Netflix "rethink all investment in Georgia" if abortion law is maintained – Deadline

Netflix has become the first big Hollywood company to take a stand against Georgia's recent adoption of a strict law on abortion. The content manager, Ted Sarandos, said Tuesday that the giant of the streaming TV "would rethink all our investment in Georgia" if the legislation "bill became state law.

The bill, among the laws that have been passed by state legislatures in recent weeks, would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat has been detected, usually just six weeks, sometimes before the woman knows herself pregnant. It is about to become law next year.

"We have a lot of women working on productions in Georgia, whose rights, as well as millions of others, will be severely limited by this law," Sarandos said in a statement. "That's why we're going to work with the ACLU and others to fight it in court. Since legislation has not yet been implemented, we will continue filming there while supporting partners and artists who choose not to do so. If this were to come into effect, we would rethink our entire investment in Georgia. "

The Georgia Film Office said that projects being filmed in this state include five broadcasts for Netflix: The liberator, Christmas in the square, Holidate, Season 2 of Insatiable and season 3 of Ozark. State also hosts AMC season 10 productions The dead who walk among others.

The bill was passed earlier this month, with Georgia becoming a vital production hub for the film and television industries. The region known as "Y'allywood" is responsible for more than 92,100 jobs and nearly $ 4.6 billion in state wages, according to the MPAA. State officials said that for the fiscal year ended June 30, film and television production generated $ 2.7 billion in direct spending.

The bill is expected to face legal challenges – a similar bill in Mississippi has recently been invalidated by a court. Alabama and Missouri have also passed tougher restrictions which, according to the opponents, were designed to bring the case to the US Supreme Court. It was aimed at the Roe v. Wade of 1973 that gave women the right to choose an abortion.

Before the adoption of the draft law on Georgia, Alyssa Milano – which is part of the group Netflix Insatiable cast – led the signing of a letter from 50 Hollywood personalities, in which he was promised that they would not work in that state if the bill became law. Unions, including the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, have also voted against the bill.

Since then, Hollywood companies have adopted different approaches in Georgia. Amazon has declared its next series The power Lionsgate's Kristen Wiig-Annie Mumolo was abandoned. Barb and Star go to Vista del Mar also said that he was canceling his filming in Georgia.

J.J. Abrams and the next horror series of Jordan Peele on HBO Lovecraft Country will turn in Georgia as planned, but producers have said that they would donate profits to groups that fight the law. Chernin Entertainment also said that he would continue to film his Street of fear movies and the upcoming drama Starz P-Valley in Atlanta, but will make a "significant donation" to the American Civil Liberties Union's fight against legislation.

Georgian governor Brian Kemp, who made the passage of the law a key part of his campaign last year beating his Democratic opponent Stacey Abrams, does not seem to be bothered by Hollywood critics.

"I understand that some people do not like this new law. That suits me, "he told the state republican convention in a speech last week. "We are elected to do what is right – and defending a precious life is always the right thing to do."

He added, "We are the party of freedom and opportunity. We value and protect innocent life – even if it creaks C-list celebrities. "

Variety reported the Sarandos statement first today.