Disney's CEO says it'll be 'difficult' filming in Georgia if abortion law stands

Georgia's controversial anti-abortion bill has led to Disney rethinking its investments in the state.

In an interview with Reuters on Wednesday, Disney CEO Bob Iger said it would be "very difficult" for the company to film in Georgia if the law comes into place.

"I rather doubt we will," Iger told the news outlet. "I think many people who work for us will not want to work there, and we will have to heed their wishes in that regard. Right now we are watching it very carefully."

Iger added that if the law takes effect, which is slated for Jan. 1 if it survives a court challenge, he said, "I don't see how it's practical for us to continue to shoot there."

Georgia has been the location for shooting Disney films such as Avengers: Endgame and Black Panther, with the state offering an attractive tax credit for film and TV productions.

Disney's stance comes after Netflix's chief content officer, Ted Sarandos, told Variety it would work with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to fight the law, and that it would consider pulling out of any filming in Georgia if the law became a reality.

"Given the legislation has not yet been implemented, we’ll continue to film there, while also supporting partners and artists who choose not to," he told the outlet. "Should it ever come into effect, we’d rethink our entire investment in Georgia."

The bill, HB 481, was signed in by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp on May 7. It would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which could be as early as six weeks into pregnancy. Women can currently undergo the procedure up until 20 weeks of pregnancy.

The ACLU has vowed it would fight the bill in court, as has been done so in other states which have passed similarly restrictive abortion laws.