Overview
- Fremantle confirmed the show will shift production to the Atlanta area and is in final but unsigned talks with a local studio to film Season 25.
- Producers point to Georgia’s tax program, which offers up to a 30% credit for unscripted productions that spend a minimum in-state threshold, as the key financial reason for the move.
- Season 25 is expected to premiere in January 2027, and the current judges and host are widely reported likely to return while their contracts remain under negotiation.
- California’s recent expansion of tax credits (AB 1138) did not secure the series because American Idol did not qualify under the law’s eligibility rules.
- The decision follows steep declines in Los Angeles unscripted shoot days reported by FilmLA and adds to a broader trend of reality and game shows leaving L.A., a shift that could cost local crew and vendors seasonal work.