Netflix is building a $1B studio complex at Fort Monmouth, N.J., targeting completion by 2028. The project aims to boost jobs, economy and revive the area's film legacy. State officials and locals express optimism for the redevelopment of the former Army base.
Netflix photo
(L-R) are New Jersey First Lady Tammy Murphy, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos and New Jersey Speaker Craig Coughlin at the groundbreaking ceremony for Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth.
It is a comeback story straight out of the movies — literally.
Netflix broke ground May 13, 2025, in New Jersey on a $1 billion project to transform Fort Monmouth, a 292-acre former U.S. Army base closed in 2011 — into its East Coast production hub.
Attending the ceremony were a variety of Netflix officials, state and local government leaders, stakeholders and dignitaries, including David Chase, the creator of "The Sopranos."
"As the birthplace of the motion picture industry, New Jersey couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Netflix — a name synonymous with 21st century entertainment — to the Garden State," said Gov. Phil Murphy. "The Netflix studio at Fort Monmouth further solidifies New Jersey's reputation as a global leader in film and television production, attracting some of the world's top filmmakers and creators to the state."
Both Murphy and Ted Sarandos, Netflix's co-CEO, took note of New Jersey's rich film legacy — including the inventions and innovations of Thomas Edison to the present day.
"Netflix is proud to invest in American innovation and the creative community," said Sarandos, who originally hails from Monmouth County.
"Today feels a bit like a homecoming for me. I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but I was born just down the road at Monmouth Medical," he said. "But, today is a bit of a homecoming for the film industry, too."
Sarandos also noted that the film and television industry in New Jersey is stronger than it has ever been, reported NJBIZ.
"We're taking another huge step forward," he said. "We're going to officially begin demolition today to pave the way for Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth."
A Massive Production Complex is Planned
The Netflix construction project includes building 12 cutting-edge soundstages totaling nearly 500,000 sq. ft. Additional dedicated areas will support film uses and community amenities.
The streaming service has worked with the municipalities of Eatontown and Oceanport, in addition to Monmouth County, to secure approvals for the first phase of the effort. Further approvals are required before crews can begin full construction. The on-site demolition is expected to take roughly 13 months.
Netflix's millions of dollars in capital investments will develop the huge parcel — adjacent to New Jersey Highway 35 in Eatontown and Oceanport — into TV and film studios, offices and support buildings, with the rest of the property slated to be redeveloped both for companies supporting the film industry and several community amenities.
In December 2024, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority board approved $387 million in Aspire tax credits for the new project.
"We estimate that these studios will create thousands of jobs for New Jersey residents, billions of dollars in economic output and many other cultural benefits to the region and the state," Sarandos said. "Over the past four years, Netflix has contributed $125 billion to the U.S. economy and hired more than 140,000 cast and crew members. And we're excited to continue our investment in the U.S. and New Jersey in the coming years."
Netflix officials have said that the studio complex at the Fort Monmouth site is projected to open in 2028.
Fort Monmouth's New Chapter Eagerly Awaited
The number of Monmouth County leaders and lawmakers who spoke at the May 2025 groundbreaking stressed the significance both of Fort Monmouth itself, what was lost since its closing nearly 14 years ago and its next chapter: a Jersey-style Hollywood ending for the shuttered U.S. Army base.
"I remember exactly where I was when I heard that Fort Monmouth was put on the BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] list," said Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico Jr. "I remember wondering what that meant for [a] region that was so intertwined with the Army — the economy, the generations of locals in the workforce, the social fabric of the community that was Fort Monmouth."
He knew that to fill the void, something was needed with the depth and breadth of an entire industry.
"So, here we are. I would like to thank Gov. Murphy and his administration — the driving force behind the attraction of Netflix to New Jersey," Talerico said. "The fostering of the film industry's return to New Jersey is absolutely wonderful for us. But you know what, it's also wonderful for the film industry because New Jersey has a lot to offer."
Like most who spoke at the event, he lauded the critical work of the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority, led by Executive Director Kara Kopach, in coordinating the different stakeholders involved in the complex and ambitious redevelopment effort.
"This is a very emotional day for many of us — and many that are not here," said New Jersey State Sen. Vin Gopal, who noted that his mother had worked on the Fort Monmouth base. "I have memories coming here as a child — and I remember the day that it closed."
He also said that his family hoped that county leaders would one day find a way to save the Fort Monmouth site as its loss led many local businesses in the area to struggle and suffer.
"And it's [not] just about the jobs — the thousands of jobs — that are going to come: the building trades, construction, painters, electrical, plumbing jobs," said Gopal, "but how it affects the local small businesses. Netflix has been extraordinary in making sure that everything goes local — everything."
His New Jersey Senate colleague, Sen. Declan O'Scanlon is also a native of the area and grew up just a half mile from the fort.
"The closing of Fort Monmouth, [as well as] the announcement and the redevelopment, was really a 20-year-long process," O'Scanlon said. "Like so many people who grew up here, this place, this property — the fort itself — played such a role in our lives.
"This isn't a greenfield project out in the middle of nowhere," he said. "It's the rebirth of a very, very special place."
He, too, reflected on the efforts to save Fort Monmouth, as well as the results.
"We wondered: Would it ever be the engine that Fort Monmouth was? We wondered if it would languish. Well, we're now here to celebrate 20 years later," O'Scanlon said. "It's going to be better than it ever could have been — with [the] leadership of Netflix. We can't thank you enough for that."
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