Tyler Perry is reportedly working on a plan to safely restart his TV and film production projects at his sprawling 330-acre studio in Atlanta, Georgia in wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to TMZ.
The actor, producer, and entrepreneur is planning to reopen his sprawling studio complex if he can implement testing for COVID-19 for cast and crew members. If cleared, actors and staff would work and live on-site as they shoot their productions. According to the TMZ report, each production could be shot in about two-and-a-half weeks.
Although Perry doesn’t have a specific time frame when he’ll actually restart his shows, it was reported that he would start shooting his own shows, which air on OWN, Nickelodeon, and BET. Among his series are The Haves and the Have Nots, Young Dylan, Ruthless, Sistas, and The Oval.
The successful filmmaker opened the Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta back in October after turning a former army base into a brand new studio. The historic feat made him the first African American to own a major film production studio of this magnitude. The studio opening gala drew top names in entertainment to the celebration, including celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Cecily Tyson, Taraji P. Henson, Jill Scott, Whoopi Goldberg, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Michelle Williams, Kelly Rowland, Beyoncé, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, and Halle Berry.
The Tyler Perry Studio was acquired by Perry in 2015 and is located on the historic grounds of the former Fort McPherson army base. The major motion picture studio showcases 40 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, 12 purpose-built sound stages, 200 acres of green space, and a diverse backlot. His previous studio location occupied two former Delta Air Lines affiliated buildings in the Greenbriar area of southwest Atlanta and was sold in 2018 after being at this location since 2008.
