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I reported back on July 22nd that Marvel Studios intended to keep $600 million in productions in the Los Angeles area, especially if the state of California made it worth their while. 
"They're willing to make a commitment to keep all four productions here in town. They're looking for existing studio space right now," Jon Favreau told me at the time. Below is today's Marvel announcement that its next 4 movie productions as well as its corporate office space are moving to Raleigh Studios Manhattan Beach. Favreau wanted to keep Iron Man 2's $140 million production local because the family man has a clause in his contracts saying his shoots must stick close to home. He deserves kudos for leveraging his new-found clout for the greater good of the Hollywood community. Marvel, of course, only cares about the bottom line:
Los Angeles, CA (October 6, 2008) – As Marvel Studios, a subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment, Inc., powers up to begin production on its next highly anticipated slate of films, the studio has made an agreement with Raleigh Studios to film each of Marvel’s next four films at Raleigh’s facility in Manhattan Beach, CA. The four projects to be produced at the studio facility over the next three years include IRON MAN 2, THOR, THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA and THE AVENGERS. Keeping these four major tent pole film productions in Southern California allows the studio access to outstanding crews and resources and makes Marvel the largest tenant on the Raleigh lot. Additionally, Marvel Studios will move its Beverly Hills-based executive and production offices to Raleigh’s facility in Manhattan Beach.
“In making this deal with Raleigh to produce our upcoming films at the Manhattan Beach Studios, we are most excited about keeping our film production here in California and taking advantage of the best crews in the Los Angeles area,” stated Louis D’Esposito, Marvel’s President of Physical Production. “All of our production partners on these upcoming films have been incredibly accommodating in terms of their creativity and financial structures, allowing us to remain in California. Raleigh Studios has long been known for the superior quality of its film production facilities and we know that Manhattan Beach will be the ideal location to produce our movies to the highest standards that our fans expect.”
“We are thrilled that we were able to find a way to make this deal work for Marvel,” said Michael Moore, Raleigh Studios President. “We could not have asked for a greater compliment than having a quality company like Marvel put their faith in us to provide a home for its film productions.”
The Marvel live action releases to be filmed at Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios are scheduled to arrive in theaters beginning in 2010 and going through 2011. Specifically the release dates are IRON MAN 2 on May 7, 2010; THOR on July 16, 2010; THE FIRST AVENGER: CAPTAIN AMERICA on May 6, 2011; and THE AVENGERS on July 15, 2011.
Raleigh Manhattan Beach Studios first opened for operations during 1998. This studio consists of 14 sound stages on 22 acres with an additional 300,000 square feet of office and support space. As a result of this venture, Raleigh Studios along with its sister company Hollywood Rentals, are now the largest operator of independent film studio facilities and production services in North America.
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they should come to Missouri, instead of wasting their tax money in California, we Missourians are so bored with nothing to do.
I think it’s unfair to say that Marvel only cares about their bottom line. The cost-cutting emphasis is supposed to appeal to their shareholders lounging in Bellagio who don’t give a shit whether Hollywood productions stay local.
so now Marvel can locally move into sexy r-rated cable tv programming.
Spiderwoman, the series.
This is good news for California but isn’t Raleigh Studios non-union? Somebody correct me.
The State of California making it “worth their while”? Not while the libs who control the California legislature stay in control. Many, including Arnold, have asked for tax relief to keep production in Hollywood, as many other states have done. But the Dems say no. Raise taxes? Any way they can. Lower them? Never.
It’s good to see that someone the hollywood community in mind. Good for marvel.
With practically every other movie studio looking to film overseas or in Canada, I think it’s great Marvel is trying to keep their productions Stateside.
as a native of the south bay and as someone who works in the film industry, i am doubly happy for the news. the south bay is a gem with a lot to offer. but more importantly, keeping production within CALIFORNIA and the country should be priority. i say score one more for marvel.
Well, it may be good financially, but creatively, having every superhero flick potentially set in L.A. is BORING. I’m tired of the same scenery in every friggin movie.
“This is good news for California but isn’t Raleigh Studios non-union? Somebody correct me.”
It’s union. David Kelly’s been there for years, and CSI Miami and Medium are there now.
> Well, it may be good financially, but creatively, having every superhero flick potentially set in L.A. is BORING. I’m tired of the same scenery in every friggin movie.
Yeah. And all those characters are strongly associated with NYC in the comics themeselves…
Thanks for the correction, simon. I Goggled them and got the impression they were non-union. Go IA!
FAVREAU BETRAYS NEW YORK JUST WHEN IT NEEDS HIM.
Iron Man II unwittingly unvails US new “future riot control weapon” developed in the 80s and perfected by a real company SAI [2005 Annual Report DARPA CONTRACT].
Due to its deployment on this citizen as a cost for me to submit a verified report to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on 911, which may have been relieid upon [plus Enable Danger (Army Intelligence) and FBI Special close down to tract alleged terrorists] to remove our Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, as he who sign off to allow an Arab owened computer company access to Wright Patterson Air Force Base computers to “down load all the intelligence on all our airports [Lt. Col. Sam Fox, 6 week before 911].” I was BUSHwacked after angry Bush closed the Senate’s investigation on domestic surveillance, flew to Columbus, Ohio, to talk to Wendy’s International [read: to meet with my Congressman Mike DeWine, who serves on the Committee and who privately meets with me to “Thomas Mustric. I just want to thank you.”
HOwever, I was already BUSHwacked by the “Pentagon Ray Gun” which became public by 60 Minutes after I contacted them. tommustric@yahoo.com
HOW DID IRON MAN KNOW OF THIS WEAPON?
How did IRON man know of the “Pentagon Ray Gun” weapon developed by SAI before 60 Minutes made the weapon public?
Thank you, Mr. Favreau.
The Hollywood locals have been being crushed by the underbidding/tax credit bribery going on in the other states. The Callifornia budget crisis would be far less severe if more of the higher ups would recognize that keeping their neighbors working (and paying taxes) instead of collecting unemployment and losing their homes is in everyone’s best interest.