A Hollywood blockbuster and two modestly budgeted indie features spending an expected total of $56,641,718 filming throughout Michigan, have been approved by the Michigan Film Office to receive cash rebates of $13.7 million.
The big budget studio film heading for metro Detroit is Paramount’s “Beverly Hills Cop 4,” which plans to drop a $56.6 million spend in the state and will receive a rebate of $13.5 million.
Eddie Murphy reprises his role as cop Alex Foley, who has returned to his Detroit roots and pursues a murder investigation.
Brett Ratner directs and Jerry Bruckheimer produces. Release date is set for March, 2016.
Two other much lower key films – “Heartlock” and “Paid in Film” — also were approved for incentives. “Heartlock,” about the manipulative tactics used against prison guards by inmates, receives a rebate of $138,568 on a state spend of $503,150.
It stars Erik LaRay Harvey (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Alexander Dreymon (“American Horror Story”).
“Paid in Full” is a crime drama produced by Nipa Shah for $139,000 and receives $48,457 in incentives. It launches the acting career of Shah’s daughter, Nikki, who portrays an Indian-American law student who uncovers a sex trafficking ring while seeking to avenge the death of her young sister.
Director is loyal Michigan award-winning filmmaker Lance Kawas (“Fractured,” “Street Boss”) who wrote the screenplay based on a story by Marc Prey.
These three projects are expected to create more than 1,000 hires, with a full-time equivalent of 830 jobs.
According to the Michigan Film Office, 11 projects have been awarded $43.5 million in incentives thus far during fiscal year 2014.
Michigan’s $50 million incentives cap was recently approved by the legislature and is still taking a lot of heat from opponents as a giveaway to wealthy companies and individuals while the state fights bankruptcy.
