Brice Wallace, Business Journal
Utah has once again been chosen for “The Chosen.”
The sixth season of the Amazon Prime series will be shot partially in Utah and has the most expected in-state spending of five productions recently approved for incentives by the Utah Board of Tourism Development.
The board’s March meeting featured details about the productions, which are expected to spend a total of more than $24 million in Utah. The incentives total up to $5.45 million.
“The Chosen” is a multi-season series about the life of Jesus Christ. Prime Video says it is the largest crowd-funded TV series or film project of all time with four of the seasons shot in Utah. Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, told the board that “The Chosen” has been a worldwide hit translated into more than 50 languages.
Just short of half of the sixth season will be shot in Utah, with the rest in Texas. Utah spending is estimated at nearly $11.4 million, with 79 cast and crew and 800 extras involved in production through June. All of the Utah shooting will take place in and around Utah County.
The tourism board approved a tax credit incentive of up to $2.27 million for “The Chosen,” split over two fiscal years.
The director is Dallas Jenkins. The producers are Chad Gundersen and Jamie Elliott.
“We love filming in Utah and are pleased to be back in Utah for another season of ‘The Chosen,’” said Brad Pelo, president of “The Chosen.” “The people are wonderful, the landscape is stunning, and the locations we use work perfectly.”
“We always have had an amazing experience in Utah. … We really just feel like every time we come back here, we’re coming home, which is an amazing feeling,” Elliott told the board.
Elliott said the production will not only have scenes with lots of extras, but about 600 people from outside of Utah will come into the state as a way for the production to reward its “super-fans.”
“We do give our fans an opportunity to come out and be with us,” she said, adding that they will need local hotels and restaurants and many bring their families for a subsequent vacation in the state.
“Some of these fans have participated before,” she said. “They love Utah.”
Steve Carell (“The Office,” “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” “Evan Almighty”) will star in another incentive-approved production, a yet-to-be-named HBO film. Other stars are Jason Schwartzman (“Rushmore,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “Asteroid City”), Cory Michael Smith (“Saturday Night”) and Ramy Youssef (“Ramy”).
The production is expected to spend more than $9.7 million in Utah through July, with the entirety shot in Summit County and employing 142 cast and crew and nine extras. The film will air on HBO and stream on Max.
The film was approved for a tax credit of up to $2.43 million, spread over two fiscal years.
Emmy winner and Oscar-nominated Jesse Armstrong is the writer, director and executive producer. He will be making his feature directorial debut — other producers are Frank Rich and Jill Footlick. Armstrong is most famous for creating and writing the HBO series “Succession.”
“Choosing Utah was one of the best decisions we made in setting up our film,” said Jay Roewe, senior vice president of HBO global incentives and production planning. “The scale and scope offered in its beautiful landscapes and uniquely modern locations have allowed us to seamlessly tell our larger-than-life story with the backdrop it deserves. We are grateful for the wonderful support of the Utah Film Commission, including the film incentive and outstanding local crew, and look forward to this being a very special and successful production.”
Hallmark Christmas movie star Lacey Chabert will perform in “Haul Out the Holly 3,” expected to spend $2.7 million during production through October entirely in Salt Lake County. Set during Halloween instead of Christmas, the film will employ 92 cast and crew and 300 extras. It was approved for a tax credit incentive of up to $675,000.
The director is Maclain Nelson (“Haul Out the Holly,” “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up”). The producers are David Wulf and Michael Goldstein.
“Utah continues to be an amazing home for family-friendly movies,” said Wulf. “This is the third installment of this iconic group of movies taking place in Utah’s incredible neighborhoods. A combination of this perfect neighborhood, the continued support from the Utah Film Commission, and Utah’s strong tradition with celebrating holidays — both Christmas and Halloween — make Utah the perfect home for this film.”
“Christmas Roses” is expected to spend $250,000 in Utah, being shot entirely in Utah County through July. It will involve 32 cast and crew and 100 extras and be released digitally via Candlelight Media Group. Its incentive is for up to $50,000.
The director/producer is John Lyde (“Love’s Portrait”). Other producers are Sally Meyer and Stacey Ann Turner.
“All the crew for this project, from production to post-production, hail from Utah,” Lyde said. “They are such a talented and dedicated group of filmmakers, and working with them makes the entire process run so much smoother.”
Another production to be shot entirely in Utah is the web series “Insult to Injury.” Shooting in Salt Lake and Utah counties, it will employ 24 cast and crew and 10 extras and spend $140,000 during production through June. Its incentive totals up to $28,000. The mockumentary-style take on a law firm is set to be released via YouTube.
The director is T.J. Packer. The producers are Michael Joe Silva and Charan Prabhakar.
“The professionalism of the crew and production value we’ve received is unmatched,” Packer said.
So far in fiscal year 2025, the tourism board has awarded more than $11.8 million in incentives for productions expected to have an economic impact of about $50.6 million.