Warner Bros. Discovery and UNLV

Can Las Vegas be the next Hollywood? Not only is it possible, it's on the horizon. Warner Bros. Discovery and UNLV are betting big on transforming our city into a powerhouse of film and television production. Here's why you should be paying attention.

First, let's dive into the proposal and the players behind it.

The Proposed Bill: Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) isn't just making promises—they're backing them with an $8.5 billion production budget. Through a dynamic partnership with UNLV, the State of Nevada, and a development partner, WBD plans to create Warner Bros. Studios Nevada (WBSN), putting roughly $500 million annually into Nevada's film and TV projects over 17 years. Here's the key: To unlock this massive investment, Nevada needs to step up its game in film tax incentives. Currently, our state offers just $10 million in annual film tax credits—one of the lowest in the industry. Film tax credits help entertainment entities save money on production costs. This proposed bill would supercharge our entertainment economy by boosting these credits to $95 million annually, making Nevada a magnetic force for film production and screen tourism.

The Players: Leading the way is Warner Bros. Discovery, a global entertainment powerhouse that's given us everything from Harry Potter to the DC Comics universe. With their proven track record of building world-class entertainment hubs in Burbank, CA, and London, UK, they're bringing unmatched expertise to this project. 

At the heart of this transformation sits UNLV, specifically the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park—the future home of this groundbreaking studio.

Champion of this vision is Sen. Roberta Lange (D-Las Vegas), the bill's sponsor. After introducing an initial version in May 2023, the proposal has gained more credibility with WBD's public partnership. Lange envisions this as the catalyst that will finally diversify Nevada's economy.

While Birtcher Development LLC was initially involved as the project's developer, WBD has decided to move forward with a new development partner. According to our source close to the situation, this change will strengthen the proposal's position with lawmakers, who felt that Birtcher Development was difficult to work with. Leveraging Warner Bros.' stellar reputation to drive the bill forward.

But here's why you should truly care: This isn't just about movies—it's about your future. WBD's CREW HQ will revolutionize workforce training in our city. Imagine transforming your service industry expertise into a thriving entertainment career, or expanding your current skillset into high-paying production roles. The planned Nevada Media and Technology Lab, created in partnership with UNLV, will become a creative powerhouse for students and researchers across our educational institutions—UNLV, NSU, CSN, and CCSD will all have access to resources for teaching and practicing the art of filmmaking.

With Warner Bros.' impressive production budget, global influence, and entertainment industry mastery backing this initiative—combined with the transformative potential of both the CREW HQ and Nevada Media and Technology Lab—we're looking at an exciting moment for Las Vegas. Can we become the next Hollywood? When this bill reaches the state legislature in February, we'll be one step closer to making that dream reality.

Even if you've never caught yourself dreaming about the magic of moviemaking, the economic impact of this project demands your attention. This isn't just about entertainment—it's about a Las Vegas where creative professionals thrive, where new businesses spring up to support this booming industry, where opportunities multiply for everyone from writers and artists to lawyers and security services. This boost to our creative economy could usher in a golden era of entertainment in Las Vegas, creating a ripple effect of prosperity across our entire community. From food services and entertainment law firms to equipment rentals and talent agencies, every area stands to benefit from this transformative investment in our city's future.