Dark Horse Stages, a production studio based in North Carolina, officially opened two new sound stages to add thousands of square feet to the film scene along the coast.
Wilmington's filming scene is about to get much bigger.
On Wednesday, Dark Horse Stages announced it had officially opened two more sound stages in Wilmington.
Dark Horse Stages, a North Carolina based production company, said the new stages, names Stages 3 and 4, would add more than 40,000 square feet of "state-of-the-art production to Wilmington's vibrant film scene."
The film studio hosted a grand opening event a week prior to Wednesday's announcement, with more than 550 in attendance, including state and local officials, as well as industry leaders.
Dark Horse Stages said the event highlighted Wilmington's place in the film industry.
"We are committed to providing world-class facilities that enable creators to realize their visions," said Kirk Englebright, president and CEO of Dark Horse Stages. "The turnout reflects the excitement surrounding our expansion and the bright future of film in North Carolina."
The studio opened in 2020 and its first client was a Hallmark Channel original holiday film. It has since worked on projects for Paramount.
In July of 2023, the studio announced it would be building the sound stages, essentially doubling the size of its then 42,000 square-foot campus.
The expansion comes as the industry begins to rebound from a series of consecutive strikes. The company said the new stages and the grand opening for them signaling a "renewed interest in high-quality production facilities and reinforcing Wilmington's status as a premier filming destination."
"The expansion of Dark Horse Stages brings tremendous value to North Carolina's film industry by enhancing our capacity to meet the diverse needs of today's productions," said North Carolina Film Office Director Guy Gaster. "The continued evolution of this outstanding facility elevates North Carolina's appeal as a premier film destination to both major studios and independent filmmakers, alike, providing a modern and attractive entertainment hub that will foster creativity, efficiency, and true collaboration for years to come."