Paramount coming to Bayonne, to serve as anchor tenant of 1888 Studios

In what appears to be another big win for the state — and its efforts to become a major player in film and television production — Paramount announced late Tuesday that it has signed a 10-year lease agreement to occupy more than 285,000 square feet at the yet-to-be-built 1888 Studios in Bayonne.

Currently under development by Togus Urban Renewal, 1888 Studios is set to become the largest campus-style production facility in the Northeast and one of the largest in the nation.

The 58-acre facility will offer over 1.1 million square feet of production space spanning 23 smart sound stages with a minimum of 40-foot clear ceilings; production support space; flexible post-production space; offices; mills; base camp and backlot; and lighting and grip facilities to accommodate every phase of production.

Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, gives the studio an anchor tenant. It also gives New Jersey another major player in the industry, joining Netflix, which is building a studio at Fort Monmouth, and Lionsgate, which is building a studio in Newark.

Paramount, which intends to establish a major production hub in New Jersey, will be able to take additional space and extend its lease. It also is planning to take advantage of the state’s Film and Digital Media Tax Credit program, as 1888 Studios offers tenants competitive incentives comparable to other leading production hubs worldwide.

Expanded in 2025, the program empowers the N.J. Economic Development Authority to designate three Studio Partners and three Film-Lease Partner Facilities, each linked to large-scale infrastructure commitments. 1888 Studios was designated New Jersey’s first Film-Lease Partner Facility in May 2024, and Paramount has submitted its Studio Partner application, which is under EDA review and will be brought to its board for consideration on Thursday, when it is expected to be approved.

Andy Gordon, the chief strategy officer and chief operating officer for Paramount, applauded the announcement.

“Scaling our production and expanding our slate of world-class entertainment is central to our long-term strategy,” he said. “We’re thrilled to invest in the United States and in the region and lean into our creative momentum to spark economic growth.

“We’re deeply grateful for the support and partnership of Gov. Phil Murphy, Sen. Raj Mukherji, the N.J. Economic Development Authority, and 1888 Studios. Thanks to highly competitive tax credit programs like New Jersey’s, the tri-state area is more attractive than ever before for production as we work together to create new jobs and empower more domestic production for America’s creative workforce.”

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