The curtain may be falling on River City, but a new act appears poised to take center stage. Indie production company Firewalker Pictures has announced plans to take over Dumbarton Studios—a facility close to Glasgow that has served as the long-running home of the soap opera—and revamp it into a dynamic creative hub for local and international productions.

Dumbarton Studios has long been a cornerstone of Scotland’s film and television ecosystem. Over the past two decades, it hosted beloved local titles like River City, Still Game, Shetland, and Two Doors Down, offering invaluable infrastructure and training ground for emerging Scottish talent. But with BBC Scotland opting not to renew its lease and canceling River City, the studio’s future has been left in limbo.

Firewalker Pictures founder Maureen Hascoet is leading the charge to save this creative anchor. “Studios aren’t just buildings—they’re ecosystems that foster talent, creativity, and collaboration,” she told Prolific North. Her vision is to preserve the site’s heritage while infusing it with fresh energy: upgrading infrastructure, welcoming emerging filmmakers, and opening the door to global content creators.

With River City set to wrap filming by April 2026, timelines are tight. The production’s final series is already underway, and dismantling of the set is expected to begin soon. Yet Hascoet remains cautiously optimistic. The plan? A quick turnaround: refurbish the backlot and studios and have them ready for new programming by September next year.

Firewalker’s bid comes at a critical moment. As Scotland looks to cement its role as a film and TV production destination, preserving homegrown infrastructure like Dumbarton Studios feels more urgent than ever. “Who we choose to be right now as an industry will determine our destiny,” Hascoet said. “This isn’t just about saving a building—it’s about investing in Scotland’s storytellers and securing its place in the global creative economy.”