The big-budget slave drama "Emancipation" will no longer be filmed in Georgia.
Will Smith portrays a runaway slave in the drama. Antonine Fuqua is the director. The movie was scheduled to beginning filming in Georgia in June.
It's the first major film and television production to cite the state's new controversial voting law as the reason for cancelling a project.
Valued at $120 million, Apple Studios bought the project from Westbrook Inc., Smith's media company, and Fuqua Films.
Smith and Fuqua said in a joint statement Monday, "At this time, the Nation is coming to terms with its history and is attempting to eliminate
vestiges of institutional racism to achieve true racial justice." Smith and Fuqua also said, "We cannot in good conscience provide economic support to a government that enacts regressive voting laws that are designed to restrict voter access."
Georgia's new law, signed by Governor Brian Kemp on March 25, criminalizes handing out free food or water to people waiting in line to vote, shortens the time allowed for absentee voting, limits the use of drop boxes for absentee ballots, and requires identification for absentee voters.
The joint statement by Smith and Fuqua said, "The new Georgia voting laws are reminiscent of voting impediments that were passed at the end of Reconstruction to prevent many Americans from voting." Adding, "Regrettably, we feel commpelled to move our film production work from Georgia to another state."
MLB pulled its 2021 All-Star game from Georgia because of the law.