Hollywood didn't just move to Georgia; it basically set up a permanent residence in a field in Fayetteville. If you've ever watched a Marvel movie and saw that little peach logo at the end of the credits, you've seen the handiwork of what people still call Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA. But here is the thing: it isn't actually Pinewood anymore.
It’s called Trilith Studios now.
The name change happened back in 2020, but the legacy of the original British partnership remains the bedrock of why Georgia is currently the top filming location in the entire world. It’s wild to think about. A decade ago, this was literally just rural dirt. Now, it’s a 700-acre behemoth where Spider-Man swings from rafters and Avengers assemble over lunch.
People get confused about the branding, honestly. You’ll hear locals still call it Pinewood because that name carries a certain weight—like James Bond weight. But the transition to Trilith represents a shift from being a "branch office" of a UK giant to becoming a standalone ecosystem that includes a literal town where people live, work, and grab coffee right next to the soundstages.
Why the Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA Brand Vanished (And Why It Matters)
The partnership began in 2013. It was a deal between Pinewood Group in the UK and River’s Rock LLC, which is basically the Cathy family—the folks behind Chick-fil-A. They wanted to build a world-class facility that could rival anything in Burbank or London.
They succeeded. Fast.
By 2019, the UK-based Pinewood Group decided to pull out. They didn't leave because the studio was failing; quite the opposite. It was doing too well, and the local partners wanted to expand into things Pinewood Group didn't traditionally do, like residential development and content investment. Frank Patterson, the CEO of the facility, stayed on to lead the rebranding to Trilith. The name "Trilith" refers to the three-stone structures like those at Stonehenge—a nod to the "three pillars" of storytelling, technology, and community.
This wasn't just a paint job. When Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA became Trilith, it signaled that Georgia was no longer just a cheap place to film because of tax credits. It was becoming a creative capital in its own right.
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The Marvel Effect: Why the Stages are Never Empty
You can't talk about this facility without talking about Disney. Specifically, Marvel Studios.
Ant-Man was the first big fish. Then came Captain America: Civil War. Then the massive, back-to-back production of Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. For a few years, Trilith (then Pinewood) was effectively the home base for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The scale is hard to wrap your head around if you aren't standing there. We are talking about 32 soundstages. Some of these are over 30,000 square feet. If you've seen the massive battles in Wakanda Forever or the trippy sets of WandaVision, you’ve seen the inside of these boxes.
More than just big rooms
A soundstage is really just a giant, soundproofed warehouse with air conditioning that could cool a stadium. But Trilith added something called the "Prysm Stage." It’s a virtual production volume, similar to "The Volume" used on The Mandalorian. Instead of green screens, actors stand in front of massive LED walls that render the environment in real-time. It’s the kind of tech that keeps big-budget productions from flying 200 people to a remote desert. They just bring the desert to Fayetteville.
The Town of Trilith: A Surreal Experiment in Living
Here is where things get kinda weird—in a cool way. Across the street from the stages is a residential community. It’s designed to look like a European village mixed with a modern American suburb.
The idea was simple: why should crew members live in Atlanta and commute an hour each way through horrific traffic?
They built tiny houses, massive estates, and apartments. There are restaurants like Piedmont Brewery and Honeysuckle Gelato. There’s a K-12 school called Forest School that focuses on "self-directed learning." It’s a very specific vibe. You might be standing in line for a croissant behind a grip who worked 14 hours the night before or a world-famous actor trying to blend in.
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It’s a "live-work" concept taken to its logical extreme. It’s also a way to keep the money in Georgia. Instead of actors taking their paychecks back to California, they’re spending it on a mortgage in Fayette County.
Georgia's Tax Credit: The Engine Under the Hood
None of this exists without the Georgia Film Tax Credit. Let’s be real.
Georgia offers a 20% tax credit for productions spending $500,000 or more, plus an extra 10% if they include the "Peach Logo" in the credits. Unlike other states, Georgia doesn't have a "cap." This is why billion-dollar franchises flock here.
Some people hate it. They say it’s a giveaway to wealthy Hollywood studios. Others point to the 90,000+ jobs created and the fact that Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA (now Trilith) turned a quiet suburb into a global tech and film hub. The reality is somewhere in the middle. The credits are the reason the stages were built, but the infrastructure—the actual bricks and mortar—is why the industry stays even when other states try to lure them away.
Surprising Facts About the Facility
Most people assume it's just one big building. It’s not. It’s a sprawling campus with specialized shops for everything.
- The Workshops: There are massive mills where carpenters build entire cities out of plywood and plaster.
- The Backlot: They have 400 acres of backlot space. If you need a forest, a suburban street, or a muddy field, they have it.
- Sustainability: The residential side is one of the largest geothermal communities in the United States. They use the earth's temperature to heat and cool the homes.
The Competitive Landscape
Trilith isn't the only player in town anymore. You’ve got Shadowbox Studios (formerly Blackhall) down the road, where Godzilla movies film. There’s Assembly Studios in Doraville, backed by NBCUniversal.
But Trilith remains the "prestige" location. It’s the one with the direct ties to the biggest blockbusters in history. When people search for Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA, they aren't just looking for a building; they’re looking for the place where the "movie magic" actually happens.
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It’s also worth noting that the facility has expanded into education. The Georgia Film Academy has a presence there. They are training locals to be boom operators, electrics, and set decorators. This is crucial because, for a long time, the "above the line" talent (directors, stars) came from LA, and only the "below the line" workers were local. That’s changing. You now have department heads who were born and raised in Georgia.
The "New" Pinewood: Future Outlook
What’s next? Expansion is the only gear they have.
They are adding more stages. They are building more houses. There is a "Media Center" intended to house gaming companies and tech startups. The goal is to make the Fayetteville area a "Silicon Valley of Content."
Is it working? Mostly. The town of Trilith feels a bit like The Truman Show sometimes—everything is a little too perfect. But the economic impact is undeniable. Fayette County used to be a sleepy bedroom community. Now it’s a cornerstone of the global entertainment business.
Actionable Insights for Visiting or Working at Trilith
If you're looking to engage with this massive machine, don't just show up at the gate. You won't get in. Security is tighter than an airport because of the high-profile sets.
- Don't Expect a "Studio Tour": Unlike Universal Studios in Hollywood, Trilith is a working facility. There are no tram rides or fake shark attacks for tourists. However, the Town of Trilith is completely open to the public. You can eat at the restaurants and walk the streets.
- Finding Work: If you want to work there, don't contact the studio directly. They just rent the space. You need to follow the productions. Check the "Georgia Help Wanted Hotline" or look into the Georgia Film Academy if you're starting from scratch.
- The Name Game: If you're booking a flight or a hotel, search for "Fayetteville, GA" or "Trilith," not "Atlanta." Even though it’s part of the metro area, it’s about 25 miles south of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
- Real Estate: If you're looking to move to the area for film work, be prepared for high prices. The "Trilith effect" has driven up property values in the surrounding area significantly over the last five years.
The transition from Pinewood Studios Atlanta GA to Trilith is more than just a corporate shuffle. It's the story of Georgia's film industry growing up and moving out of the shadow of its partners to become a world leader in its own right.
Next Steps for Your Research
To dive deeper into the current state of Georgia film, your best bet is to monitor the Georgia Film Office's "Active Member Productions" list. This is a live document that shows exactly which movies and TV shows are currently filming at Trilith and other stages across the state. It’s the most accurate way to see the actual "work" being done behind those soundproof walls. Also, if you are a creator, look into the Trilith Institute, which provides workshops and grants specifically for independent filmmakers trying to bridge the gap between "indie" and "blockbuster" scales.