Several major studios, including NBCUniversal, Sony, Amazon, 20th Century Fox, and Apple, are bringing new movies to California after securing millions in state tax credits. On Wednesday, California announced incentives for 28 film projects aimed at keeping production in the state.
The biggest award went to rap legend Snoop Dogg’s upcoming biopic from Universal Pictures, directed by Hustle & Flow filmmaker Craig Brewer. The project received more than $17 million in tax credits. Outer Banks actor Jonathan Daviss is set to play Snoop Dogg in the lead role, with the film tracing the rapper’s journey to stardom.
Snoop praised the state for its support, saying, “Big love to the California Film Commission and Gov. Newsom for holdin’ it down with that tax credit. California raised me, inspired me, and now is helping bring this biopic to life in 2026.” The movie is scheduled to film for 50 days and is expected to spend over $48 million in California while employing dozens of cast members, nearly 200 crew members, and hundreds of background actors.
Other studios also received major incentives in this round. An untitled Apple Studios project secured $14 million in tax credits, while an Amazon Studios thriller earned $12 million. Most of the 28 approved films were independent productions, with only five coming from major studios. Among those, 20th Century’s Business Women received $9.3 million, while an untitled Sony feature produced by Glen Powell was awarded $9.9 million.
On the independent side, director Ang Lee’s Gold Mountain, a film centered on the California Gold Rush, received about $7.7 million in tax credits and will shoot primarily in Sacramento County. The production is expected to spend roughly $31 million in the state.
Another indie project, Guerrero, a Mexican-American boxing drama directed by Gina Rodriguez, was granted $4.4 million to film in Los Angeles. Producer Scott Budnick said, “This film is a love letter to a community that is woven into the fabric of our state, so it’s only right that we shoot this project here.”
State officials say the program is about more than movies. Gov. Gavin Newsom said the incentives are delivering real benefits, stating, “This latest round of tax credit awards builds on that legacy while delivering real results across the state: good-paying jobs, stronger local economies, and thriving small businesses.”
California Film Commission director Colleen Bell added that many of the selected projects are deeply tied to the state itself. “These aren’t just movies shooting here,” Bell said. “They’re also telling the stories of the places where they’re shooting.”
