New Jersey officials held a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Bayonne for 1888 Studios, a new film and television production campus developed in partnership with Paramount. The event marked the start of construction on a large-scale entertainment facility planned on a former industrial waterfront site.
- 1888 Studios in Bayonne will be the largest film and TV production facility in the Northeast, featuring 23 sound stages across a 1.6-million-square-foot campus.
- Paramount has signed a minimum 10-year lease, committing more than 285,000 square feet and establishing a major production hub in New Jersey.
- The project is expected to create more than 4,300 jobs and strengthen New Jersey’s growing reputation as “Hollywood East.”
Location, Size, and Development Timeline
1888 Studios is being built on a waterfront property in Bayonne, New Jersey, on land previously used for oil refineries. The site spans between 58 and 60 acres and has completed full environmental remediation. During cleanup, the land was raised by about 18 feet using clean soil. State officials confirmed the remediation process is finished, and the studio complex is expected to be completed within the next two to three years.
The project will total 1.6 million square feet once finished. It will be the largest film and television production facility in the Northeast and one of the largest in the country. The site is located less than 30 minutes from Manhattan and falls within the 25-mile union radius of Columbus Circle. Due to this proximity, film productions have already begun shooting at the location.
Studio Design and Production Capacity
The campus was designed by global architecture firm Gensler and is being developed by Togus Urban Renewal. Project renderings show an art deco design intended to echo imagery from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
The completed facility will contain more than 1.1 million square feet of production space. Plans include 23 sound stages with minimum 40-foot clear ceilings, along with production support areas, flexible post-production space, offices, mills, base camp and backlot areas, and lighting and grip facilities. The campus layout is structured to support every phase of film and television production at one site.
The studio’s name, 1888 Studios, comes from the year Thomas Edison filed a preliminary patent for an early motion picture camera in New Jersey, linking the project to the state’s early role in film history.
Paramount’s Lease and Industry Commitment
Paramount has signed a minimum 10-year lease at 1888 Studios and will occupy more than 285,000 square feet of the campus. Through New Jersey’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit program, Paramount has received Studio Partner status for the project.
Andy Gordon, chief strategy officer and chief operating officer for Paramount, said the company’s expansion into New Jersey supports its long-term strategy to scale production and grow its slate of entertainment. He said Paramount is investing in the United States and the region to support job creation and economic growth, pointing to New Jersey’s competitive tax credit programs as a key factor that has drawn production to the tri-state area.
Tax Credits and Economic Activity
New Jersey provides film and television productions tax rebates ranging from 35% to 40% for eligible expenses and hiring. The Film and Digital Media Tax Credit program was expanded in 2025, giving the New Jersey Economic Development Authority the authority to designate three Studio Partners and three Film-Lease Partner Facilities tied to large infrastructure commitments.
Governor Phil Murphy said the state receives about $7 in economic activity for every $1 spent on incentive programs. The 1888 Studios project is expected to generate more than 4,300 jobs, including at least 2,300 construction positions and about 2,000 jobs connected to ongoing studio operations and related activity. Construction of the campus will be completed by union workers.
Community Response in Bayonne
The development has drawn attention throughout Bayonne. Residents have raised concerns about possible effects on rent levels, while local business owners have spoken about the opportunity created by increased activity tied to film production. A Bayonne restaurant owner said visiting production crews and actors could bring new customers and additional visibility to local businesses.
Additional Studio Projects Across New Jersey
1888 Studios joins other large film and television developments currently underway in New Jersey. Netflix is building a multi-phase East Coast production hub at Fort Monmouth. The $903 million project spans 289 acres across Oceanport and Eatontown and includes several sound stages. The development required approvals from officials in both municipalities and has been planned over several years.
Lionsgate Newark Studios is also under development. The project involves a $125 million, 300,000-square-foot film and television studio planned for the former site of the Seth Boyden Court public housing complex in Newark’s industrial South Ward. Construction on the Lionsgate facility began last week, and the studio is scheduled to open in 2027. In 2022, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority granted Lionsgate studio partner status under the Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act, giving the company access to tax credits.
Statewide Expansion of Film and Television Production
Governor Phil Murphy described New Jersey as an innovative economy where film, television, and digital media continue to grow. He said the state has become a globally significant competitor in the entertainment industry through the arrival of world-class studios, the creation of high-quality jobs, infrastructure development, and economic growth across communities.
With construction underway in Bayonne and continued development in Fort Monmouth and Newark, New Jersey’s role in film and television production continues to expand across the East Coast.
