Despite intense calls to boycott Georgia over the state’s recently approved pro-life law, Hollywood icon Clint Eastwood is set to begin production on a new movie in the Peach State this summer.
The so-called “heartbeat bill,” which was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp (R) last month, prohibits abortion after a heartbeat has been detected, usually around six weeks into pregnancy.
At the behest of actor and activist Alyssa Milano, Hollywood elites began pledging to stop filming in the southern state unless the courts overturn the law. In a letter to Kemp, Milano described the legislation as “dangerous and deeply flawed.”
Regardless, the right-leaning Eastwood is moving forward with production of his upcoming movie, “The Ballad of Richard Jewell,” chronicling the real-life story of the security guard who, during the 1996 Olympics, discovered a pipe bomb in a knapsack at a park near the Olympic grounds.
The movie features stars Olivia Wilde, Jon Hamm, Kathy Bates, Sam Rockwell, and Ian Gomez. None of the film’s actors have spoken out yet on Eastwood’s decision.
In an interview last month with Faithwire, Pure Flix CEO Greg Gudorf described Georgia as “a great place to film” and said the faith-based company plans to continue producing content in the state, known as the “Hollywood of the South.”
“Our Pure Flix vision is, quite frankly, to influence culture for Christ through media,” he explained. “We state that, we share that with our investors, our employees. It’s in our marketing material. For us to not be [in Georgia] — or to withdraw from being there — certainly is not in line with our company vision.”
Gudorf also rebuked Hollywood celebrities for boycotting the state, arguing those who are protesting the state’s pro-life law and refusing to work in Georgia are saying the conversation over the morality of abortion is “not worth having.”