Netflix and Disney Threaten to Halt Georgia Production Over Abortion Law
Netflix warns it will rethink its massive investment in Georgia if a strict abortion law takes effect, a stance now echoed by Disney CEO Bob Iger. The entertainment giants join a growing number of filmmakers speaking out against the legislation.
Netflix's chief content officer Ted Sarandos states that the streaming giant will rethink its entire investment in Georgia if a newly signed abortion law goes into effect. While Netflix continues to film in the state for now, Sarandos emphasizes that the legislation severely restricts the rights of their many female employees working on local productions. He notes that the company plans to work with the ACLU to fight the law in court while supporting any partners and artists who choose not to film there.
This stance sets Netflix apart from other major Hollywood studios, as initial responses from companies like WarnerMedia, Sony, and Amazon remain noticeably absent. However, individual talent connected to Netflix speaks out, with stars like Jason Bateman and Alyssa Milano threatening to stop filming in the state. Other filmmakers, such as Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, take a middle ground by continuing their current Netflix production in Georgia while donating to the ACLU and pledging to boycott the state if the law is implemented.
The contested law prohibits abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, which typically occurs around six weeks of pregnancy, and is widely viewed as a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade. Georgia currently serves as a massive hub for film and television due to lucrative state tax incentives, bringing in an estimated $2.7 billion in revenue in 2017 alone. Disney CEO Bob Iger later echoes Netflix's concerns in an interview, stating that he doubts Disney will continue filming in Georgia if the law takes effect because many employees will not want to work there.