Apple TV series ‘Bad Monkey,’ set in the Florida Keys, lured by $20.6 million tax credit to film in California

“Bad Monkey,” the upcoming Apple Original comedy from award-winning executive producer Bill Lawrence and starring and executive produced by Vince Vaughn, will premiere globally on Apple TV+ on August 14, 2024.
Apple’s hit comedy series “Bad Monkey” has been renewed for a second season.

“Bad Monkey” embodies Florida through and through — set in the Keys, adapted from Carl Hiaasen’s novel, and with its first season fully filmed on location in the state.

That’s shifting for Season 2.

The Apple TV+ series starring Vince Vaughn is relocating principal production to California, drawn by a substantial $20.6 million tax credit from the California Film Commission. While the bulk of filming (including interiors and soundstage work) will take place in the Los Angeles area, some exterior shots are expected to return to Florida to preserve the story’s authentic Florida Keys vibe.

Gene Maddaus for Variety:

The tax allocation was one of 10 announced Wednesday, totaling $108.6 million.

California awards $330 million a year in tax credits to film and TV shows. Gov. Gavin Newsom said in October he will push to increase it to $750 million a year in the next budget, as crews continue to struggle with a lackluster recovery from the 2023 strikes.

“We are working hard to keep productions filming in California,” said Colleen Bell, the director of the California Film Commission, in a press release…

Another Apple TV+ show, “Imperfect Women,” will also get a tax credit to film in Los Angeles. That show, starring Kerry Washington and Elisabeth Moss, is produced by 20th Television and will get $12.5 million.

Apple Studios is also getting another $10.7 million to film an untitled TV series.

Disney was the big winner this round, with four projects totaling $43.5 million in tax credits.

Also on the list is “L.A. Nights,” a show from HBO that snagged $19.4 million.


MacDailyNews Note: California is facing an estimated $17.7 billion budget deficit. In contrast, Florida has a surplus of approximately $15.7 billion.



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3 Comments

  1. So let me get this straight: California taxes, regs, energy costs are so out of control, Newsom and his Democrats in Government take hard working people’s tax money, and then then choose winners and losers by doling it out to shows and movies they like, benefiting a few while leaving the people of the state struggling and destitute.

    Brilliant.

    Look at how much money they had to do bad monkey to justify them not filming in Florida and staying in California where they have studios infrastructure and everything… It just shows you how out of whack California is.

    But if the people of California keep voting in Democrats, so be it Jedi. Those people will continue slitting their on throats until the state implodes. It is very, very close right now….

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  2. Weird question? Why does the film, tv and gaming industry get special “tax credits” EVERYWHERE — California, Florida, Oregon, Ontario, BC, Quebec, Italy, Europe, Asia etc. IS it to save “creative talent” to keep us mesemerized and stupified? I get it that other industry get these crazy subsidies from the USG and State Level but just curious why the entertainment industry gets it’s special treatment. Could never understand this? If it costs so much money to make a money which could bust, but create an industry of “jobs”, do we have too many bad movies or movies in general or something else…

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