“Bad Monkey” is a Florida show to the core. Set in the Florida Keys and based on a Carl Hiaasen book, the show’s first season was even filmed in Florida, though the state does not have a tax credit for film production.
But that’s changing for Season 2.
The show, which streams on Apple TV+, will move to California, lured by a $20.6 million state tax incentive.
The tax allocation was one of 10 announced Wednesday, totaling $108.6 million.
California awards $330 million a year in tax credits to film and TV shows. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in October he will push to increase it to $750 million a year in the next budget, as crews continue to struggle with a lackluster recovery from the 2023 strikes.
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“We are working hard to keep productions filming in California,” said Colleen Bell, the director of the California Film Commission, in a press release. “These tax credits help us keep jobs here in our state and drive economic growth, but the impact goes beyond the entertainment industry – it supports families, local businesses, and communities statewide.”
Another Apple TV+ show, “Imperfect Women,” will also get a tax credit to film in Los Angeles. That show, starring Kerry Washington and Elisabeth Moss, is produced by 20th Television and will get $12.5 million.
Apple Studios is also getting another $10.7 million to film an untitled TV series.
Disney was the big winner this round, with four projects totaling $43.5 million in tax credits.
Universal was awarded another $10.4 million for “The Burbs” under the state’s $150 million program to incentivize the construction of soundstages. The Universal lot expansion is so far the only project to benefit from the program, with $46 million total going to three shows filmed on the lot, the others being “Suits L.A.” and two seasons of “Quantum Leap.”
Also on the list is “L.A. Nights,” a show from HBO that snagged $19.4 million.
The full list:
TV shows:
“L.A. Nights,” HBO (Cooler Waters Productions), $19.4 million
Untitled Apple Studios series, Apple Studios, $10.7 million
“Bad Monkey” Season 2, Warner Bros. Discovery, $20.6 million
“Imperfect Women,” 20th Television, $12.5 million
Untitled Disney+ miniseries, Disney, $14.7 million
“Kate’s Story,” Kate’s Story LLC, $875,000
LCS Season 1, LCS Productions, $3 million
Film:
Untitled 20th Century film, 20th Century Productions, $5.9 million
“Whalefall,” Disney, $10.4 million
Soundstage:
“The Burbs” Season 1, Universal, $10.4 million