy. It is fitting, then, to see him as the leader of a union, fighting for more rights. Especially during the AI crisis of modern media.
sean astin going from hobbit to union leader is the character development we didnt know we needed.
— Capt. Leon (@CaptLeon_) September 13, 2025
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) also congratulated Astin for his new position as president. AMPTP represent the major studios and the streaming services in the upcoming negotiations.
We look forward to working with President Astin to address the most important concerns of SAG-AFTRA performers while promoting stability and opportunity in our industry,".