Hollywood River Studios: Inside Wood River’s Planned $95 Million Film Campus

An underused business park in Wood River could eventually become one of the largest film and television production campuses in the St. Louis region.

Hollywood River Studios is moving forward with plans for soundstages, production offices, equipment facilities and an esports arena on approximately 105 acres of the former EnviroTech Business Park. The complete redevelopment has been estimated at roughly $95 million, while the first phase—expected to include three soundstages and an esports facility—has more recently been described as an approximately $62 million investment.

The project has already passed several important milestones. Wood River has approved the property transaction and redevelopment agreement, crews have cleared portions of the site, and Hollywood River Studios has established a separate production-support operation at America’s Central Port in Granite City.

However, the Wood River soundstages are not yet operational, and no publicly available announcement confirms that vertical building construction has begun. The developer’s most recently reported goal was to begin construction around August 2026 and potentially host productions as early as summer 2027.

That makes Hollywood River Studios a significant Metro East development to follow—but one that is still moving from approvals and site preparation toward actual construction.

Hollywood River Studios at a Glance

Hollywood River Studios is planned as a regional campus for film, television, streaming, digital media and esports production.

The current proposal includes:

• Three soundstages during the initial phase
• Potential expansion to as many as six soundstages
• Production and studio offices
• Dressing, editing, catering and crew-support areas
• Warehouse and equipment space
• An approximately 10,000- to 12,000-square-foot esports arena
• Parking and staging areas for production trucks and trailers
• Possible podcast studios and hospitality components in later phases

The campus is being developed by WR Farm Investments LLC, doing business as Hollywood River Studios. Christopher Breakwell, who previously worked with 31st Street Studios in Pittsburgh, has served as the project’s president, CEO and primary public spokesperson.

The company’s broader strategy is to combine Illinois production facilities and film incentives with the variety of exterior filming locations available throughout the St. Louis region. Productions could use neighborhoods, downtown streets, industrial areas and historic architecture on either side of the Mississippi River, then complete interior work inside the planned Wood River soundstages.

Is This a $62 Million or $95 Million Film Studio?

Both numbers have been used publicly, but they appear to describe different versions or portions of the project.

When Hollywood River Studios was introduced in June 2025, it was widely reported as an approximately $62 million development with up to six soundstages and an esports arena.

By February 2026, the redevelopment package approved by the Wood River City Council had grown to an estimated $95 million. City discussions described approximately $84 million associated with the main business-park development and roughly $11 million connected to the possible acquisition or redevelopment of three neighboring properties identified as Winchester, ABB Optical and Royal Oaks.

In June 2026, Breakwell again used the $62 million number, this time to describe the first phase of construction: three initial soundstages and the esports facility.

The clearest way to describe the project today is:

Hollywood River Studios is a planned $95 million redevelopment with an approximately $62 million first phase.

The larger estimate may include additional land, later construction phases, equipment and other long-term components that would not necessarily be part of the first buildings constructed.

A complete public line-item budget has not been released, so the relationship between every part of the $62 million and $95 million estimates is not fully documented. Both figures should continue to be identified as project estimates rather than money that has already been spent or fully secured.

What Is Planned for the Wood River Campus?

The central component is a group of professional soundstages capable of supporting film, television, streaming and commercial productions.

The Hollywood River Studios website currently describes six approximately 24,000-square-foot production facilities, totaling about 144,000 square feet of stage space. Its development timeline indicates that three stages would be constructed first, with expansion to six based on production demand.

Other public reports have described different configurations, including four smaller soundstages and one larger stage designed for more substantial productions. That variation suggests the site plan has continued to evolve.

Until final building permits and construction drawings are released, the most defensible description is that Hollywood River Studios plans to build three initial soundstages with the potential to expand to as many as six.

The campus is also expected to include production offices, dressing areas, editing space, catering facilities, equipment storage and large areas for crew vehicles, trucks and trailers.

An esports arena has remained part of the proposal since the project was introduced. Its reported size has ranged from approximately 10,000 to 12,000 square feet. The facility could host gaming competitions and events that bring participants and visitors into the region even when film productions are not using the soundstages.

Podcast studios and a high-end hotel have also appeared in descriptions of the broader concept. Those elements appear to be longer-term possibilities rather than confirmed components of the initial $62 million phase.

Where the Project Stands as of July 27, 2026

Hollywood River Studios has moved well beyond an early idea, but it has not yet reached the point where completed soundstages are rising from the site.

Wood River opened the original development proposal in June 2025. The initial offer for the property was $500,000, but the final reported purchase price increased to $1 million.

The City Council authorized the property sale in July 2025 and unanimously approved an amended redevelopment agreement in February 2026. The closing was scheduled for February 20, and subsequent reports have treated the transaction as finalized.

