Disney mulls filming in Georgia
‘Very difficult’ to stay if abortion law takes effect, CEO says
Walt Disney chairman and chief executive Robert (Bob) Iger expressed doubts the entertainment giant would be able to continue filming in Georgia if the U.S. state’s highly restrictive abortion law takes hold.
Iger said it would be “very difficult to do so” if the abortion law were to survive court challenges and take effect.
Disney joins Netflix, WarnerMedia and several independent production companies that have distanced themselves from doing business in the state, which has become a major production hub for film and television because of its generous tax incentives.
Netflix — which produces Stranger Things, Ozark and other shows in Georgia — said earlier this week it will team up with the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups to challenge the law.
“We have many women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, along with millions of others, will be severely restricted by this law,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer of Netflix.
“It’s why we will work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court.”
WarnerMedia — owner of HBO, CNN and the Warner Bros. studio — said Thursday it would “reconsider Georgia as the home to any new productions” if the legislation becomes law.
Recent Disney movies produced partly in Georgia include triple- Oscar-winner Black Panther and more recently Avengers: Endgame, with a worldwide box office approaching US$2.7 billion since its release last month.
The backlash stems from legislation signed into law by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp earlier this month.
The measure would prohibit abortion once the fetal heartbeat can be detected, which typically happens near the six-week mark, before many women even know they are pregnant.
Georgia is among more than a dozen U.S. states that have passed or are moving to pass such controversial restrictions across the country in an effort to challenge or even overturn the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which established a woman’s right to choice on abortion.
If the Georgia law does survive court challenges, it is slated to take effect on Jan. 1.
When asked by Reuters Wednesday whether Disney would keep filming in Georgia after the law takes effect, Iger said, “I rather doubt we will. I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully.” The Washington Post, with files from Postmedia News