NETFLIX Set To Build Huge Production Complex At Fort Monmouth!
VITORIA-GASTEIZ, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 03: Alvaro Diaz attends Netflix unscripted presentation of its upcoming reality shows during FesTVal 2021 on September 03, 2021 in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain. (Photo by Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images for Netflix)
After months of speculation, it looks like Netflix is really coming to the Jersey Shore! According to a New York Times Article this week, The tech giant has been selected as the top bidder for a piece of land occupied by the former Army base, about 50 miles south of New York City, two people with knowledge of the decision said. Netflix still has several hoops to jump through — economic terms are not yet final, and more approvals are needed — but this gets it closer than ever to have a major production complex in the Northeast. The article goes on to say that the company was the top bidder of many for the 300-acre site, which was officially closed over a decade ago.
According to its Wikipedia page, as of September 2022, Netflix had 222 million subscribers worldwide, including 73.3 million in the United States and Canada; 73.0 million in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, 39.6 million in Latin America, and 34.8 million in the Asia-Pacific region. It is available worldwide aside from Mainland China, Syria, North Korea, and Russia. Netflix has played a prominent role in independent film distribution, and it is a member of the Motion Picture Association. So yeah, this would be a big deal for our area!
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has long been a proponent of bringing Hollywood productions back to the Garden State, said recently in a statement, “We are thrilled to hear that Netflix is interested in establishing a serious presence in New Jersey and look forward to working with them and the rest of the industry to create good-paying jobs and spur economic growth throughout the state.”
According to John Koblin, who covers the television industry for the New York Times, if Netflix does claim the space, it will be the company’s second-biggest production complex, after its studios in New Mexico. Last year, Netflix also opened a studio in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn.
'The Sandman': Meet The Breakout Characters From Netflix's New Hit
Fans of The Sandman have been raving about the Neil Gaiman-created character for about 33 years… ever since the comic book’s first issue was released by DC Comics in early 1989. For almost as long, fans have wanted to see a live-action adaptation. On the other hand, many have said that the story is “unadaptable.” But on Friday (August 5), the world finally saw the show’s ten-episode season, the first of hopefully many. Forbes reports that the show immediately debuted at #1 on Netflix’s top 10 list, and the show currently has an 86% approval with both critics and audience on Rotten Tomatoes. And it was trending through the weekend on social media.
Although The Sandman is based on a DC comic book, the show does not take place in the DC Universe. The comic book only rarely referenced mainstream DC characters, with brief appearances by the Scarecrow, J’onn J’onzz, Mister Miracle and the Demon. In other words, you don’t need to know anything about the DC universe to enjoy the show. But if you want to check out the books that the show is based on (and it’s pretty faithful), check out The Sandman, Volume 1: Preludes and Nocturnes and The Sandman, Volume 2: The Doll’s House.
What comes next? Well, in the comic books, the “Doll’s House” storyline is followed by “Dream Country,” a series of four independent one-off tales. One of which is the fan-favorite “A Dream of a Thousand Cats,” which would be a very CGI-heavy episode, if they were to do it. Another is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” which features William Shakespeare, who we met (played by Samuel Blenkin) in episode six, ‘The Sound of Her Wings.” After that, it’s the “Season of Mists” storyline, which sees Dream further clashing with Desire, and returning to Hell where he once again encounters Lucifer (and also Nada, his former lover from thousands of years earlier, who was played by Deborah Oyelade in a brief scene in episode 4, “A Hope In Hell”).
If you’re looking to dive in to the series, here are some of the main characters from season one who we hope to see again:
Believe it or not, Jimmy’s first job was overnights at a Christian Radio Station. He claims he got into radio because like Rocky Balboa once said, “cause I can’t sing or dance.” Jimmy loves to write about all local happenings, especially around his town of Toms River.
Favorite Pastime (other than masturbation, of course): Cheering for the Yankees, and crying for the J-E-T-S!!!
Favorite Food: Hot Sauce…I collect ’em!
Favorite Drink: PRUNO…look it up, if you dare!
Favorite Movies: The Exorcist, Planet of The Apes (the original), To Kill a Mockingbird, Annie Hall, and of course GF 1 & GF 2…I heard that’s how the real fans refer to them.
Favorite Movie Line: easy…Murry-Caddyshack-“big hitter, the Lama”…f#$*in’ riot!
Best Rat Rock Bands: STP, VH, ZEP, PEARL JAM, FOOS, PEPPERS,AC/DC
Favorite New Bands: Glorious Sons, Rival Sons, Dirty Honey
Most Embarrassing Moment: the moment my mother reads this shit!
Best Day: I know a lot of folks say this, but it’s true: the day my little girl Jynell and my boy Big D were born! Next to that, it would have to be the day I was baked on earth day in Central Park and met Keefer Sutherland…baked too, I believe.