Movie studio partner signed

Jacoby Development announces that he has signed MBS3 of LA (home of James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment) to operate the proposed massive film studio at the old OFS optical fiber production plant at I-285 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

Jacoby Development announces that he has signed MBS3 of LA (home of James Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment) to operate the proposed massive film studio at the old OFS optical fiber production plant at I-285 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

A movie studio that has been pitched as the largest to be built in the Southeast took another step toward becoming reality Thursday when the developer announced a partnership with a management company responsible for producing The Avengers and the TV show “Revenge.”

MBS3, a Los Angeles company, will market, lease and manage the studio on I-85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard known as the Atlanta Media Campus.

“This is monumental,” said Chuck Warbington, director of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, where the studio is located. “This really makes the project real.”

The area, where OFS continues to make optical fibers, is a redevelopment catalyst for the county, Warbington said. The studio will have six sound stages, production offices, and a film school with student housing. The mixed-use development will also have a hotel, office and retail space. It is being developed by Jacoby Development, which redeveloped Atlantic Station and Porsche’s North American headquarters. The project is expected to close by the end of the year.

MBS3 said in a statement that it is investing in new equipment here, and will bring other inventory to support the growing market.

Georgia has seen a five-fold increase in production spending compared to 2008, when the state put in place some of the most lucrative film incentive programs in the country. Earlier this month, Tyler Perry announced plans to build a movie studio at Fort McPherson.