Crews began clearing trees and preparing portions of the site in March 2026. That work was accelerated because of an April 1 environmental deadline connected to the endangered Indiana bat’s seasonal roosting period.

This activity represents legitimate site preparation, but it is different from constructing the soundstage buildings themselves.

As of July 27, 2026, no publicly indexed announcement confirms:

• Foundations being poured
• Structural or vertical construction beginning
• Final building permits being issued
• A general contractor being selected
• A construction loan closing
• Final architectural plans being released
• A film or television production booking the campus

The latest reported construction target was tentatively August 2026. That means the project is moving toward building construction, but describing the soundstages themselves as fully under construction would currently overstate the publicly confirmed progress.

Could Television Shows Be Filming in Wood River in 2027?

The developer has targeted approximately summer 2027 for the first three soundstages and esports facility to become operational.

If construction begins on the latest stated schedule and proceeds without major delays, Hollywood River Studios could potentially begin hosting productions during 2027.

That timeline is possible, but it is not guaranteed.

The project’s anticipated groundbreaking has changed several times. Earlier targets included late 2025, January 2026 and April 2026 before the schedule shifted toward August. Wetlands, easements, environmental reviews and site-plan changes have all affected the process.

Breakwell has said the company has received interest from smaller and mid-level production companies, including companies involved in episodic television. No television series, movie, streaming project or major studio tenant has been publicly confirmed for the Wood River campus.

For now, the most accurate statement is that Hollywood River Studios could begin hosting productions as early as 2027 if construction proceeds according to the current timeline.

The Granite City Connection

Hollywood River Studios already has a physical presence in the Metro East through a separate facility at America’s Central Port in Granite City.

The company has leased Building 203 at 1521 West Third Street, approximately two miles from downtown St. Louis. America’s Central Port formally welcomed Hollywood River Studios as a tenant on June 8, 2026.

The former U.S. Army maintenance building contains approximately 50,000 to 55,000 square feet. The Port has rehabilitated the property with a new roof, updated doors and windows, improved lighting and refreshed office areas.

Rather than serving as a replacement for the Wood River soundstages, the Granite City building is intended to function as a production base camp.

It could support:

• Equipment and material storage
• Production trucks and trailers
• Rigging equipment
• Vehicles used during location shoots
• Crew staging
• Possible limited interior filming

Its location gives productions quick access to downtown St. Louis and filming locations throughout the region. A production could stage equipment in Granite City, film exterior scenes in Missouri or Illinois and eventually complete interior work at the Wood River campus.

The lease gives Hollywood River Studios an operating foothold before the permanent soundstages open. It does not, however, confirm that a specific movie or television show has already booked the company’s facilities.

How the Public Incentives Work

The Wood River redevelopment agreement includes substantial public incentives, but the structure is more complicated than the headline numbers may suggest.

The agreement establishes a maximum of approximately $50 million in tax increment financing reimbursements. That is not a $50 million upfront payment from the city.

Instead, the arrangement is structured as pay-as-you-go financing. The developer must first create eligible development expenses and new taxable property value. As the applicable properties generate additional property-tax revenue, a portion of that new increment can reimburse documented, legally eligible costs.

Under the agreement described in City Council discussions:

• The developer receives 90% of the new increment available for eligible reimbursement.
• The city retains 10%.
• Reimbursement depends on new tax revenue actually being generated.
• The developer must provide receipts and documentation.
• Payments cannot exceed verified eligible expenses.
• The agreement’s $50 million cap does not guarantee that the full amount will be paid.

The city also approved an incentive of approximately $100,000 for each completed production-studio building, up to six buildings and a maximum of $600,000.

Wood River retains an option to repurchase the property for up to ten years if the developer does not move forward with the development. City officials have emphasized that if construction and new taxable value are not created, TIF reimbursements do not occur.

Public information does not include a complete private-financing package for the development. Breakwell has referred to private equity and investors, but no publicly accessible construction-loan agreement or complete funding commitment has been identified.

Why Illinois Film Incentives Matter

Illinois expanded its film-production incentives for accredited projects beginning on or after July 1, 2025.

Qualifying productions may receive credits tied to eligible Illinois spending, Illinois vendors and resident labor. Additional incentives can apply to certain work performed outside the Chicago-area counties, qualifying television series that relocate to Illinois and certified green productions.

That regional component could help the Metro East compete for productions. A company may be able to use Illinois soundstages and crews while still taking advantage of locations and infrastructure across the broader St. Louis region.

The distinction is important: these incentives generally benefit qualifying film and television productions after they meet state requirements. They do not automatically provide construction funding for Hollywood River Studios itself.

The state production credit and Wood River’s local TIF agreement are separate programs serving different purposes.

