‘Michael’ Sequel to Get $31 Million in California Tax Credits

Governor Gavin Newsom announced on CA.gov that 35 new films are slated for production in California, citing a surge in independent filmmaking and the return of iconic franchises. Among the projects, the sequel to ‘Michael’ is slated to receive $31 million in state tax credits, positioning the film to benefit financially from the state's incentive program. The credit reduces the sequel’s production costs, providing a direct financial gain for the studio.

Yahoo reported that a new Pixar film joins the ‘Michael’ sequel in receiving credits, while The Hollywood Reporter noted that Pixar, Lionsgate and Paramount together secured $100 million in California tax incentives. Deadline corroborated the inclusion of both the ‘Michael’ and ‘Friday’ sequels among the latest funded titles, underscoring a broader industry push to tap the state’s revived incentive pool. The announcements signal California’s competitive positioning against other states courting big‑budget productions.

Variety specified the $31 million figure for the ‘Michael’ sequel, whereas Yahoo’s earlier note mentioned the credit without an amount, and the $100 million sum reported by The Hollywood Reporter aggregates the incentives across multiple studios. No outlet contradicted the credit’s approval, and all sources confirm the funding round is active, leaving the ‘Michael’ sequel poised to move forward with state‑backed financing. The approved credits are expected to be applied to the films' upcoming fiscal year budgets.