Netflix Eyes New Jersey For New Film Studio

OCEANPORT, NJ — Could Netflix very soon start filming its next hit TV series in Monmouth County?

It looks so.

Netflix has now confirmed they want to move into a 298-acre space on the Fort Monmouth property, an abandoned U.S. Army base in Oceanport, and convert it into a massive new TV/movie production studio.

However, as of Dec. 12, no bids have been submitted by Netflix, or any other company, to move into Fort Monmouth.

“FMERA currently has an open RFOTP with bids due January 31, 2022. No unsolicited offers have been received to date from any firm," said Bruce Steadman, executive director of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).

Rumors have been circulating since August that Netflix wanted to open a production studio at Fort Monmouth. Local newspaper the Two River Times was the first to report that Netflix was eyeing the crumbling Army base, citing five anonymous sources.

But up until today, Netflix declined to publicly confirm it wants to move to New Jersey.

"We’re excited to submit our bid to transform Fort Monmouth into a state-of-the-art production facility," said a Netflix spokesperson in late October. “America's first movie studio was in New Jersey, and today it's home to many talented people working in entertainment. Governor Murphy and the state’s legislative leaders have created a business environment that's welcomed film and television production back to the state."

Netflix said they will be submitting a bid through the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA); however, no bids have been submitted yet.

Fort Monmouth is a 1,127-acre former U.S. Army base that straddles the areas of Tinton Falls, Oceanport and Eatontown, but Netflix wants to move into 298 acres technically in Oceanport.

It remains unknown if Netflix will have any competing offers for that space.

“I am incredibly excited to hear about Netflix's proposed investment in New Jersey," said Gov. Murphy this week. "While there is an objective process that any and all applications will have to go through, this is yet more evidence that the economic plan my administration has laid out is working and bringing high-quality, good-paying jobs to our state."

Fort Monmouth was built in 1917 and used by the U.S. Army for years, especially in World War II. But the base officially closed in 2011. Ever since, acres and acres of land, plus dozens of brick Army barracks, have sat empty and abandoned.

In April of this year, Gov. Murphy sent a letter to the production heads of Netflix, Disney and Warner Bros., among other film studios, trying to lure them with tax breaks to film movies in the Garden State.

In that letter, Murphy criticized Georgia's newly enacted voter ID laws.

Thanks to tax credits it offered, the state of Georgia has become a popular state for TV/movie production: The state of Georgia reports that 43 TV shows and movies were filmed in that state, including "Black Panther 2: Wakanda Forever" and Season 11 of "The Walking Dead."

Murphy offered the film studios tax credits equal to what the state of Georgia currently offers: Tax credits up to 30 percent of production costs and a 40-percent tax credit for any studio that opens brick-and-mortar offices in New Jersey, according to the Wall Street Journal.

And it looks like Netflix will take Murphy up on his offer.

Netflix has production studios up and down the East Coast, including in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New York, and production in all those states will continue, said the company. It will also keep its Georgia production studio.

Netflix just opened a new studio in Brooklyn (Bushwick) and is in the process of expanding their studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Murphy touted Netflix's decision as a win for New Jersey.

"New Jersey has become a leader in new, innovative industries from offshore wind to sports betting to film and digital media, and today's announcement by Netflix is another sign that companies around the world are taking notice," said Murphy this week.

There is also somewhat of a Fort Monmouth building boom underway, as developers seek to turn the former officers' homes into luxury townhouses, with prices starting in the upper $700,000s. A waterfront esplanade is being built and there are even plans to build a gym (to be called the Fort Athletic Club), a microbrewery and a bowling center at Fort Monmouth.

So far, construction has only started on the private homes. Ft. Monmouth Building Boom: Townhomes, Waterfront Walkway Coming (March 2021)

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