Utah will serve as the backdrop for five upcoming film productions — including a second season of “Marshals,” a spinoff of “Yellowstone.”
The Utah Film Commission announced Thursday the Utah Board of Tourism Development approved five new productions for state film incentives — further expanding Utah’s pipeline of upcoming projects and bolstering its reputation as an emerging film hub.
Together, the five upcoming productions are projected to carry an economic impact of $69.5 million and create 1,000 jobs across six counties, including Salt Lake, Utah, Toole, Summit, Wasatch and Washington counties, according to the Salt Lake Film Commission.
Among the approved productions is a second season of “Marshals,” a spinoff from the producers of “Yellowstone” that follows Kayce Dutton, portrayed by Luke Grimes, after he leaves the Yellowstone Ranch to join the U.S. Marshals.
“Utah has provided an incredible backdrop for ‘Marshals’ and we’re happy to be back in the state for season two,” Drew Brown, EVP of Production for Paramount Television Studios, shared in a statement.
“The support of the Utah Film Commission, through the incentive program, access to their vast local knowledge, and experienced crews, paired with the stunning and diverse landscapes the state has to offer, made it an easy choice to return to Utah for production.”
The approved slate also features a Hallmark film, “No Screens Christmas”; a Food Network series currently titled “Untitled Barbecue Competition”; the feature film “Las Vegas Therapy”; and the independent feature “Brotherhood: A Cinematic Musical.”
The 2026 Utah Legislature approved $3 million in ongoing funding for the Rural Film Incentive program. Over the last four years, participating productions have spent more than $200 million in 28 counties.
“The Utah Motion Picture Incentive Program is a vital factor in maintaining a film industry in the state,” Virginia Pearce, director of the Utah Film Commission, said in a statement.
She continued, “Not only do these productions utilize Utah’s iconic filming locations, but they directly invest in local communities and create significant economic benefits for residents and local businesses.”
Moving into 2027, Utah is ready for film production on a statewide level as all 29 counties are prepared to support productions with location, local coordination and community support, the commission announced in January.
“We’ve cultivated a thriving ecosystem of talent, infrastructure and incentives that will continue to attract filmmakers and productions to our beautiful state,” Pearce shared in a January statement.
Pearce added, “We remain focused on investing in a strong film industry, one that drives our creative economy and inspires the next generation of artists and audiences. We believe that Utah is a place full of innovation and creativity. We want to see that thrive and grow organically.”
Utah’s diverse landscape and neighborhoods have provided backdrop for thousands of movies and other film productions over the last century and continues to entice filmmakers.
High-profile films such as “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “Thelma & Louise,” “Footloose,” “Forrest Gump” and Marvel’s “Thunderbolts” were filmed in Utah, as well as dozens of Disney movies such as “High School Musical” and “The Luck of the Irish.”
During the last year, the Utah Film Commission announced more than 25 additional projects approved for state film incentives, including another installment of “The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City,” a seventh season of “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch,” a final season of “The Chosen” and several independent feature films.
How do film incentives in Utah work?
Utah offers two main film incentive programs — the Motion Picture Incentive Program and the Community Film Incentive Program — that both help productions stretch their budget by giving tax credits or cash rebates for money spent in the state, per the Utah Film Commission.
The Motion Picture Incentive Program
- Applies to big movies, documentaries and TV shows
- To qualify, 75% of cast and crew must be Utah residents and 75% of production days must occur in rural Utah
- Productions that qualify can earn a fully refundable tax credit of up to 25% of in-state spend
The Community Film Incentive Program
- Applies to smaller projects, particularly local filmmakers
- To qualify, the director, writer or producer must be a Utah resident and 85% of cast and crew must be Utah residents.
- Productions that qualify can earn a cash rebate of up to 20%
The incentive programs are not available for productions such as commercials or campaigns, infomercials, sporting events, news, live broadcasts or award shows.
Some of the other factors the Utah Film Commission considers before approving a production for an incentive program include: the number of jobs created in Utah, number of production days in Utah, local cast and crew wages, ability to highlight Utah as a tourist destination, whether the production reflects positively on Utah, and the production’s projected economic impact on Utah.