In a newly-released statement, the network explains its plan for the series production, which takes place in Georgia for the past nine seasons, should the law come into effect.
- May 31, 2019
AceShowbiz - AMC's "The Walking Dead" is the latest production to take action due to Georgia's new law in which it will significantly restrict abortion access. The network has released a statement in response to the new law, showing its disapproval for the controversial heartbeat bill and its plan for "The Walking Dead" production which takes place in Georgia for the past nine seasons.
"If this highly restrictive legislation goes into effect, we will reevaluate our activity in Georgia," a spokesman for AMC reveals in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Similar bills -- some even more restrictive -- have passed in multiple states and have been challenged. This is likely to be a long and complicated fight and we are watching it all very closely."
Disney CEO Bob Iger has also issued similar statement regarding the studio's production activity in Georgia after the law. "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," he says to Reuters. He goes on adding that if the law does come into effect, he doesn't "see how it's practical for us to continue to shoot there."
Should Disney pull out its production from the state, it would be a huge blow to the state. Prior to this, the production company filmed portions of "Black Panther" and "Avengers: Endgame" in Georgia.
Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed the fetal heartbeat bill on May 7. The new law bans abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected which can be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. The move has received backlash in Hollywood with many production companies threatening to boycott the state which plans to make the law goes into effect. This will give a huge impact to Georgia as in 2018, the state has been the place for 455 productions.
