Central Casting launches nationwide extras services to match mobile productions

Central Casting, the century-old firm known for supplying extras to Hollywood, is expanding its background-casting operations to all 50 states, according to a statement released Thursday. The decision reflects the increasingly itinerant nature of film and television production, which now frequently shoots outside traditional centers like California, New York, New Jersey, Georgia and Louisiana. Vice president of casting Toni Avalos said the expansion will let clients move casting solutions alongside their productions, offering greater flexibility and creative oversight.

The company will now provide casting, payroll and compliance services nationwide, but its full-service "premium" model will stay limited to the original markets, while a "production-driven" service will be rolled out in states such as Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Productions spanning multiple states can blend the two service models. The move comes as 39 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico compete with tax-incentive packages, with Illinois and New Mexico reporting notable production spending in Q2 2026.