Plans to expand Tyler Perry Studios are underway in Atlanta, with company representatives confirming that sound stages will be built on the land. Tyler Perry Studios currently has twelve sound stages in operation that are rented out to film production teams.
In December 2022, media mogul Tyler Perry finalized the $8.4 million purchase of an additional 37 acres of Fort McPherson, the former Army base has transformed much of into his studio. Now, seven work permits were filed in early May to build several new sound stages and additional office space on the property, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports.
According to Forbes, Perry is one of the highest-paid entertainers in the world and as of February 2023, he has a net worth of $1 billion. Perry’s income is derived from his stake in the video-on-demand service BET+, Tyler Perry Studios, as well as various film productions such as the Madea franchise.
Always With A Vision To Expand
Perry purchased a large portion of the former Fort McPherson Army base in 2015 for $30 million. Located in southwest Atlanta, his 330-acre studio lot features one of the largest production facilities in the United States, a motion picture studio, 12 sound stages, 40 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 200 acres of green space, and a series of sets that include a prison yard, chapel, hospital, a bank, baseball fields, coffee shop, diner, farmhouse, and cabin. A replica of the White House is prominently featured in the television series “The Oval.”
There’s also a six-lane highway that was built specifically for car chases and drag races. Additional backlots are used for scenes set in urban Europe.
When Perry purchased the initial 330 acres of land in 2015, he always had a dream of further expanding his business.
At a BET Awards event, Perry told the audience, “While you’re fighting for a seat at the table, I’ll be down in Atlanta building my own.”
Five years later, Perry was ready to build an entertainment district that would allow fans to visit the property. He envisioned a 3,000-seat movie theater, restaurants, and a museum.
And although Perry is moving forward with the immediate addition of sound stages, plans for the entertainment district remain in the design stages.
