Colin Farrell Slams L.A. Tax Breaks, Sets Batman 2
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- Colin Farrell slammed Los Angeles tax incentives as 'suck[ing]' while celebrating the rare decision to shoot 'Sugar' Season 2 in the city, telling Variety the production was 'magic' thanks to crews that 'you won't find better' anywhere else.
- Executive producer Simon Kinberg echoed the criticism, saying L.A. rebates 'are not as competitive with other states and other countries' and credited Farrell for 'fighting really hard' to keep the show in the city — Kinberg noted his last L.A. project was his first film 25 years ago.
- Farrell attended a screening of Steven Spielberg's 'Disclosure Day' with 'Minority Report' co-star Tom Cruise and Dakota Fanning, holding a customized Spielberg popcorn bucket after Cruise sent personal invites to a few friends.
- Farrell said he starts shooting 'The Batman 2' in three to four weeks but downplayed his role, noting he will only appear in two scenes per a recent ScreenRant interview — a sharp contrast with the six months he spent in the Penguin suit on the HBO series.
- Asked about his alien role on 'Sugar,' Farrell said he believes 'sentient beings from distant lands… exist' and 'may move amongst us,' calling himself 'idealistic' for the thought.
Why it matters: Two high-profile creatives publicly agreeing that L.A. tax breaks are uncompetitive underscores the city's ongoing struggle to retain productions — a fight Kinberg says increasingly depends on a star like Farrell championing L.A. authenticity. For Warner Bros., Farrell's three-to-four-week Batman 2 start with a two-scene role signals a much leaner Penguin appearance than the six-month, show-defining stint that made him an awards-season breakout.
