Actor Mark Wahlberg has a grand vision for Las Vegas, aiming to transform it into “Hollywood 2.0.”
Since relocating with his family from California to Nevada, Wahlberg has been vocal about his plans to establish a state-of-the-art studio and revitalize the film and TV industry in the city, bringing lucrative job opportunities to the area.
“I would love to see us building studios, creating jobs and just diversifying the economy,” Wahlberg told CNBC. “I’ve moved my last film here. I’m shooting another film here coming up in the summertime.”
Wahlberg’s goal comes as the state’s lawmakers look to approve massive tax credits up to $190 million.
“I think there’s so much more opportunity to be created here. There’s so much growth and so much potential, it’s a wonderful opportunity for everybody to prosper,” Wahlberg said.
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The new bill aims to facilitate the establishment of two movie studio sites in Las Vegas: Howard Hughes’ location in Summerlin and another site known as Las Vegas Media Campus, developed by Birtcher. The latter studio would be situated within the University of Nevada Las Vegas technology park, which would also house educational facilities dedicated to training individuals for careers in the film industry.
Wahlberg expressed his goal to generate 10,000 jobs, with an average salary that exceeds the current rates by $100,000. He emphasized the importance of training locals for roles both in front of and behind the camera. Additionally, he highlighted the appealing housing market in Las Vegas, noting how his employees have benefited from the lower cost of living.
In addition to the studio, Wahlberg plans to establish a shoe factory for his investment in the sneaker resale marketplace StockX and a factory for his apparel line, Municipal. He expressed his eagerness to create numerous job opportunities and explore new ventures in Las Vegas, emphasizing his commitment to fostering growth and seizing opportunities in the city.
