CA Tax Credit - TV Gets $256M
The new $750M CA state tax credit continues to give. They’ve just allocated $256M to 22 TV shows.
All in all, this is projected to generate $1.1bn in stimulus for CA while also employing 6,500 cast and crew.
There were even two shows that relocated back to CA for a total in-state spend of $61.2M (Netflix’s Bad Thoughts S2 and an untitled Apple Series).
89% of the money was allocated to the major studios. Here is a breakdown:
$84.2M Warner Bros.
$41.1M Warner Bros.
$43.1M HBO
$72M - Disney (FX, Hulu, Disney)
$53.1M Hulu
$16.8M Disney
$2.1M FX
$56.2M - Apple
$22.2M - show produced by Apple Studios
$13.2M - show produced by Lionsgate
$20.8M - show produced by Warner Bros. (counted in WB total above)
$26.4M - Amazon
$19.5M - Netflix
$15.7M - Sony
$13.2M - Lionsgate (counted in the Apple total above)
The biggest credit allocation is for:
Hulu’s untitled Dan Fogelman NFL drama
Creator/Writer/EP: Fogelman (Hulu’s Paradise)
Cast: William H. Macy, Christopher Meloni, Mandy Moore
Prod Co: 20th Television and Skydance Sports
119 days filming in CA
$42.8M CA tax credits
Synopsis:
Follows a sprawling, multi-generational family drama set in the world of the NFL.
Meloni plays the head coach, Danny Roarke. Moore will play the daughter of the team owner, played by Macy.
Overall, Disney’s six projects received $72M. Here are the other five:
Hulu’s Group Chat
Star/Writer/EP: Kenya Barris (creator: Black-Ish)
EP: Kim Kardashian
9 days of filming in CA
$2.2M CA tax credits
Hulu’s untitled 20th TV Drama Series from ABC Signature
35 days of filming in CA
$8.1M CA tax credits
Disney+’s Untitled 20th TV & DBT (Disney Branded TV) Drama
56 days of filming in CA
$15.3 CA tax credits
Disney+’s Untitled 20th TV & DBT (Disney Branded TV) Pilot
5 days of filming in CA
$1.6M CA tax credits
FX’s Untitled 20th TV Comedy Pilot
8 days of filming in CA
$2.1M CA tax credits
We’re going to guess that this last one is Movers from Comedy Central’s Reno 911 creator, Robert Ben Garant, and Cathy Shim, who also star.
Synopsis:
A group of movers navigate their daily work challenges while dealing with personal relationships, quirky customers, and the unpredictable nature of their job.
Here are a few more projects that caught our eye:
HBO’s Unt. Larry David 250th
Co-writer/Star: David
Co-writer/Director: Jeff Schaffer (co-showrunner: Curb Your Enthusiasm)
Prod Co: Obama’s Higher Ground
30 days of filming in CA
$9.1M CA tax credits
The six-episode series will highlight overlooked figures in American history. The untitled series will feature Curb actors and celebrity guest stars in absurd historical roles.
Slated for a likely 2026 release to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
HBO’s Stuart Fails To Save The Universe
The Big Bang spinoff
Creator: Bill Prady & Chuck Lorre (co-creator: Big Bang), Zak Penn (writer: Avengers)
64 days of filming in CA
$20.4M CA tax credits
A sci-fi series set in the future after the events of the original 12-season-spanning The Big Bang.
Synopsis:
Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki), accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.
No word if the original Big Bang cast will make an appearance, but regardless, this is exciting news for the franchise’s cult following.
Some fan favorite series return with new seasons:
Apple TV+’s The Studio (S2)
Prod Co: Lionsgate
48 days filming in CA
$37M qualified spending
$13.2M CA tax credits
Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent (S2)
Prod Co: Warner Bros.
Cast: Jack Reynor, Rachel Brosnahan
84 days filming in CA
$58.9M qualified spending
$20.8M CA tax credits
HBO’s The Comeback (S3)
Returning for S3 after a 2-decade hiatus
Star: Lisa Kudrow
Synopsis: An ex A-list celebrity attempts to rekindle the flame of her once prominent acting career with nothing but a camera crew and some determination.
60 days filming in CA
$38.5M qualified spending
$13.6M CA tax credits
Amazon’s Ballard S2
67 days filming in CA
$14.8M CA tax credits
Netflix’s Bad Thoughts
Creator: Tom Segura
22 days filming in CA
$2.3M CA tax credits
Network shows:
CBS’s NCIS: Origins (S2.5)
56 days filming in CA
$11.2M CA tax credits
Sony’s S.W.A.T. EXILES
Cast: Shemar Moore (Criminal Minds)
83 days filming in CA
$15.7M CA tax credits
Synopsis:
A SWAT team veteran is pulled out of retirement to lead a last-chance experimental unit comprised of untested and unpredictable recruits.
Some curious, untitled shows:
Amazon’s Project 2997
Netflix’s Golf S1
Apple Studios Untitled Series III
Dummy
Prod Co: Dovetale Media (Quiver’s Hostile Takeover)
Allocating the money to these projects is a great step toward driving business back to the state. This is much needed, as the film industry's dire contraction has driven production jobs out of California.
And while there have been crickets from Trump’s tariffs, his attempt to bring back production to America, many producers and directors feel it is no longer viable to make a film in the US when international shooting costs are cheaper and many countries have high tax incentives (30% Hungary, 25% Bulgaria).