Blue Beetle is one of the many films that has been hampered by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Actors and writers are not allowed to talk about or promote their movies in any way as they fight for the fair pay and treatment they deserve. This leaves director Ángel Manuel Soto with the difficult task of promoting the film all on his own, travelling from city to city worldwide to host screenings. While promoting Blue Beetle at the Toronto premiere last week, Soto thanked the fans for attending while also expressing his support for actors and writers on strike. Here’s what he told the packed crowd:

The actors, who cannot be here right now, really want to be here. But, they’re out there, fighting the good fight so actors and writers can get the fair pay they’re supposed to be getting. They’re being heroes in their own way. I appreciate [the fan support] because [the actors] need it too.

Read the synopsis for Blue Beetle:

Jaime Reyes suddenly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology called the Scarab. When the Scarab chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he’s bestowed with an incredible suit of armor that’s capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero Blue Beetle.

Warner Bros

Blue Beetle hits theatres on August 18! Will you be checking it out?