This is the way to persuade Disney to film the next “Star Wars” movie in your state.
“The Mandalorian & Grogu” is slated to be the first “Star Wars” movie filmed in California thanks to the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, the California Film Commission announced Monday. The spin-off series of the hit Disney+ series “The Mandalorian” will receive a tax credit of around $21.8 million for filming in the Golden State.
The California Film Commission often uses tax incentives to discourage film and television projects from fleeing the state to shoot in Atlanta, Vancouver and other rising production hubs.
“We are thrilled to be filming the next Star Wars movie… here in California,” a spokesperson for “Star Wars” production company Lucasfilm said in a statement.
“By working with the California Film Commission, we are proud to create film jobs in California and excited to begin production, using the world-class equipment available here.”
Filming “The Mandalorian & Grogu” locally will inject $166 million into the California economy through crew member salaries and qualified expenses, the California Film Commission estimated. Directed by “The Mandalorian” creator Jon Favreau, the upcoming space odyssey will see Pedro Pascal reprise his role as Mando alongside his little green sidekick, better known as Baby Yoda.
“The Mandalorian & Grogu” is one of 15 upcoming local film productions projected by the California Film Commission to boost the state's economy by $408 million. The government organization also anticipates that around 2,252 crew members, 598 actors and 16,800 background actors will be hired to work for a total of 579 days of filming that will cover the different projects.
The “Mandalorian” movie alone is expected to employ 54 actors, 3,500 background actors and 500 crew members over the course of a 92-day shoot.
The California Film Commission's announcement comes at a time when local film and television jobs are urgently needed, following a slowdown in mass production and an industry contraction caused by overlapping strikes by writers and actors.
In addition to “The Mandalorian & Grogu,” other upcoming productions that qualified for the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program include two untitled Disney films, a sequel to the 2016 Ben Affleck thriller “The Accountant” and a feature film science fiction starring Chris Pratt. called “Mercy”.
“These productions, ranging from big-budget feature films to independent films, not only add millions to our economy, but they also showcase the talent and versatility of our state,” said Colleen Bell, executive director of the California Film Commission , it's a statement.
“We are proud to welcome these projects, which highlight California's resilience and its continued prominence in the film industry.”
