Hollywood River Studios celebrated its groundbreaking on October 5, 2026 in Wood River, Illinois, marking an important step toward establishing a new film and television production destination in the Metro East. Governor JB Pritzker joined local leaders and project partners to recognize the milestone.
As reported by the St. Louis Business Journal, the $62 million project will establish a production campus on approximately 100 acres. The development aims to attract film, television, and streaming projects seeking dedicated studio facilities and access to Illinois’ expanding film incentive programs.
Plans include six scalable soundstages with specialized acoustics, lighting, and infrastructure to support a range of production needs. These facilities will provide space for creative teams while opening opportunities for the crews, vendors, contractors, and local businesses that help bring productions to life.
As Hollywood River Studios takes shape, we look forward to seeing the campus become a setting for new stories, creative partnerships, and career opportunities close to the St. Louis Metro East area.
Lawrence Group serves as the architect of record in partnership with a Belgium-based construction company SpanTech, who will product modular soundstages. IMPACT Strategies serves as construction manager and IMEG as project engineer.