WOOD RIVER - The City of Wood River broke ground on Hollywood River Studios.
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On Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, community members and partners gathered at the site of the future Hollywood River Studios for a groundbreaking ceremony. Leaders, including Wood River Mayor Tom Stalcup and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzer, agreed the investment in the Metro East is an exciting moment for Illinois.
“It’ll just bring in a lot more incentive for people to live here in Wood River, and plus help out our shops and our restaurants and everything throughout town,” Stalcup said. “We’re looking forward to it. It’s been a great group to work with. They’ve accommodated the city as much as they can, so we were very happy about it.”
Hollywood River Studios, located in the old Envirotech complex in Wood River, is a production facility that aims to grow the local film industry. Chris Breakwell, the studio’s CEO, predicts Hollywood River Studios will be a major spot for film production.
“This will be a destination in the State of Illinois for movies to come, for films from Paramount, Amazon, Netflix, and even the smaller independent producers,” he said. “This is going to be, really, the first step in bringing filming back from Europe to the United States, and it’s going to happen right here in Illinois. It’s a big deal. We’ve been losing entertainment jobs to Europe and Canada for years. This is the first step, and it’s right here in Wood River.”
Breakwell and Pritzker acknowledged that the state offers a Film Production Tax Credit and other similar programs, which encouraged the team to build the studio in Illinois. Breakwell praised Pritzker for his role in bringing these tax credits to the state.
In turn, Pritzker expressed his appreciation for the Hollywood River Studios team. He noted that many movies and television shows have been filmed in Illinois over the years. He emphasized the importance of investing in the Metro East community and “choosing” Illinois.
“It’s just a wonderful day for a celebration of a major new investment in the Metro East, and for a celebration of the growth of the Illinois film and television and entertainment industry for the state,” he said. “I want to thank the entire team at Hollywood River Studios for choosing Illinois, for choosing Metro East for this terrific project that really is bringing new investment and new jobs and new opportunity to the region. You’re putting the Metro East on the map as a destination for the next era of film and entertainment.”
Pritzker and Becky Locker with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity added that the studio will bring in “hundreds” of permanent jobs, not to mention additional business to local hotels, restaurants and other companies. This is a major goal of Locker’s department.
“This project is expected to create jobs, but the impact goes well beyond the people who will work within these sound stages,” she said. “Every production creates opportunities for local crew, skilled union workers, contractors, caterers, hotels, transportation providers, and countless other businesses. That’s the kind of economic activity we want to see in Illinois: investment that reaches beyond the project itself and into communities.”
Other speakers from Spantech, the company that will build the sound stages, and a few local leaders expressed their excitement to share Hollywood River Studios with the community. Stalcup added that the first building on the property will be built within six to eight months.
As the community waits to see the studios’ construction and the beginning of film production, leaders at Hollywood River Studios and beyond can’t wait to share their vision.
“Illinois is a well-known destination and originator of great TV and film productions, and the home state of some amazing and award-winning performers,” Pritzker added. “Creativity and passion for storytelling really does run deep in Illinois, and I feel we have a responsibility to share those stories with the world. This is also an industry in which we have an opportunity to be world-leading. So I’ve made it my mission from day one to give filmmakers every opportunity to bring their productions to Illinois while we create good jobs for our people.”
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