Dark Horse Studios’ Wilmington property hits the market amid film industry slowdown

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Wilmington property home to Dark Horse Stages has been listed for sale as the film industry faces a slowdown in production and uncertainty surrounding North Carolina’s film incentives.

The property at 301 Harley Road is listed through Lee & Associates. No asking price is publicly listed, with prospective buyers directed to contact the broker.

According to the listing, the property includes approximately 131,798 square feet of warehouse, flex and office space on about 11.5 acres.

The campus includes four large warehouse buildings totaling approximately 83,250 square feet. Warehouses 1 and 2 total about 42,500 square feet, while Warehouses 3 and 4 total approximately 40,750 square feet.

The property also includes office and flex space, loading access and more than 500 parking spaces. The listing says the property could potentially be subdivided, subject to applicable approvals and final site design.

Dark Horse Stages, formerly known as Dark Horse Studios, rebranded in August 2024. At the time, the company said the new name better reflected its business of leasing sound stages, support spaces and offices to film and television productions.

The sale listing comes as Dark Horse President and CEO Kirk Englebright has spoken publicly about a slowdown affecting film and television production in Wilmington and elsewhere.

Earlier this year, Englebright described conditions in the industry as “desolate,” with production infrastructure sitting unused.

“A lot of our crew are not working right now and if they are working it’s definitely not in the film or entertainment sector, it’s scary, people’s livelihood are at stake, rents and mortgage’s are falling behind,” Englebright said at the time.

Englebright has pointed to several factors affecting the industry, including competition from foreign countries offering production incentives, streaming competition, industry consolidation and changing consumer behavior.

He has also advocated for a 20% federal rebate aimed at encouraging more productions to film in the United States.

The property is hitting the market as North Carolina leaders continue working through issues involving the state’s film incentive program.

North Carolina offers qualifying film and television productions rebates of up to 25% of qualifying in-state expenses through the Film and Entertainment Grant Program. The program receives $31 million in recurring funding each fiscal year.

Lawmakers have also approved an additional $15 million in nonrecurring funding for the program for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

Gov. Josh Stein and Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley visited Cinespace Studios in Wilmington on Sept. 15 to discuss the industry and the state’s film incentive program.

“We must protect that success and give productions the certainty they need to continue to invest here for the long term,” Stein said.

Lilley said the Department of Commerce is working with the General Assembly on a solution aimed at keeping productions in North Carolina.

The Dark Horse Stages property is located just off Market Street, with access from Harley Drive and North Green Meadow Drive. According to the listing, it is less than two miles from Interstate 40 and approximately 15 minutes from Wilmington International Airport.

The listing does not state what a potential sale would mean for Dark Horse Stages or its future operations.