Illinois looks to snag new productions as major shows wrap
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NBC's "Chicago Fire" shoots a scene in Chicago. Photo: Adrian S Burrows Sr/NBC via Getty Images
Illinois is pushing hard to hold onto its title as the "Hollywood of the Midwest."
Why it matters: Gov. JB Pritzker and industry leaders are working to stay competitive in the race for big-budget productions.
The big picture: Pritzker signed a new film incentive program into law at the end of 2025, extending tax credits for productions shot in the state and increasing them from 30% to 35%.
- The package goes further, with additional incentives for hiring locally and a 5% bonus for environmentally friendly productions.
- It also lowers the entry for productions to be eligible for credits from $100,000 to $50,000, which could attract more indie projects.
- State officials say Illinois now offers more aggressive incentives than any other state — even California.
By the numbers: It seems to be working. Production spending hit a record $703 million in 2025, up 25% from pre-pandemic levels.
- Industry wages rose from $350 million in 2019 to $401 million in 2025, while local hires increased from 15,200 to 18,100.
- Pritzker said 90% of production in Illinois is driven by the state's tax incentives.
Case in point: Dick Wolf's "Chicago" franchise ("Chicago PD," "Chicago Fire," "Chicago Med") has brought in over $2 billion for the local economy since 2011.
What they're saying: "I'm looking forward to seeing all the incredible work that will be produced right here in the Hollywood of the Midwest," Pritzker said at a March news conference.
Friction point: Despite the banner year, Illinois is losing several major productions in 2026 that were key economic drivers last year.
- FX's "The Bear" wrapped its fifth and final season.
- Showtime's "The Chi" is slated to end after eight seasons.
State of play: The Illinois Production Alliance is actively recruiting new projects and recently went with a delegation to Los Angeles to promote the state's incentives and production infrastructure, including Cinespace Studios in North Lawndale and the new Field Studios in Avondale.
- "The delegation experienced positive enthusiasm from studios and content creators who have Illinois on their radar screens to bring future productions here," Illinois Production Alliance's Executive Director Christine Dudley tells Axios.
Zoom in: Illinois isn't alone in the incentives race.
- California recently expanded its own tax credits to retain productions.
- New Jersey has invested heavily in new soundstages, attracting companies like Netflix, Paramount and Lionsgate — part of its push to strengthen its "Hollywood East" brand.
- Georgia, Texas and New Mexico have also boosted incentives.
Zoom out: While Illinois is pushing for more production, it has a long way to go to catch California and New York. Illinois ranked seventh globally in producing U.S. scripted TV in 2024.
The bottom line: With several major productions ending, Illinois is ramping up incentives and outreach to keep film production rooted in the Midwest.