Marvel Studios has officially begun shifting its production focus overseas, leaving Georgia’s once-thriving film industry grappling with major setbacks. Known as the “Hollywood of the South,” Georgia has lost its status as a top filming destination, with production spending plunging nearly 50% over the last three years.
Why Georgia Became a Filming Powerhouse
The southern state rose to prominence in Hollywood circles thanks to its generous production tax credits, which allowed projects costing over $500,000 to qualify for a 20% base transferable tax credit. As a result, Marvel used Georgia as the backdrop for many of its blockbusters, including Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. One of its primary filming hubs was Trilith Studios, a sprawling facility just outside Atlanta featuring 34 stages over 1,000 acres.
At the height of its operations in Georgia, Marvel productions dominated the state’s soundstages, turning it into a vibrant ecosystem for film professionals. Lenzi Sealy, a location scout for Marvel, described how “sets were fighting over stages on a daily basis” due to the sheer demand for production space.
The Shift to the United Kingdom
In recent years, Marvel has pivoted to filming in the United Kingdom, with lower costs and fewer overheads proving to be a significant pull. Rising expenses in Georgia have made shooting there less economical for big-budget productions. On top of that, the UK offers competitive advantages like lower salary demands and no obligation for companies to cover employee health insurance.
The effect of this shift has been profound. This summer’s Fantastic Four reboot was entirely filmed in the UK, and Marvel’s next two Avengers movies, as well as the upcoming Spider-Man sequel, are following suit. According to industry data from ProdPro, the UK saw a 16% increase in movies and TV shows with budgets over $40 million by 2024, compared to a 29% plunge in the U.S. for similar projects over the same period.
The Fallout for Georgia’s Industry
The decline in Marvel projects has sent shockwaves through Georgia’s entertainment industry, which supports approximately 20,000 jobs statewide. In the fiscal year ending in June, only 245 productions were filmed in Georgia—down from 412 in 2022. Many local workers, who previously thrived in Georgia’s bustling film ecosystem, are now struggling to find opportunities.
Script supervisor Janine Gosselin, 62, has worked for Marvel for over two decades but has seen her workload evaporate. “You feel like a jilted lover,” she lamented. Unable to secure new projects, Gosselin had to tap into her retirement savings just to make ends meet.
Competing States and Alternatives
With Georgia faltering as a filming hub, other states, including Texas, New York, New Jersey, and California, are stepping up their game by expanding tax incentives to attract major productions. However, even these efforts struggle to compete with the UK’s allure for big-budget filming. In the meantime, Trilith Studios and other Georgia-based facilities are left scrambling to fill their once-busy stages.
As production dollars flow overseas, Georgia’s film workers and local businesses face growing uncertainty about the future of the state’s entertainment industry. Whether the state can recover its status as a movie-making powerhouse remains to be seen.
