Golden State in the spotlight: Governor Newsom announces nine new TV projects – including iconic reboots, sequels, and star-studded dramas – to launch second year of California's expanded tax credit program

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Aug 10, 2026

Golden State in the spotlight: Governor Newsom announces nine new TV projects – including iconic reboots, sequels, and star-studded dramas – to launch second year of California's expanded tax credit program

Clueless sequel and The Rockford Files reboot among awarded projects that include major productions featuring Academy Award-winning stars Jamie Lee Curtis and Viola Davis

What you need to know: The Golden State continues to create economic activity and jobs, with Governor Newsom announcing a diverse slate of nine television projects awarded through the second year of the expansion of the California's Film & Television Tax Credit Program, delivering $608 million in economic activity across the state..

SACRAMENTO – As if California wasn't already the entertainment capital of the world, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced that nine television projects, including 7 new series, have been awarded tax credits through the California Film Commission's recently expanded Film & Television Tax Credit. These productions, which will generate $608 million in direct production spending across the state, are expected to account for 1,014 filming days, successfully bringing needed good-paying jobs and meaningful investment to the creative community.

New television projects coming to the Golden State will tell quintessential California stories and feature A-list talent. The lineup includes a sequel to Clueless, produced by CBS Studios for Paramount+; a reboot of The Rockford Files and Jamie Lee Curtis' new series Newlyweds, starring Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, both from Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group; and Ascent from Paramount Television Studios also for Paramount+, marking the return to television of Emmy and Academy Award-winning star Viola Davis

Credit: Celeste Sloman/ AB + DM

California has been a pioneer in film and television production. With the expanded Film & Television Tax Credit program, we're able to shine a spotlight on the talent and creativity the Golden State has to offer, while also generating new jobs and fair wages. Just as it did in its first year, the second year of the expanded tax credit plans to continue exceeding expectations, and generate billions in economic activity — solidifying California's competitive edge in entertainment and expanding opportunities for today's workforce.

Governor Gavin Newsom

California's expanded program enters year two with strong momentum

Entering its second year, the expanded program continues to deliver significant results for California's creative economy. The first year of the expanded program delivered 170 projects and $6.6 billion in direct production spend, with application volume growing by 82% compared to the previous year.

This momentum is reflected in recent industry activity. According to FilmLA, the Television category, viewed as traditionally the largest driver of employment and overall shoot days in Los Angeles, was up 34.4% in Q2 over the prior quarter, posting 1,607 shoot days. TV dramas picked up 55.1% over Q1, with productions supported by the tax credit program accounting for 38.3% of shoot days in this category.

Tax credit-supported TV dramas filming on location this past quarter included highly anticipated reboots of Baywatch (FOX) and Prison Break (Hulu), alongside returning seasons of Ballard (Amazon) and The Night Agent (Netflix).

The nine television projects awarded today underscore the program's vital role in supporting California's economy with:
  • $608 million in direct production spending in California
  • $498 million in qualified spend (inclusive of qualified wages)
  • $291 million in qualified wages
  • 3,000 cast and crew jobs
  • 25,000 background performers (measured in days worked)
  • 1,014 total California shooting days

"Year two of Program 4.0 is off to a phenomenal start, proving that California remains the undeniable home for premium television," said Colleen Bell, Director of the California Film Commission. "Beloved stories like The Rockford Files and Clueless can only be filmed here in California, where they belong, and by partnering with award-winning talent, we are honoring our state's rich entertainment legacy by fueling its future. These nine projects represent thousands of high-quality jobs for our world-class local crews and will inject hundreds of millions of dollars directly into our state's economy. This is exactly what the expansion of our tax credit program was designed to achieve and we are thrilled to continue to see its impact."

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New TV shows driven by iconic California-set stories

This round highlights a strong focus on nostalgic California narratives. Modern classic film Clueless was the ultimate Los Angeles story, and star Alicia Silverstone is embarking on a new chapter for the franchise as a television series. In addition, The Rockford Files, famously set against Malibu's picturesque coastline, gets a reboot with star David Boreanaz.

Credit: Getty/ Paramount/ Kristen Burns/ Austin Hargrave

"I'm so grateful that Clueless gets to tell Cher's next chapter in the city where her story began. Los Angeles has been through so much over the past several years, but the city is resilient," said Alicia Silverstone, Star and Executive Producer of Clueless. "When productions stay here, it supports thousands of artists, crew members, craftspeople, and small businesses who make this city what it is. Clueless belongs in Los Angeles. You simply can't recreate this city anywhere else, and I'm excited to bring Cher home. The fact that it's also my home and I will get to stay close to my son is an added gift."

"Southern California has long been home to CBS Studios, and we're proud to continue investing in the local creative community and production talent who bring our stories to life," said David Stapf, President of CBS Studios. "We're grateful to the California Film Commission for making it possible to produce returning seasons of Matlock, NCIS: Origins, and now Clueless in Los Angeles. This support helps sustain California's creative workforce, strengthens the local economy, and further showcases the extraordinary talent of our state's cast and crews who entertain audiences around the world."

"California is as iconic as James Garner is to The Rockford Files," said David Boreanaz, Star of The Rockford Files. "I'm so humbled and grateful to bring this series to California and celebrate the show's roots and carry the torch going forward."

Two award-winning stars return with new projects

Several major superstars have new projects, including Academy and Emmy Award winner Viola Davis in Ascent, and Academy Award and Emmy Award winner Jamie Lee Curtis in Newlyweds.

"I am overwhelmingly excited about this journey with the great John Logan. We won the lottery with this one! Work in which both story and character are bold, awe inspiring and deeply unique is why I became an artist," said Viola Davis, Star and Executive Producer of Ascent. "Also, doing what I do is made greater or worse by being able to have the balance of my life as a mom. So, to be given the California Tax Credit is more than the 'cherry on top;' it's a lifeline for me and a countless number of cast and crew. We at JuVee are deeply grateful to John Logan, Michael Aguilar, Paramount and the California Film Commission. We are ready to create magic!"

"As a born and raised Los Angelina, I am so appreciative that my new show, Newlyweds, will be receiving the California tax credit," said Jamie Lee Curtis, Executive Producer and Very Special Guest Star of Newlyweds. "I started my career as a contract player at Universal in 1977 and this tax incentive allows our production, back here at Universal, to keep hiring and employing hundreds of highly skilled LA-based, Union crew members and helps keep productions here. Thank you CA Film Commission!"

Recurring shows awarded today include new seasons of S.W.A.T. Exiles (Sony Television) and Love Come Softly. Untitled Florida project (Netflix), Untitled DET Project 51 (Disney Entertainment Television) and Untitled Amazon project (Amazon) are the final three awardees.

Credit: Sony Pictures Television

About California's Film & Television Tax Credit Program

The California Film Commission (CFC) administers the Film & Television Tax Credit Program. Earlier this year, the Governor more than doubled California's Film and Television Tax Credit program — from $330 million to $750 million — and implemented key updates to keep production, below-the-line jobs, and investment rooted in California.

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Since its inception in 2009, California's Film & Television Tax Credit Program has generated over $33.1 billion in economic activity and supported more than 237,000 cast and crew jobs across the state. In years past, for every dollar of tax credit awarded, California has seen massive returns — $24.40 in economic output, $16.14 in GDP and $8.60 in wages.

The expanded program — now one of the largest capped film incentives in the nation — maintains California's competitive edge in the creative economy while continuing to prioritize workforce diversity provisions, more funding for the Career Pathways Training Program, and the nation's first Safety on Production Pilot Program.

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