Just read that Netflix received a $41 million UK government subsidy to shoot the new Knives Out film in London instead of New York. This seems to be part of a growing trend — the UK has seen a 7.6% increase in money from foreign studios — and I know it’s not just happening here. Other countries are becoming more financially attractive to major productions than Hollywood.
My question is: as actors, how do you feel about this shift?
For those of you based in the U.S., how do you feel about Netflix series and films being shot abroad? Do you worry it could mean fewer opportunities for U.S.-based performers? Or do you see potential positives — in how different countries, cultures, and environments might influence the storytelling and performances we see on screen?
Here is the article https://nypost.com/2025/10/29/media/uk-paid-41m-to-shoot-new-knives-out-...
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I worry it could mean fewer opportunities for U.S.-based performers, Alexandra Stevens, and it already has. I also see the potential positives you pointed out.
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I think I’m more worried about or should I say if I was with them for that situation I would be more pissed off with the fact that which I’m sure they didn’t offer me nearly as much that they made that and I put all my brand, an talent into the fing movie. i’m not sure how weird I should be about them shooting over there. An ultimately people over in the UK are banning BBC because they have to pay for the networking which is why you’re seeing a higher number of actors from the UK.
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Hi Alexandra Stevens !! :) great question and legit concerns. On the other hand, it may mean that all those British actors we've been hiring to act with their perfect American accents won't need to commute to the States as much ;)
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I do think it means fewer opportunities for U.S. based performers, especially for non A listers. The non union actors may be able to leverage this more than a regular SAGAFTRA actor which is 99% of SAG members.
This reminds me of when Obama was president and there was a big push to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. The savvier states, may leverage this as an opportunity to take production away from California and New York. Though New York just passed the biggest incentives package, so I am surprised Knives Out was lured away. RB talked about this a few weeks ago.
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Maurice Vaughan I see your point. I'm also wondering, as a screenwriter, how would you feel if say one of your scripts was made into a movie that had UK actors? How important is the nationality of the actor to the scripts you write?
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Crystal Rollen thanks for your opinion. I think it is a good question to consider where the money actually goes, and how much of these big budgets reach the actors themselves.
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Great questions, Alexandra Stevens. I usually write scripts that actors from anywhere can play.
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Suzanne Bronson Appreciate this. I dug in and it looks like the third Knives Out filmed in London because the UK’s new Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit gives a net 25.5% cash rebate on UK spend, which reportedly shaved about $41m off the budget by doubling London for NYC. NY’s credit is strong (30%, with up to 40% in certain counties), but that extra bump only kicks in if you do >50% of principal photography days in those counties—so it’s not apples to apples. Add in UK studio/stage incentives and the director’s comfort shooting in London, and the UK won on both cost and logistics. Can't help feeling a little victorious although I appreciate it is potentially not good news for US actors so I also empathise
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Sebastian Tudores haha true! It makes me wonder so many Brits have such good US accents. Is it training, willingness to learn out of necessity, or being exposed to a lot of US films. Do you think U.S. actors could (or should) be taught to do the same the other way round?
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Absolutely Alexandra Stevens accents are part of any acting training. If you go to a conservatory they teach standard stage speech and the phonetic alphabet. You can learn any accent from there. I did have to learn a cockney accent once. I don't remember for what show. From my understanding, an American accent is harder to do than British or Australian.
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Suzanne Bronson ooh look forward to hearing your cockney accent :)
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hey Alexandra Stevens ! yeah - for sure, all actors looking to broaden their craft should at least 'attempt' accents. And that is offered as part of most professional programs. Of course, I don't think nowadays, with access to productions globally, having the ability to do foreign accents is as much of a factor, but accents are also regional, right? :)