Marvel Leaves Georgia for the U.K. – Why It’s Happening and How to Bring Productions Back to the U.S.
Marvel Studios has dropped a bombshell on Georgia’s film industry.
After years of calling Atlanta its unofficial home base and filming more than 20 projects there, from Avengers: Endgame to Captain America: Brave New World… the studio is packing up and heading overseas.
According to a report from the New York Post, Marvel is moving most of its future productions to the United Kingdom, a decision that has rattled Georgia’s once booming “Hollywood of the South.”
So why is this happening, and what would it take to keep blockbuster filmmaking in America? Let’s break it down. Because let’s face it, this isn’t the first studio to do this (DC Studios set up shop in Leavesden) and it won’t be the last.
Why Marvel Is Heading to the U.K.
The biggest reason Marvel is leaving Georgia is cost.
As the New York Post points out, rising wages and production expenses in Atlanta have made it cheaper to shoot in the United Kingdom. Georgia was once considered a bargain, but labor costs have climbed so high that the advantage has evaporated.
On top of that, Georgia’s famous 30% film tax credit… long the magnet for Hollywood blockbusters… isn’t unique anymore.
The U.K. offers equally competitive tax breaks, and when combined with lower operating expenses, Marvel isn’t sacrificing any financial benefits by moving overseas.
Labor and benefits are another factor. In Britain, crews are paid less on average, and studios don’t need to provide private health insurance since the NHS covers workers. That alone saves productions millions compared to the U.S. system, where healthcare costs fall on the studio.
Disney also has a strong foothold in London, having secured a long term lease on a massive studio complex. With ready made soundstages and infrastructure already in place, Marvel doesn’t need to worry about space shortages the way it does in Georgia.
Finally, this is part of a broader Hollywood shift.
Studios everywhere are scaling back, cutting costs, and chasing better deals.
Between 2022 and 2024, high budget U.S. productions dropped by nearly 30%, while the U.K. saw a 16% boost. Right now, the global production merry go round favors London… and Marvel is just the latest giant to hop on.
The Fallout for Georgia
As stated early, this isn’t just about Marvel. It’s about an entire industry in Georgia that boomed and then busted almost overnight.
In 2022, Georgia hosted 412 film and TV projects. By 2025, that number was down to about 245.
Marvel’s exit left once packed facilities like Trilith Studios sitting half empty. At the peak, studios were “fighting over stages daily.” Now, some of those stages are going dark.
Workers who built careers on Marvel shoots are scrambling. As one veteran told the Post, the industry downturn feels like “being a jilted lover.”
Georgia’s screen industry once supported about 20,000 jobs. With Marvel leaving, many of those jobs are now at risk.
What Needs to Change to Keep Productions in America
So how do we stop Hollywood’s biggest players from fleeing overseas?
It comes down to making the U.S. competitive again.
Boost Tax Credits Nationwide: States are already fighting back by expanding incentives. Texas, New Jersey, California, and New York have all tried to outdo each other. But without a federal incentive to match international rivals, studios will keep chasing the best deal abroad.
Tackle Healthcare and Benefit Costs: One of America’s biggest disadvantages is that studios have to pay for crew benefits. Policymakers could introduce subsidies or tax relief to help cover those costs or invest in reforms that make U.S. crews more cost-competitive.
Invest in Infrastructure: The U.S. still has unmatched production infrastructure, but expanding high tech facilities (like virtual production stages) could sweeten the pot. If studios know they’re getting the best tech and talent here, cost becomes less of a deterrent.
Clawback Provisions: Some lawmakers are floating “use it or lose it” clauses for tax credits. If studios take the incentives but then outsource future work, they could be forced to repay them. It’s a controversial idea, but it would stop companies from using states like Georgia as a short-term piggy bank.
Stronger Studio Union Partnerships: Keeping productions here isn’t just about government policy… it’s about cooperation. Studios and unions need to find creative compromises that protect jobs while cutting runaway costs.
Marvel’s move to the U.K. is not just a wake-up call to Georgia, but it should be to all locations around America.
Georgia built its film industry empire on generous tax breaks, but that wasn’t enough to keep Marvel once other factors like labor costs and healthcare came into play.
If the U.S. wants to keep being the home of blockbuster filmmaking, it needs to evolve. That means smarter incentives, more efficient costs, and better collaboration between states, studios, and workers.
Otherwise, the next era of Hollywood might not be in Hollywood or Georgia at all.
