I'm not surprised by this. Although I think it sucks, I know that in one of my college classes my roommate started looking into a career path that could lead to her working as a professional Stage Manager but in England cause she wants to go abroad for a bit, and discovered that unless she can prove that she can do the job better than anyone in that country, she can't be hired.
I guess I see the reasoning behind it, but...I dunno, I think there should be more of a compromise - something less rash than "you have to be a huge star" adn "prove you're better than anyone else in the country to do the job" - like if you're seen along with craploads of other people from that country and the casting team still thinks you're best for it, shouldn't THAT right there prove you're the best person for it?
And I'd kinda think Equity would make it hte other way around - to protect the jobs of american actors, wouldn't it make more sense to say "even though you're a big name from another country, you can't just walk in and do a job that many american struggling actors could do better" y'know?
I hope this all works out for him though, poor kid
If I show you the darkness I hold inside, will you bring me to light?