Tyler Perry Studios is moving further into next-generation production.

The Atlanta-based studio has entered into a multi-year partnership with Synapse Virtual Production to develop and operate a new virtual production-enabled soundstage on Perry’s 365-acre campus. The facility, converted from one of the studio’s existing stages, is expected to be operational by the end of 2026.

The new stage will be outfitted with LED volume technology, advanced camera tracking and real-time 3D tools, including Unreal Engine, allowing productions to create digital environments, large-scale interiors and exterior settings without relying solely on traditional builds or location shoots.

The facility is being designed for a broad range of content, including film, television, commercials, music videos, livestreams, immersive projects and emerging digital media. Like other facilities at Tyler Perry Studios, it will also be available to outside productions.

The move comes as Atlanta’s production sector continues to navigate a slower market after years of rapid growth. Perry has been outspoken about the impact of new technologies on the entertainment business, particularly AI. In 2024, he paused a planned $800 million expansion of Tyler Perry Studios, which would have added 12 new soundstages, citing uncertainty around generative video tools.

In announcing the Synapse partnership, Perry emphasized that the new stage is intended to expand creative capability without replacing the crews that remain central to production.

“I’m paying close attention to what these tools can do, and I’m also thinking about the people who make this industry work,” Perry said. “This collaboration is about moving forward in a way that keeps crews working and traditional production jobs intact while also allowing creatives new ways to build worlds and tell stories for the big and small screens.”

Synapse, which already operates a virtual production stage at LA Center Studios in downtown Los Angeles, uses AI-supported tools for look development, asset iteration and environment capture. The company has worked on projects including The Rip and The Accountant 2, and is preparing to open a New York facility.

“Our mission at Synapse is to bridge the gap between imagination and innovation,” said Synapse CEO Justin Diener. “Partnering with Tyler Perry Studios represents a defining moment for both companies and for the future of content creation.”

Producer Beau Flynn, an advisory board member at Synapse, said the partnership strengthens Atlanta’s position as a production hub while keeping the process “human and crew-led.”

For Perry, the new stage marks a notable shift: a cautious but deliberate embrace of virtual production at one of the country’s most prominent independent studio campuses.