Netflix has become the first major studio to speak out in opposition of Georgia’s recent “heartbeat” abortion law. The company said in a statement to The Wall Street Journal that it opposes the action, but will continue to film its shows in the state. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos said Netflix would “rethink out entire investment” in Georgia if the abortion law goes into effect in 2020 as scheduled.
Sarandos added that Netflix will support actors who do not wish to film Netflix content in Georgia.
Georgia is a hotbed for film and TV production due in part to the tax credits that the state provides. There were a reported 455 productions in the state in fiscal year 2018 alone, and Netflix’s own Stranger Things and Ozark film there.
Georgia’s restrictive abortion law is expected to be challenged in court.
The CEO of film studio Miramax, Bill Block, told WSJ earlier this year that he would seek other places to film in wake of the abortion law. “This type of regressive, intolerant legislation will be a strong deterrent when we consider where to produce both television and film projects,” he said.
The Handmaid’s Tale director Reed Morano said recently that she would not film a new show in Georgia due to the abortion law. The Kristin Wiig comedy Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar also recently announced it wouldn’t film in Georgia as planned due to the law.
The Force Awakens director JJ Abrams and Get Out director Jordan Peele also recently announced that they would donate profits from a new HBO show filming in Georgia to organizations working to fight the Georgia abortion law.
The Avengers and many other Marvel movies also film in Georgia, but studio owner Disney has yet to take a public stance on the Georgia abortion law.
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