Marvel Studios Moves Production from Georgia to the UK

Marvel Studios has decided to relocate much of its production from Georgia to the UK. This change has significantly impacted the film industry in the Peach State, diminishing nearly half of its previous spending and leaving the once-thriving soundstage in disarray.

The studio, known for hits like “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law,” has filmed around 20 projects in Atlanta over the last decade.

Beginning with “Fantastic Four: First Step” this summer, Marvel is shifting its slate of superhero films—including two new “Avengers” movies and the next “Spider-Man”—to facilities just outside London.

While major studios such as Disney, Netflix, and Warner Bros. Discovery have expressed concern over Georgia’s 2019 abortion law and suggested boycotts, Marvel’s decision to move to the UK is primarily based on financial reasons.

The increase in labor costs in Georgia has played a significant role. It turns out that in the UK, crew wages are lower, and studios don’t incur the same health insurance costs, making filming abroad more economical. A source noted this trend to the Wall Street Journal.

The consequences for Georgia are dire. The state’s film and television spending has dropped by almost 50% in just three years, with 245 projects filmed in the fiscal year ending in June 2025, a steep decline from 412 in 2022.

“It feels like being jilted,” reflected Janine Gosselin, a 62-year-old screenwriter and supervisor who once earned $200,000 per year on Marvel sets. She hasn’t held a steady job since February 2024 and has had to dip into her retirement savings.

As the recession has hit, film workers have lost morale, even transforming the state’s well-known slogan into a joke. A crew member earlier this year humorously altered the “Made in Georgia” tagline to “Unemployed in Georgia.”

Trilith Studios—Marvel’s former 1,000-acre production base near Atlanta—has seen a marked drop in activity after years of high demand.

“We were constantly battling for space because there wasn’t enough room for everyone,” said Location Scout Lenzi Sealy, who worked on four Marvel films. Now, she describes the lot as “largely empty.”

Sealy recalls filming “Captain America: Brave New World” in February but felt horror when the studio later auctioned off accumulated props from over the years.

For many in the local crew, Marvel wasn’t just another client; it was a cornerstone of the industry. The blockbuster studio employed hundreds, providing steady work throughout the year.

“Marvel has played such a pivotal role in my career,” noted Jon Grubb, a 44-year-old grip who has worked on six Marvel films, even calling his $350,000 home “Buyed by The House ‘Avengers.’

This downturn follows the meteoric rise that began in 2008 when Georgia expanded its film tax credits to 30%, making it one of the most appealing locations for filmmakers globally.

This policy helped transform Atlanta into the so-called “Hollywood of the South,” attracting franchises like Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games,” Universal’s “Fast & Furious,” Netflix’s “Stranger Things,” and AMC’s “The Walking Dead.”

A survey from Georgia State University in 2023 revealed that the industry once supported nearly 20,000 jobs at its peak. However, the global economic landscape has changed; a report from ProdPro indicated that 29% fewer major films and television shows began production across the US in 2024 compared to the previous year, while the UK saw a 16% increase.

Countries like Canada and Australia continue to incentivize productions, while states like California, New York, New Jersey, and Texas are ramping up their own incentives to remain competitive.

Lee Thomas, director of the Georgia Film Bureau, suggested that rising labor costs have pushed Marvel and others out of the state. “We hope this is just a temporary setback as we explore other markets and have confidence in our crew and resources,” she told the Journal.

Trilith CEO Frank Patterson remains optimistic, predicting a “new normal for 2027” and has invested in startups focused on content produced entirely on the studio lot.

The post has reached out for comments from both the Georgia Film Bureau and Marvel.