The Lionsgate Entertainment film about the life of Michael Jackson is on track to break records for spending under California’s film tax credit program.
“Michael”, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Michael Jackson’s nephew Jaafar Jackson. is projected to spend $120 million on crew wages and vendors, according to the California Film Commission, which administers the state’s film and TV tax credit program.
California has allocated $21.1 million in tax credits to the Santa Monica-based studio for “Michael.” That exceeds other top spenders in the state tax credit program for features from previous years, including Walt Disney Co.‘s “Captain Marvel” ($119 million) Paramount’s “Bumblebee” ($102 million) and Netflix’s “The Gray Man” ($102 million).
The California Film Commission said “Michael” is among 24 independent and studio film projects selected for the latest round of the state tax credits. Those features will generate an estimated $423 million in “qualified” spending and $662 million in overall spending across California, the group said.
The production will have a cast of 65 and 300 crew members, and is expected to film over 80 days in California, primarily in Santa Barbara.
“The program is an important tool for maintaining our competitiveness and curbing runaway production,” California Film Commission Executive Director Colleen Bell said in a statement. “We are working harder than ever to keep entertainment production here in California, where it belongs.”
