A few projects, including the upcoming Hulu series ‘The Power’, have declared that they will not film in Georgia following its controversial abortion “heartbeat bill,” which would ban abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. Now Netflix president Ted Sarandos has chimed in stressing that the streaming service may also remove productions from the state if the bill passes into law.
RELATED: Amazon’s ‘The Power’ Is The First TV Series To Boycott Georgia Over Its New “Heartbeat Bill”
In a statement delivered on Tuesday, Sarandos said:
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law. It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there — while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to. Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia.”
Thanks to a 30% tax break for the film and television industry, Georgia has become a hub of the entertainment industry. In 2018, 455 TV shows and movies were made in Georgia and employed 92,000 people and generated $9.5 billion in revenue, as well as $4.6 billion in wages.
Netflix previously threatened to boycott Georgia over a proposed anti-LGBTQ bill in 2016, which the governor wound up vetoing.
In 2013, North Carolina destroyed its large film and television industry by passing a bathroom bill that targeted transgender individuals.
Among the Netflix projects filmed in Georgia are ‘Stranger Things’, ‘Insatiable’, ‘Ozark’, as well as an upcoming Dolly Parton musical series ‘Christmas on the Square’, and the Emma Roberts romcom ‘Holidate’. Alyssa Milano, who stars on ‘Insatiable’, and Jason Bateman, the star of ‘Ozark’ have independently vowed not to work in Georgia, should the bill get passed, but the next seasons of their shows are already in production.
Other creators like J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele, who are filming their HBO series ‘Lovecraft Country’ in Georgia, are continuing as planned, but are donating money to the ACLU and other causes determined to fight the bill.
The bill has not become a law just yet, so if that doesn’t happen, it will be business as usual. If it does pass, it looks as though the state will be saying goodbye to billions of dollars and over 90,000 jobs.
Check back for updates as they arrive.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