Jobs and Potential Economic Impact

Hollywood River Studios could create economic activity extending well beyond the soundstages if the campus is completed and consistently attracts productions.

Film and television projects require crews, set builders, electricians, drivers, security teams, caterers, wardrobe professionals, hair and makeup artists, equipment suppliers and numerous other specialized services.

Productions also create temporary demand for hotels, furnished rentals, restaurants, transportation and local vendors. An esports facility could bring a different type of visitor through competitions and organized events.

Public job projections have varied considerably.

Early estimates included approximately 150 permanent positions and 300 temporary jobs. Later projections mentioned roughly 500 permanent jobs, 300 construction jobs and between 300 and 500 workers connected to an individual production. The developer’s website has promoted the potential for more than 1,000 permanent jobs.

These are developer projections, not independently verified employment guarantees. The differences may reflect different development phases or definitions of direct, permanent and production-supported work.

The realistic economic impact will depend on more than the number of buildings constructed. It will depend on how frequently the stages are booked, the size of the productions, how much spending stays within the region and whether a lasting local production workforce develops.

There could also be a housing component over time. Longer productions may create demand for temporary accommodations, rentals and relocation services for workers coming into the region. That possibility should not be treated as guaranteed growth in home values or housing demand before productions are actually secured.

What Could Still Delay or Change the Project?

Environmental and site conditions have already influenced the Hollywood River Studios timeline.

The original January 2026 groundbreaking goal was delayed as the city and developer addressed wetlands and easement questions involving the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Local reporting indicated that the Corps was seeking an easement affecting nearly 30 acres and that the development plan was adjusted.

Tree clearing also had to be completed before the April 1 Indiana bat habitat deadline.

Additional details remain unresolved or have not been made publicly available, including:

• Final environmental permit conditions
• Wetland impacts
• Stormwater and drainage plans
• Utility-extension costs
• Road improvements
• Final building permits
• Contractor selection
• Complete construction financing
• Final stage sizes and configuration
• Potential acquisition of neighboring properties
• Confirmed tenants and production bookings

These questions do not mean the project will not proceed. They do show why projected construction and opening dates should continue to be treated as targets rather than guarantees.

What Hollywood River Studios Could Mean for the Metro East

The former EnviroTech site has long represented a large redevelopment opportunity for Wood River. Converting it into an active production campus would introduce an industry that has historically had a limited permanent presence in the Metro East.

The location could also help connect two regional advantages: Illinois’ production incentives and the variety of filming locations found throughout the St. Louis area.

A successful campus could create new opportunities for contractors, production workers, hospitality businesses, transportation providers and local vendors. It could also give filmmakers a reason to view the Metro East as more than a filming location by providing the infrastructure needed to base an entire production here.

For local residents, the project is worth watching because of its size, public incentives and potential regional reach. But the next phase will matter more than the initial announcement.

The key measure of progress will be whether Hollywood River Studios converts approvals, land clearing and development agreements into permitted buildings, completed soundstages and signed production commitments.

What Happens Next?

Hollywood River Studios has completed several meaningful early steps.

Wood River approved the land transaction and redevelopment agreement. Site clearing has occurred. The company has leased and opened a production-support base in Granite City. The broader development has grown into an estimated $95 million proposal, with approximately $62 million now associated with the initial three soundstages and esports facility.

The project is still transitioning from planning and preparation into vertical construction.

The next developments to watch include:

• Confirmation that building construction has begun
• Issuance of building permits
• Selection of a general contractor
• Release of final Phase 1 plans
• Updates to the summer 2027 timeline
• Announcements of film, television or streaming productions
• Confirmed studio tenants or long-term bookings

If those milestones occur, Wood River could begin hosting film or television production as early as 2027. Until then, the campus should be described as a substantial, city-approved development moving toward construction—not as a completed studio or a guaranteed future home for television shows.

618 Homes will continue following Hollywood River Studios and the other major developments shaping Wood River and the Metro East.

Follow @618_homes for local development updates, or explore more Metro East news and real estate insights at 618homes.net.

Sources and Further Reading

• City of Wood River Council Minutes: June 16, 2025
• City of Wood River Council Minutes: July 7, 2025
• City of Wood River Council Minutes: February 17, 2026
• Hollywood River Studios official project website
• America’s Central Port: Hollywood River Studios welcome announcement
• America’s Central Port: July 2026 Port Report
• Illinois Department of Revenue film-production credit guidance
• The Telegraph coverage of the Wood River land sale, redevelopment agreement, site clearing and Granite City warehouse
• St. Louis Magazine coverage of the project’s $62 million first phase and summer 2027 target
• RiverBender and Illinois Business Journal coverage of the project’s development timeline