Tyler Perry bought a former Army base for $30 million: Why he is turning it into more than a Hollywood studio

Tyler Perry is planning to expand his business beyond filmmaking. New plans show that he could develop an entertainment district near his Atlanta film studio.

In June 2015, Perry bought about 330 acres of the former Fort McPherson military base in Atlanta for $30 million. The site has since become Tyler Perry Studios, a major film and television production facility.

Tyler Perry's plans for an entertainment district

In July 2025, a proposal submitted to Georgia's Development of Regional Impact programme outlined plans for an entertainment district near Perry's studio. The proposed development would cover 38 acres.


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According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the project could include nearly 1.3 million square feet of space for a theatre, shops and offices.

The plans suggested that the project could be completed by January 2028. However, it is still a proposal, and there is no confirmation that construction will be completed by that date.

Perry's plans for the nearby land go back several years. In 2021, he agreed to buy the neighbouring property for $8.5 million. At the time, a news release described the vision as "a theatre district, retail, restaurants and plenty of employment opportunities."

A spokesperson for Perry did not give the newspaper any further details about the latest proposal.

Why did Tyler Perry buy a former military base?

Fort McPherson has a long military history. It was established in 1885, and a federal commission recommended closing it in 2005. According to the US Army, the closure put around 2,950 civilian jobs at risk.

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Perry's purchase gave part of the former military base a new purpose. Tyler Perry Studios opened there in 2019, with soundstages and an outdoor film set that includes a replica of the White House.

The studio has also been used for productions such as Black Panther, Coming 2 America and The Walking Dead.

The original plans for the former military base included a mix of different developments. Perry's proposed entertainment district could add shops, offices and other public attractions to a site that has mainly been used for making films and television shows.

Tyler Perry's plans for jobs and the local community

Creating jobs and supporting local businesses were among the goals discussed when the original land deal was announced.

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said at the time that the deal marked "the beginning of a new phase involving job creation, business expansion and community development in South Atlanta."

Reed also hoped Fort McPherson would become "a catalyst for change in one of our most important neighborhoods."

The proposed entertainment district could help bring more businesses, workers and visitors to the area if the project moves forward.

However, the available documents do not say how many jobs the development could create or how much it might contribute to the local economy.

What could the expansion mean for Perry's business?

The proposed entertainment district would be different from the soundstages and outdoor sets used for Perry's film and television productions.

His studio mainly serves filmmakers, production crews and entertainment companies. In comparison, a development with shops, offices and a theatre could attract a wider range of visitors and create business opportunities beyond filmmaking.

The proposal also comes after Perry put a planned $800 million studio expansion on hold. That project would have added more soundstages and outdoor film sets.

Perry had previously raised concerns that artificial intelligence (AI) could reduce the need for traditional filmmaking.

The proposed entertainment district could offer another way to expand his business in Atlanta. However, its future will depend on whether the plans move forward and which parts of the development are eventually built.