After the state of Georgia recently passed restrictive new voting laws that sparked controversy, Atlanta-based companies such as Coca-Cola and Delta Airlines have spoken out against the legislation. As for show business, Antoine Fuqua and Will Smith pulled their production off the runaway slave drama Emancipation of the state. But it sounds like Disney and Marvel Studios won’t follow suit.
Black Panther II director Ryan Coogler wrote a statement announcing that the Marvel Studios sequel will still be filmed in Atlanta, following in the footsteps of many Marvel Cinematic Universe productions over the years. Although the director strongly opposes the controversial voting laws, he explained why the production is not moving from Georgia to take a stand against the law.
Ryan Coogler wrote an op-ed that he shared with Shadow and Act, clarifying his views on the voting laws recently passed in Georgia. Coogler said, “As an African American, and as a citizen, I oppose all attempts, explicitly and otherwise, to shrink the electorate and reduce access to the ballot paper,” adding that he was “deeply disappointed” in passing the new laws. So why did he choose to keep Black Panther II production in Georgia? Coogler added:
“Having spoken to voting rights activists in the state, I have come to understand that many of the people who work on my film, including all the local vendors and businesses we hire, are the same people who will be the victims of SB202. For those reasons, I will not get involved in a boycott of Georgia. What I’m going to do is use my vote to highlight the effects of SB202, its shameful roots in Jim Crow, and do all I can to support organizations here in the state fighting against voter oppression. “
Rather than just leaving Georgia behind, he will support those voters who would lose the right to vote because of these new voting laws and will actively work to fight these changes and encourage an overthrow of the bill through the government. .
Coogler’s decision seems to be in line with that of a fellow filmmaker Tyler Perry, whose production studio is also located squarely in Atlanta. While Perry called the electoral laws unconstitutional, he also reminded people of all the political progress that had been made in the state, as shown in last year’s election. It is possible that more good could be done by staying in the state and creating a new tidal wave of support for candidates who would support fair voting laws.
This is also a noble act on the part of Coogler, because while moving production Black Panther II would certainly make a statement, it would also harm those who rely on production for a salary. A huge production like Black Panther II will employ many Georgian citizens and generate income for local businesses, and Coogler doesn’t want to hurt people affected by the new voting laws even more by harming the economy there. Still, it would be nice if The Walt Disney Company spoke out on the matter and donated to a group like Fair Fight Action, which Ryan Coogler will do in an effort to undo these restrictive new laws.
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