Has Georgia lost its crown as the “Hollywood of the South?”

Marvel’s departure highlights the state’s struggles to compete with cheaper overseas film production

Atlanta, Georgia – Marvel Entertainment has decided to relocate all its upcoming film productions from Georgia to overseas locations, primarily the United Kingdom, as first reported by The Wall Street Journal. Georgia, once dubbed the “Hollywood of the South,” became a major hub for film and television due to generous state tax credits, drawing major productions including a dozen blockbuster Marvel movies such as Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame.

However, The Wall Street Journal explains that Marvel is moving future productions including new Spider-Man and Avengers films to London and other overseas locations. The key reason is cost: Despite Georgia’s competitive tax credits, the U.K. offers similar incentives but with much lower labor costs and fewer employer obligations like health insurance. This means Disney and Marvel can cut millions from their production budgets by relocating.

The outlet also highlights the wider impact: Georgia’s film industry has seen production spending fall by nearly 50% over the last three years, dropping from 412 projects in 2022 to just 245 in 2025. The loss of Marvel’s continuous slate of productions is a blow to thousands of local crew members and businesses that relied on that work, with many industry insiders describing the current environment as a “bloodbath.” As major Hollywood studios face rising streaming losses and look to cut costs, shifting productions to cheaper international markets has become a growing trend.

While Georgia’s tax incentives initially helped grow the industry, The Wall Street Journal reports that competitors like the U.K., Canada, and Australia now provide not just tax breaks but also lower baseline costs, prompting U.S. studios to follow the money. The move has sparked concern among local workers and political debate, with some leaders calling for more aggressive national policies to protect domestic film jobs.