China’s Wanda Showcases Planned Qingdao Studio in L.A.

Chinese real estate giant Dalian Wanda presented its planned Wanda Qingdao Studios facility at the annual Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI) locations show in Los Angeles.

Wanda Studios Qingdao, which is due to open in April 2017, will be the world’s largest film and television studio, spreading across 494 acres.

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Wanda, which is headed up by Wang Jianlin, held a big launch party in Qingdao in Sept. 2013, attended by Leonardo DiCaprio, Harvey Weinstein, Nicole Kidman, John Travolta, Kate Beckinsale and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

On completion, the development will house 30 purpose-built production stages, China’s most advanced temperature-controlled underwater stage, and the country’s largest exterior water tank, a combination of natural scenery and custom-built locations, in addition to post-production facilities.

“We are building a world class film and television studio and we are creating extremely generous production incentives which together will allow Wanda Studios Qingdao to successfully compete on a global scale,” said Nancy Romano, COO of Wanda Studios Qingdao.

“When an international production comes to shoot on our lot in the beautiful, coastal city of Qingdao, the cast and crew will be fascinated by the unique cultural experience that this city has to offer,” she said.

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In addition to the production facilities, Wanda and the Qingdao municipal government will collaborate on a film and TV fund, as well as other incentives, such as tax rebates.

Wanda also plans to launch a major international film festival in Qingdao in 2017 and is building a $1.2 billion U.S. headquarters in Beverly Hills.