Series Overview
The Apple TV+ thriller Cape Fear is set to be filmed at Assembly Studios in Atlanta, Georgia stealing the production from neighboring North Carolina. The series, executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, will star Amy Adams and Javier Bardem. It is based on John D. MacDonald’s novel The Executioners, previously adapted into films in 1962 and 1991.
The ten-episode series follows Amanda (Adams) and Steve Bowden, a married couple whose lives are disrupted when Max Cady (Bardem), a convicted killer from their past, is released from prison. The series is categorized as a Hitchcockian thriller and examines America’s interest in true crime.
Filming Location and Industry Context
Filming will take place at Assembly Studios in Doraville, Georgia. The facility has become a key production hub due to its infrastructure and available tax incentives. Despite this, overall film and television production in Georgia and the U.S. has declined. Since the second quarter of 2023, Hollywood production volumes have decreased significantly. In the second quarter of 2024, production in the U.S. is down 40% compared to the same period in 2022. Lockdowns, strikes, and rising production costs have led many streaming services and studios to relocate productions overseas, particularly those with global distribution goals. Still its good news for the Film Industry in Georgia, especially because productions have increased recently in neighboring North Carolina and with Cape Fear being set in North Carolina one would think it would be filmed there. So this is good news for Georgia!
Production Details
Nick Antosca (The Act, Candy, A Friend of the Family) serves as the showrunner and executive producer. Additional executive producers include Spielberg, Scorsese, Alex Hedlund for Eat the Cat, and Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey for Amblin Television. The series is produced through Antosca’s overall deal at UCP, a division of Universal Studio Group.
While Cape Fear is among the productions still choosing Georgia as a filming location, the broader industry trend reflects a decline in U.S.-based productions. The shift is attributed to economic factors and evolving production strategies within the entertainment industry. Cape Fear is scheduled to premiere on Apple TV+.
