Photo: Yahoo

---

SOURCE: Yahoo | Trey Brown
July 11th, 2025

DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Last summer saw “Superman” filming right here in Ohio and with the film now in theaters, excitement is sky-high.

The impact of the production settling in Cleveland for three weeks and Cincinnati for two days, will surely put a spotlight on Ohio’s film economy.

“This is a superhero born in Cleveland, out of the minds of Jerry Siegel and Joe Schuster,” says Bill Garvey, president of the Cleveland Film Commission. “It’s almost part of our cultural fabric.”

Bringing the film to Cleveland is something that the film commission considers one of its greatest accomplishments.

To do that, the commission, a small but mighty team, pitched the city as a viable place for the film to call home. Before a good pitch, though, there has to be a solid foundation to rest on.

“It starts with those relationships and understanding what the core of the story is and how do we best represent that in the locations we have here in Cleveland,” said Garvey. “And that becomes the core of our pitch.”

The process of pitching a studio to bring their film to a given city or state is a competitive one. In the U.S. alone, there are 38 states that offer motion picture tax credits. To risk oversimplifying, these credits ease the financial burden on a given production. There are also 106 countries around the world that offer similar incentives.

“So our job is, you know, yes, it’s a pretty important job at the beginning to compete against other jurisdictions that are going after the project,” said Garvey.

After a successful campaign, the Ohio Department of Development awarded “Superman” (under the codename “Genesis”) with an $11 million Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit last February.

With the production’s arrival, the Ohio Department of Development says that areas like Public Square, Progressive Field, The Cleveland Arcade, Cleveland City Hall and more were transformed into the venues of Metropolis.

Cincinnati also plays a part in the film’s Ohio roots, with the Lytle Tunnel on I-71 and the Cincy Museum Center each being places where the production filmed.

“This film brings our past and future together on the big screen, and invites the whole world to be part of something iconic — something truly made in Ohio,” says Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Department of Development.

“Ohio isn’t just in the background, it’s part of the story, and we’re proud to welcome anyone who wants to step into that story and experience these incredible locations in person,” says State Tourism Director Sarah Wickham.

Ultimately, with a film like “Superman” being made partly in Ohio, it reinforces the idea that local filmmakers can do that without leaving the state.

“This is an Ohio industry. We were at the very beginning of this industry,” Garvey affirms before referencing when Thomas Edison and Warner Brothers were making their paths.

“This is a career you can participate in right here in Ohio. These are high paying jobs that come with a pension and healthcare and they’re here.”

READ MORE