California announces nine new television projects under expanded tax credit program

LOS ANGELES:- California Governor Gavin Newsom has awarded tax credits—more than double the usual amount—to nine television projects, including seven new series, through the California Film Commission’s recently expanded film and television tax credit program.

The programs receiving these credits are expected to generate $608 million in direct production spending across the state, create jobs supported by 1,014 filming days, and successfully bring significant investment to the creative community.

New television projects will tell compelling stories and feature A-list talent. The lineup includes a *Clueless* sequel produced by CBS Studios for Paramount+; a reboot of *The Rockford Files* and Jamie Lee Curtis’s new series *Newlyweds* (starring Téa Leoni and Tim Daly)—both from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group; and *Ascent* from Paramount Television Studios (also for Paramount+)—a project featuring Emmy and Academy Award-winning star Viola Davis.

The expanded program continues to deliver significant results for California’s creative economy. In the program’s first year, 170 projects were completed and $6.6 billion was spent on direct production; additionally, an 82% increase in the number of applications was observed compared to the previous year.

Governor Gavin Newsom said, “California has been a pioneer in film and television production. With the expanded Film & Television Tax Credit program, we’re able to shine a spotlight on the talent and creativity the Golden State has to offer, while also generating new jobs and fair wages. Just as it did in its first year, the second year of the expanded tax credit plans to continue exceeding expectations, and generate billions in economic activity — solidifying California’s competitive edge in entertainment and expanding opportunities for today’s workforce.”

According to FilmLA, the television sector—considered a primary source of employment and overall shoot days in Los Angeles—recorded 1,607 shoot days in the second quarter, marking a 34.4% increase compared to the previous quarter. TV dramas saw a 55.1% rise compared to the first quarter, with productions supported by tax credit programs accounting for 38.3% of the total shoot days in this category.

Tax-incentive-backed TV dramas filmed last quarter included highly anticipated reboots of ‘Baywatch’ (FOX) and ‘Prison Break’ (Hulu), as well as new seasons of ‘Ballard’ (Amazon) and ‘The Night Agent’ (Netflix).

The nine television projects selected today will generate $608 million in direct production spending in California, comprising $498 million in qualified spending and $291 million in qualified wages; they will provide jobs for 3,000 cast and crew members and 25,000 background actors, and involve a total of 1,014 filming days in California.

“The second year of Program 4.0 is off to an outstanding start, proving that California is the undisputed hub for high-end television,” said California Film Commission Director Colleen Bell. “Beloved stories like ‘The Rockford Files’ and ‘Clueless’ will be filmed right here in California.”

“I am very grateful to be able to tell the next chapter of the story of Cher—the character from *Clueless*—and the city where it all began. Los Angeles has been through a lot over the years, but the city is resilient,” said Alicia Silverstone, star and executive producer of *Clueless*.

“When productions stay here, it supports the thousands of artists, crew members, craftspeople, and small businesses that make this city what it is. *Clueless* belongs in Los Angeles. You can’t recreate this city anywhere else, and I’m excited to bring Cher home. It’s my home too, and the fact that I’ll get to be close to my son is an added bonus.”

“Southern California has long been home to CBS Studios, and we are proud to continue investing in the local creative community and production talent that bring our stories to life,” said David Stapf, President of CBS Studios.

“We are grateful to the California Film Commission for making it possible to produce *Matlock*, *NCIS: Origins*, and now the upcoming seasons of *Clueless* in Los Angeles. This support helps sustain California’s creative workforce, strengthen the local economy, and further showcase the extraordinary talent of our state’s artists and crews who entertain audiences around the world.”

“California is as iconic to *The Rockford Files* as James Garner is,” said David Boreanaz, star of *The Rockford Files*. “I am deeply humbled and grateful to bring this series to California, to celebrate the show’s roots, and to carry the torch moving forward.”

Several major superstars have new projects in the works, including Academy and Emmy Award winner Viola Davis with *Ascent*, and Academy and Emmy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis with *Newlyweds*.

“I am incredibly excited about this journey with the great John Logan. We hit the jackpot with this! I became an artist because of work where both the story and the character are bold, awe-inspiring, and deeply unique,” ​​said Viola Davis, star and executive producer of *Ascent*.

“Moreover, what I do—and being able to balance that with my life as a mother—is incredibly significant. That is why receiving the California tax credit is more than just the ‘cherry on top’; it is a lifeline for me and for countless artists and crew members. At JuVee, we are deeply grateful to John Logan, Michael Aguilar, Paramount, and the California Film Commission. We are ready to create magic!”

“As a woman born and raised in Los Angeles, I am very grateful that my new project, *Newlyweds*, has received the California tax credit,” said Jamie Lee Curtis, executive producer and star of *Newlyweds*. “I began my career as a contract player at Universal in 1977, and this tax incentive allows our production—based at Universal—to hire and employ hundreds of LA-based union crew members and helps keep productions here.”

The recurring programs awarded today include new seasons of *S.W.A.T.: Exiles* (Sony Television) and *Love Comes Softly*. The untitled Florida project (Netflix), the untitled DET Project 51 (Disney Entertainment Television), and the untitled Amazon project (Amazon) are the final three award recipients.

The California Film Commission (CFC) administers the film and television tax credit program. Earlier this year, the state government more than doubled California’s film and television tax credit program, increasing it from $330 million to $750 million.

Since its inception in 2009, California’s film and television tax credit program has generated over $33.1 billion in economic activity and supported more than 237,000 jobs for artists and crew members across the state. Over the years, the tax credits awarded are projected to yield $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP, and $8.60 in wages.

The expanded program is expected to maintain California’s competitive edge in the creative economy by prioritizing workforce diversity provisions, additional funding for career pathway training programs, and the nation’s first production safety program.