‘Ship has sailed’: Mark Wahlberg says push to land ‘Hollywood 2.0’ in Summerlin no more

Actor and Las Vegas resident Mark Wahlberg said he is no longer part of the push to create a “Hollywood 2.0” in Summerlin.

Wahlberg, who lives in Summerlin with his family, said the studios are no longer eyeing Southern Nevada after a failed effort in the Nevada Legislature to lure them to Summerlin.

“I think that ship has sailed, unfortunately,” Wahlberg told the Review-Journal on Thursday at an appearance at Red Rock Resort. “I think the studios now are going off and chasing other cities and states wherever the tax credits are the most competitive.”

After an effort to get tax credits approved toward building motion picture studios in Summerlin failed for a third time last year, the A-list actor told the Review-Journal last November that he’d still push to land them in Southern Nevada in the 2027 legislative session.

With the studios no longer interested in the state, Wahlberg said, it is unfortunate that the plan couldn’t come to fruition.

“I really feel like it was a big opportunity missed for the community here,” Wahlberg said.

Landing the Summerlin Studios project hinged on the Legislature approving $120 million in annual transferable tax credits. Assembly Bill 5, which proposed the tax credits, fell short of the votes needed to pass during a special legislative session last year.

The bill would have required the studios to make $1.8 billion in capital investments before the end of the 2039 fiscal year and spend $4.5 billion in direct production over the 15-year life of the program, which would’ve expired in 2044.

Wahlberg said the studio plan would’ve created 10,000 jobs and further helped diversify the Southern Nevada economy.

“So many talents and people are creating so many new jobs, creating a whole new industry,” Wahlberg said. “But we did everything we could to make it happen.”

One Southern Nevada business venture being led by Wahlberg is on the cusp of opening. His Municipal Gym is slated to open early next year in Downtown Summerlin. The gym offers monthly memberships starting at $129 to the 30,000-square-foot facility. The space will include free weights, machines and services including red-light therapy, cryotherapy, massage, dry cold plunge, sauna and steam rooms and a cafe.

“We came to live here to add value to the community and create opportunity that hopefully is going to enrich and help people’s lives,” Wahlberg said. “I’m most excited about the gym. I think we’re doing something that’s very different from a lot of others out there. Our sole focus is to get people to change their lives and become the best versions of themselves.”

Contact Mick Akers at [email protected] or 702-387-2920. Follow @mickakers on X.