Las Vegas Studio Project Backed by Sony and Warner Bros. Fails in Nevada Legislature

A high-profile plan to bring a major film and television studio to Las Vegas has officially been shelved — at least for now.

The proposed Summerlin Studios, a 31-acre project backed by entertainment giants Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., failed to secure legislative approval this week as Nevada lawmakers declined to move forward on AB 238 — a bill that would have provided up to $95 million annually in tax credits for productions at the site.

The studio was to be developed in Summerlin by Howard Hughes Holdings and promised 10 soundstages, generating thousands of jobs and attracting high-end film and television production to the valley. Despite passing in the Assembly last week by a narrow 22–20 vote, the bill stalled in the Senate before the legislative deadline.

Why It Fell Through

Senator Roberta Lange, who supported a competing studio project backed by UNLV and Manhattan Beach Studios, cited budget priorities like housing and healthcare as major concerns. “It’s really hard to get to a place where people feel comfortable putting a lot of money into something new,” Lange said.

Political division over the two rival projects didn’t help. Initially, Sony and Warner Bros. were supporting separate ventures, but Warner Bros. eventually joined the Summerlin plan in February. Still, consensus among legislators proved elusive. A proposed amendment to call for an economic impact study also failed to gain traction before the session ended.

With the Nevada Legislature meeting only every other year, the next window to revisit this proposal will be in 2027.

What It Means for Las Vegas

Had the project moved forward, it would have marked a significant investment in the Las Vegas economy, diversifying job growth beyond tourism and hospitality. Howard Hughes Holdings released a statement expressing disappointment, noting the studio would have “created thousands of jobs at a time when Nevada needs them most.”

For now, the vision of a Hollywood-caliber production hub in Summerlin remains on hold — but the discussion around growing Nevada’s creative economy is far from over.

Disclaimer: The Batchelor Hanna Group – REAL Broker LLC is not affiliated with any of the companies, legislative entities, or development projects mentioned in this post. This article is intended solely for informational purposes to provide updates on economic and community developments in the Las Vegas area. Readers should independently verify details with official sources before making any business or investment decisions.