See The Latest Renderings Of Netflix's Fort Monmouth Film Studios

EATONTOWN, NJ — On Sept. 2, Netflix unveiled more never-before-seen renderings of how their planned film studio will look on the former Fort Monmouth U.S. Army base.

Netflix plans to turn Fort Monmouth into its East Coast filming headquarters, with a total of 12 film studios (Netflix calls them soundstages). You can see Netflix's plans for the site here: https://netflixnewjersey.com/g...

The project is divided into phases, and Netflix plans to develop the Oceanport section of the former Army base first.

Netflix already got approval last year from the Oceanport Planning Board to build four film studios, each 22,000 square feet and about 70 feet tall. Filming will be done inside a soundstage, which are designed to be soundproof. The Netflix campus will be open 24/7 and there could be overnight and outdoor filming, but it would be rare, Netflix previously said.

Construction on those first four studios is expected to start by early 2026. Netflix expects its first four studios will open in 2027.

On Sept. 2, the Eatontown Planning Board approved Netflix to build the second phase of the project, which is eight more studios, plus associated backlots and buildings. Those eight will be built in the Eatontown section of the base, and expect to open in mid-2028, the Two River Times reported.

The main entrance to the Netflix studio campus will be the fort's existing main gate entrance, on Rt. 35 in Eatontown. That entrance will get a big Netflix sign. The existing Vail Hall will be used for business offices and visitor check-in.

Many other old Army buildings on the 200-acre abandoned U.S. Army base are currently being torn down. Netflix said it plans to tear down a total of 100 Army buildings.

"We began the clean-out and demolition of the abandoned buildings at Fort Monmouth in Eatontown on May 19, 2025," said Netflix on its project website. "Significant progress has been made each week, and we expect this work to continue into early 2026. In total, we aim to remove over 100 former Army buildings while restoring and preserving eight for use on the studio campus."

The state of New Jersey already granted Netflix $387 million in tax breaks if they keep the Fort Monmouth studio campus open and in operation for at least the next 10 years. The tax breaks were granted last December by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). These are Aspire tax credits, which the state created to help "commercial and residential real estate development projects that have financing gaps." Netflix previously estimated it will cost them $848 million to build a state-of-the art film production facility at Fort Monmouth.

Gov. Phil Murphy used the tax breaks to lure Netflix to make New Jersey its East Coast film studio headquarters, reasoning that Netflix will create hundreds — if not thousands — of jobs in the film industry, ranging from set construction, screenwriting, acting, filming and animation, marketing, wardrobe, hair/make-up and more.

Netflix co-CEO and chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in 2023 he estimates opening Netflix at Fort Monmouth will create 1,500 permanent jobs in the movie industry. Local lawmakers who represent the Eatontown area praised the move, noting the area had become economically depressed once the Army base closed in 2011.

The reason so many movies are filming in New Jersey is because Murphy revived the state's Film and Digital Media Tax Credit, which means any movie filmed or produced in New Jersey gets a 35 percent reduction in their state taxes. One of the most lasting legacies of Gov. Murphy's time in office are his efforts to make New Jersey a U.S. movie/TV production headquarters.

Prior: Netflix Officially Gets $387 Million In Tax Breaks To Open In NJ (January 2025)

Oceanport Planning Board Approves First 4 Netflix Film Studios (December 2024)

Noise, Overnight Filming From Netflix Worries Oceanport Planning Board (Nov. 2024)