French billionaire Xavier Niel, co-founder of entertainment giant Media One, bought a former military airbase in France and converted it to a film studio called Studios de Reims.
The 48 hectares (119 acres) site is located in the Champagne region of northern France by a train that is approximately an hour from Paris.
The contract amounts to an estimated 72 million euros, with the French government giving 12 million euros.
Neil’s spokesman told a French newspaper Union The proposed facility created 250-300 jobs; “One Stop Shop” for filming movies and series.
The site, which has been vacant since 2011, features a 17,000m² film set, 28,000m² outdoor space, 22,412m² dressing room, workshops and storage areas.
Three phases of planned renovations are expected to continue until 2031, with the studio aiming to go into operation by 2026. Training schools for audiovisual vocations are also underway.
The new site has been caught up in the French government’s 54 billion euro “France 2030” plan. It aims to strengthen the country’s global production infrastructure.
Media One spokesman confirmed screen It is not the official investor of the planned studio, but it supports the renovation and eligibility of France 2030 State Aid. It plans to take part in the development, and producers of the group’s global companies say they can film there.
Other major studios in France include Studios de Paris and Breischerman Studios, adjacent to Paris, as well as other hubs to the south, such as Martig’s Studio de Provence.
Neil, who made his fortune through telecom and technology, co-founded Media One with Matthieu Pigasse and Pierre-Antoine Capton in 2015. Media One has over 85 film and television production labels in 14 countries.
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