Hollywood sci-fi lot pitched as site to make real space-age weapons

A Hollywood sci-fi lot pitched as a site to make real space-age weapons highlights how Southern California’s defense boom is reshaping film real estate. Manhattan Beach Studios, used for projects including “Stars Wars: The Mandalorian,” is being marketed by Cushman & Wakefield as a potential advanced manufacturing hub, tied to a $240 million mortgage being sold to buyers. Bids are due July 28. The brokerage cites the area’s aerospace and innovation corridor, mentioning Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Technologies and SpaceX, and describes an emerging supply-demand mismatch for “viable space.” The 15-soundstage campus spans 22 acres and sits under about 78 megawatts of available power capacity, near Los Angeles Air Force Base. The pitch also references rising Pentagon spending and the region’s shift as movie production slumps. Support comes from nearby defense “hard tech” firms, while lead lenders Deutsche Bank AG and Kennedy Wilson declined comment.