TV series drive North Carolina's film resurgence

• This employs local industry professionals for longer periods.
• Popular Netflix series "The Hunting Wives," for instance, has returned for its second season of filming in the Charlotte area.

Driving the news: Early access to the premier episode of "Top Chef" season 23 will be on Peacock and Bravo's YouTube channel on Tuesday, March 3. The popular cooking show, which was filmed in Charlotte and Greenville, South Carolina, will air March 9 at 9pm on Bravo.

Between the lines: "Top Chef" might not be the biggest spender during production, but the hope is that it will ignite lingering interest in the Carolinas' food scene.

• "There certainly is a lot of anticipation on what it may do to ... (the) culinary scene and culinary travels here in the state," Gaster says.

Flashback: In the early 2000s, North Carolina offered a 25% refundable tax credit for productions that hit certain spending thresholds in the state. That's why, for a time, North Carolina was like a mini-Hollywood, hosting major productions such as "Talladega Nights," "Iron Man," "Homeland," and "The Hunger Games."

• In 2014, state lawmakers significantly lowered the cap on how much a project could get, leading to a production slowdown. The 2016 "bathroom bill" further hampered the industry.

By the numbers: Film and television production in North Carolina generated roughly $185.5 million in 2025 — the fourth-highest direct in-state spending since 2015, when the state's current film and entertainment grant program took effect.

• The record is $416 million in 2021, following pent-up demand from the pandemic.
• North Carolina is punching above its weight, Gaster says, adding that the projects filming here are starting to get bigger distribution and notoriety.
• North Carolina offers a 25% rebate to qualifying productions filming here.
• "Top Chef," one of 11 projects to receive rebates from the state, got $2.5 million. A total of 38 projects were filmed in North Carolina across 45 counties last year.

The latest: So far in 2026, productions have spent $73 million in North Carolina.

• In addition to "The Hunting Wives" filming in Charlotte and the highly anticipated premiere of "Top Chef Carolinas", reality series "Married at First Sight," which is from the producers behind "Love Is Blind," is casting in Charlotte.

Zoom out: The biggest competition in filming right now isn't other states. It's international locations, Gaster says, adding that Canada is a huge draw.

• "We're seeing a rise in production that is being made for domestic consumption, but is being filmed [overseas]," Gaster says. He also points to locations like the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, plus Australia and New Zealand, as popular production destinations.

Yes, but: Derek Cianfrance, director and co-writer of "Roofman," which was filmed in Charlotte and based on events in the city, didn't heed the advice of anyone who tried to convince him to film in cheaper locations like Bulgaria or South Africa.

The big picture: Filming in North Carolina generates thousands of jobs (7,000 in North Carolina last year) and puts a major spotlight on the state.

What we're watching: Several projects filmed in North Carolina will air this year.

• "Beast Games" Season 2, a reality competition filmed in eastern North Carolina, is now available on Prime Video.
• "Top Chef" Season 23 airs March 9.
• "RJ Decker," a new ABC drama filmed in the Wilmington area, airs March 3.
• "The Hunting Wives" Season 2 will air later this year.
• "A Grand Biltmore Christmas," which is being filmed at the Biltmore, will air before the holidays on Hallmark Channel.