The Movie Critic, Quentin Tarantino’s final picture, has received a $20 million California tax credit.
In a major victory for famed director Quentin Tarantino, his highly-anticipated project, temporarily titled The Movie Critic, has been granted a large subsidy for filming in the state of California.
California’s Film & TV tax credit program has awarded funding to 16 independent films, including $20,213,000 to The Movie Critic. Tarantino’s movie, also known as #10 because it is his tenth and final, is being produced by Tarantino’s own company, L. Driver Productions, and is expected to establish a new cost record, exceeding Lionsgate’s Michael Jackson biopic.
Tarantino expressed his excitement about filming in California, emphasizing his drive to conclude his career on home turf. He made a statement in which he stated, “I love shooting in California. I started directing movies here, and it is only fitting that I shoot my final motion picture in the cinema capital of the world. There is nothing like shooting in my hometown; the crews are the best I’ve ever worked with, and the locations are amazing.” It’s worth mentioning that Tarantino’s previous film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, received an $18 million subsidy against a total budget of $95 million.
The decision to offer these refundable bonuses was made in June in order to entice production companies to invest in California’s film industry. Notably, given their significant tax liabilities in the state, Disney and NBCUniversal stand to benefit the most from this provision.
Other Productions Have Received Large Subsidies
Other movies receiving subsidies include the Frank Sinatra biographical, Under My Skin, from Restless movies, Inc., which tops the list with $20.68 million, followed by an untitled Netflix film, which also receives $20 million. The total amount of subsidies for the selected projects is $77.8 million. The top three films will have greater budgets totaling up to $362 million in eligible spending, while the remaining 13 titles will have budgets totaling $102 million.
The Movie Critic would reportedly transport moviegoers to 1977 Southern California, centered on a pessimistic film critic inspired by the life of Pauline Kael, who significantly influenced Tarantino during his formative years. While no specifics about the movie’s plot, actors, or release date are known, the film was scheduled to begin production this year, but the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strikes appear to have halted production before it even began. Tarantino has also openly expressed interest in casting Bruce Willis in a role.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
