“Hollywood’s dying,” Dean Cain told Fox News Digital, adding that the industry has become “very woke” and that shift has hurt box-office appeal. Cain, best known for his role on Lois & Clark, said those cultural and commercial changes factored into his decision to leave California and make Nevada his home.
Dean Cain on Hollywood and wokeness
Cain framed his critique to Fox News Digital around how the creative and business sides of Hollywood have changed since his early television days. He said the industry’s embrace of what he described as a “woke” agenda has, in his view, narrowed audience appeal and contributed to weaker box-office returns for some major releases.
He also pointed to the fragmentation of distribution: streaming platforms, shorter theatrical windows and a surge in independent films and platform-driven content have changed how audiences discover work. Cain told Fox News Digital that these shifts and the cultural debates around content choices have altered the traditional pipeline between TV and major studio films.
Why he left California for Nevada
Cain told Fox News Digital his relocation was driven by a mix of policy, practical and family reasons. He cited California’s high taxes and growing regulations as personal and professional pressures that made staying less attractive. Cain said his parents had moved to Nevada earlier and that their move highlighted benefits such as a lower cost of living and no state income tax.
Beyond taxes and rules, Cain said Nevada offered a lifestyle and entertainment ecosystem that appealed to him: live concerts, sports, dining and a quieter base for developing independent projects. He described Nevada as providing many of the cultural amenities he values without what he sees as the burdensome environment he experienced in California.
Recent film work and new production hubs
Cain has remained active as an actor, writer and producer. Speaking to Fox News Digital, he noted recent shoots in Alabama and Texas and said the last movie he made in California was one he wrote, produced and directed. Much of his recent work, he emphasized, has been on independent films and location-driven projects outside the Los Angeles studio system.
He highlighted how states such as Alabama and Texas have become productive hubs for filmmakers, offering tax incentives, diverse locations and lower operating costs that attract both independent producers and studio shoots. Cain sees the rise of these regional production centers, along with platforms that finance and distribute smaller projects, as giving artists fresh pathways to make films without relying solely on Hollywood executives.
Politics and potential Nevada bids
Cain told Fox News Digital that he has been asked by Nevada residents to consider running for U.S. Senate and for governor. He stressed he is “not a career politician,” a phrase he used to underline his preference for public service by citizens rather than lifelong politicians. Cain said he would only consider a run if he believed he could make a meaningful difference for Nevadans.
He mentioned Governor Lombardo in the context of Nevada’s shifting political landscape and said the idea of a citizen stepping up to serve appealed to him more than traditional political ambition. Cain indicated any decision would require serious reflection about the responsibilities and expectations of elected office.
What this means for Hollywood and local film hubs
Cain’s move and comments reflect broader industry trends: production is increasingly mobile, and independent films and platform financing have reduced the gatekeeping role once dominated by Los Angeles. For writers, directors and actors, that can mean more opportunities to make work on location in states that actively court film business with incentives and infrastructure.
At the same time, Cain warned to Fox News Digital that talent departures and a perception of ideological homogeneity could complicate Hollywood’s efforts to recover broad mainstream audiences. He framed the growth of regional hubs not just as a business shift but as an opportunity for diverse voices to find an audience outside the legacy system.
What comes next
Cain plans to keep producing and acting in projects that can be mounted outside Hollywood’s traditional centers. He told Fox News Digital he’s focused on independent films and regionally based shoots while weighing any possible political involvement carefully. For now, his strategy appears to be leveraging Nevada as a base while traveling to shoots and remaining engaged with the changing marketplace for film and television.
FAQ
Q: Why did Dean Cain leave California?
A: Cain told Fox News Digital he left because of concerns about politics, high taxes and growing regulations, and because family ties in Nevada and lower costs made relocating attractive.
Q: Is Dean Cain running for office in Nevada?
A: Cain said he has been asked to run for U.S. Senate and for governor, but he emphasized he is not a career politician and would only consider a run if he believed he could help Nevadans.
Q: What does Cain mean when he says Hollywood is woke?
A: Cain used the term to describe cultural and creative shifts he sees in the industry, and he linked those shifts to diminished box-office returns and changing audience tastes. These are Cain’s views as stated to Fox News Digital.
Source: Fox News Digital — https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/dean-cain-says-hollywoods-woke-era-ending-well-look-back-say-stupid
