{
  "id": 6699270,
  "title": "Josh Hartnett would welcome more film production in Los Angeles",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/josh-hartnett-would-welcome-more-film-production-in-los-angeles",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-10T21:02:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/09/10/josh-hartnett-would-welcome-more-film-production-in-los-angeles/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Josh Hartnett, the actor starring in the Netflix miniseries \"Below,\" expressed his support for more film production returning to Los Angeles. However, he did not align himself with President Donald Trump's efforts to bring the industry back to the United States. Hartnett made these remarks during an interview ahead of the Toronto International Film Festival premiere of \"Below,\" alongside co-star Mackenzie Davis.\n\nIn January, Trump called for Congress to approve federal tax incentives to encourage film and television production in the U.S. He argued that productions have been moving to Canada and other countries, labeling it a \"national security threat.\" He even proposed a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the U.S. in May 2025. However, a formal policy has not yet been enacted.\n\nFilmLA, an organization tracking film production for the city's film office, reported in April that there were still challenges to bringing filming and jobs back to Los Angeles. The report for the first quarter of 2026 showed 5,121 \"shoot days\" in the city, an improvement from the previous quarter but a 3.3% decrease from the same period last year. Hartnett acknowledged that the drop in production in Los Angeles has made it difficult for many film and TV workers to sustain the culture that once existed there.\n\nDespite these concerns, Hartnett enjoys working around the world and believes that filming outside of Los Angeles has its own unique benefits. \"Below\" was shot in Newfoundland, and Hartnett praised the community's warm welcome and the opportunity to be immersed in the local culture. He emphasized that this experience adds depth to the work and changes the nature of the filming process. Hartnett has also worked in other countries such as Hong Kong, India, Australia, the Philippines, and the African continent.\n\nIn contrast, Mackenzie Davis, who plays marine researcher Fonda Howander in \"Below,\" was more critical of the Canada-U.S. trade war. She expressed pride in Prime Minister Mark Carney and Canadians for standing up to \"bullies,\" and credited them for pushing back against Trump's tariff proposal. Davis, who was filming in Newfoundland, witnessed a \"buy Canadian\" movement as American liquor and wine disappeared from store shelves. She expressed her love for Canada and her dislike for Trump. \"Below\" screens at TIFF on Thursday, Friday, and September 19, and streams globally on Netflix on October 8.",
  "summary": "TORONTO — Josh Hartnett says he'd welcome more film production returning to Los Angeles but stopped short of endorsing U.S. President Donald Trump's push to bring the industry home.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}