TV dramas relocate to film in California

High-profile American TV dramas – including Lucifer and the Marvel series Legion – will relocate to film in California after securing tax credit support.

By Nick Goundry 22 Mar 2017

TV dramas relocate to film in California
Lucifer

High-profile American TV dramas – including Lucifer and the Marvel series Legion – will relocate to film in California after securing tax credit support.

The state specifically incentivises TV series that have filmed at least one season somewhere else in the world.

Both Legion and Lucifer shot initially in Vancouver – although Lucifer doubled the Canadian city for Los Angeles – while The OA and The Affair will relocate from New York.

Eleven TV series have relocated to California since the state’s filming incentive got a massive funding boost two years ago, according to the California Film Commission.

“We’re wrapping up year two of Programme 2.0 on a very high note with a record number of relocating TV series,” said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission. “The tax credit programme is working as intended to reaffirm California’s status as the preferred choice for film and TV production.”

Lucifer (pictured), which follows the Devil as he abandons his kingdom to help solves crimes in Los Angeles, will reportedly get the biggest support package at nearly $17m, while Legion will receive credits worth $11m, according to figures seen by Deadline.

For more on filming in California and for local contacts see our production guide.


The commission also approved support for drama pilots including Behind Enemy Lines, based on a series of action movies, and Mayans MC, a spinoff from Kurt Sutter's long-running motorcycle club drama Sons of Anarchy.

California’s TV tax credit allocation comes a month after the commission awarded $100m in support to 22 feature films.

Bradley Cooper’s upcoming adaptation of the classic Hollywood story A Star is Born and Robert Zemeckis’ Marwencol were among the biggest winners of the feature group, with a little less than $10m each in filming tax credits.

Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment

Both Legion and Lucifer shot initially in Vancouver – although Lucifer doubled the Canadian city for Los Angeles – while The OA and The Affair will relocate from New York.

Eleven TV series have relocated to California since the state’s filming incentive got a massive funding boost two years ago, according to the California Film Commission.

“We’re wrapping up year two of Programme 2.0 on a very high note with a record number of relocating TV series,” said Amy Lemisch, executive director of the California Film Commission. “The tax credit programme is working as intended to reaffirm California’s status as the preferred choice for film and TV production.”

Lucifer (pictured), which follows the Devil as he abandons his kingdom to help solves crimes in Los Angeles, will reportedly get the biggest support package at nearly $17m, while Legion will receive credits worth $11m, according to figures seen by Deadline.

For more on filming in California and for local contacts see our production guide.


The commission also approved support for drama pilots including Behind Enemy Lines, based on a series of action movies, and Mayans MC, a spinoff from Kurt Sutter's long-running motorcycle club drama Sons of Anarchy.

California’s TV tax credit allocation comes a month after the commission awarded $100m in support to 22 feature films.

Bradley Cooper’s upcoming adaptation of the classic Hollywood story A Star is Born and Robert Zemeckis’ Marwencol were among the biggest winners of the feature group, with a little less than $10m each in filming tax credits.

Image: Warner Bros. Entertainment

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