Sharon Stone follows instinct, ditches Mississippi movie plans over anti-LGBT law
Sharon Stone has ditched plans to make a movie in Mississippi over the state’s newly passed anti-LGBT law.
The Governor of Mississippi earlier this month signed House Bill 1523 – ignoring pleas from business leaders in the state.
The “religious freedom” bill allows discrimination across housing, employment and bathroom access.
The film, by Eyevox Entertainment, was set to film this summer in Mississippi.
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But the production, starring Stone and directed by James Cromwell, has seen plans to be made at Mississippi Film Studios be abandoned, said studio president Rick Moore.
The producers of the film stood by Stone in taking a stand against the state’s new law.
“Unfortunately, Sharon Stone feels strongly that shooting in Mississippi is not an option while the law exists,” Moore said.
“The other producers have chosen to regroup and find another location.”
Moore also told 16 WAPT news that he had heard of other productions making similar plans to move away from the state on the back of the law, which is set to take effect on 1 July.
It has been criticised for being arguably the worst “religious freedom” law so far, for effectively legalising discrimination against LGBT people.
Moore said he had seen an “immediate shift in conversation” about production companies looking at filming in the state.
“HB 1523 has stirred many passionate opinions, which has unfortunately slowed the momentum of the film industry,” he said. “The incentive is still strong to shoot in Mississippi, so I expect independent productions without A-list talent will still consider it an option.”
The bill was passed shortly after North Carolina’s HB2, which has seen artists like Ringo Starr and Bruce Springsteen cancel concerts. Both states have been warned that they may lose federal aid over the bills.
Bryan Adams earlier this week decided to cancel his concert in Mississippi over the bill.
Hundreds of business leaders have spoken out against the ‘religious freedom’ bills, with some moving staff and operations out of states which pass them
