Disney CEO Says It Would Be “Very Difficult” for Studio To Continue To Work In Georgia If New Abortion Law Goes Into Effect

Bob Iger, the CEO Of the Walt Disney Co, sat down with Reuters and shared his concerns over continuing production in Georgia if the controversial ban on abortion in the state goes into effect. 

“I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully,” Iger told Reuters.

He also added that he didn’t “see how it’s practical for us to continue to shoot there.”

Disney is the parent company of Marvel Studios, and if Disney does indeed withdraw from the state, it could become a major blow to Georgia. The company most recently filmed Marvel’s “Black Panther” and “Avengers: End Game” there.

Earlier this month, Georgia’s Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the “fetal-heartbeat bill,” which bans abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The legislation, as well as similar moves in Alabama and other states to ban abortion, has caused a furious backlash in Hollywood and led to calls to boycott those states.

Several previously scheduled productions are pulling out of Georgia, and Netflix is also vowing to “rethink” its operations in the state. 

ccording to the Hollywood Reporter, Georgia has become a magnet for film and TV productions, with over 90,000 people working in those industries. In 2018, 455 productions took place in Georgia, according to figures from the state.