AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ to reconsider production in Georgia if heartbeat bill goes into effect
Georgia’s new abortion law, signed on May 7 by Gov. Brian Kemp, has gained the attention of celebrities all across the country, including film companies Disney and Netflix.
The companies say they’ll reconsider producing films in Georgia if the heartbeat bill goes into effect.
The film industry is responsible for more than 92,000 jobs in Georgia, according to the Motion Picture Association of America. In 2018, 455 productions were filmed in Georgia including “The Avengers” and “Black Panther.”
Georgia saw more than $2.5 billion in direct spending from 2018 productions, according to the AJC.
Disney
In an interview with Reuters, Walt Disney Co-Chief Executive Bob Iger said it would be “very difficult” to continue filming in the state if the abortion law is implemented.
“I don’t see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there,” he added.
Disney’s “Ant-Man and The Wasp” alone brought in $63 million to the state in 2018.
Netflix
Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos has similar feeling about the heartbeat bill. He said the company will “rethink [its] whole investment in Georgia” if the law takes effect, according to Tech Crunch.
Netflix productions filmed in Georgia include “Ozark” and “Stranger Things.”
WarnerMedia
WarnerMedia is also considering stopping production in the state, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The company is currently filming “Conjuring 3” and the “Suicide Squad” sequel in Georgia.
“We operate and produce work in many states and within several countries at any given time, and while that doesn’t mean we agree with every position taken by a state or country and their leaders, we do respect due process,” the company said in a statement.
“We will watch the situation closely, and if the new law holds we will reconsider Georgia as the home to any new productions. As is always the case, we will work closely with our production partners and talent to determine how and where to shoot any given project.”
AMC
AMC says they’ll consider stopping production of “The Walking Dead” in Georgia if the abortion law goes into effect, according to CBS News.
“If this highly restrictive legislation goes into effect, we will reevaluate our activity in Georgia,” AMC Networks said in a statement to CBS News.
“Similar bills — some even more restrictive — have passed in multiple states and have been challenged. This is likely to be a long and complicated fight and we are watching it all very closely.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2019 at 3:50 PM with the headline "AMC’s ‘The Walking Dead’ to reconsider production in Georgia if heartbeat bill goes into effect."
