Georgia Loses First Productions Over New Abortion Law

ATLANTA -- Two upcoming productions in Georgia are the state's first entertainment casualties in the fight over the newly signed abortion law. Amazon's series "The Power" is the first TV production to leave Georgia after Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Heartbeat Bill. Emmy-winning director Reed Morano is pulling the Amazon series from shooting in Georgia. Also, actress Kristin Wiig and her collaborator, Annie Mumolo, have canceled shoots in Georgia for their upcoming film "Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar."

Both cancellations, as reported by Fox News, are the first productions to cancel shoots in Georgia after the bill, which mostly outlaws abortions after six weeks, was signed earlier this month. It takes effect in 2020.

Until recently, the Hollywood uproar to the bill has been limited to mostly lesser known stars and small production companies, but over the weekend one of Hollywood's biggest names entered the controversy. Oscar-winning director Ron Howard said he would boycott Georgia if the bill goes into effect next year.

The bill, authored by a suburban Atlanta Republican lawmaker, outlaws most abortions after about six weeks, which is when a fetal heartbeat is usually first detected. It would allow abortions in cases where the mother's life or health is in danger, or in cases of medical emergency. It also says an unborn child at any stage of development in the womb would be included in state population-based counts.

Two metro county district attorneys, Paul Howard of Fulton County and Cobb County Acting DA John Melvin, have both said they won't prosecute women under the new law.

Until now, no film or production company now doing business in Georgia has announced they are ceasing any projects in the wake of the new law. Alyssa Milano, herself one of the bill's strongest opponents, is still filming the Netflix series "Insatiable" in Georgia because, she told BuzzFeed News, she is contractually obligated to do so.

Hollywood executive JJ Abrams and his company, Bad Robot, along with Jordan Peele and Monkeypaw Productions, are filming an upcoming HBO series in Georgia. The companies are donating all proceeds from "Lovecraft Country" to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams' organization, Fair Fight Georgia, and the ACLU of Georgia.

Full coverage from Patch:

• Ron Howard, Brian Glazer To Boycott GA If Abortion Bill Stands
  
• Alyssa Milano: Don't Have Sex Until GA's Abortion Law Is Dumped
• One Of Nation's Toughest Abortion Bills Signed Into Law In GA
• Hollywood Threatens Boycott As GA Heartbeat Bill Is Approved
• Cobb Lawmakers Targeted For Opposing Heartbeat Bill
• Cobb-Led 'Heartbeat Bill' Clears Another Hurdle, Heads To Senate
• House Passes Cobb-Led Heartbeat Bill | Dems Shun Acworth Lawmaker
• Decatur Democrat Escorted From Podium In Abortion Debate