ANNISTON, Ala. — Comedian Katt Williams has purchased a former military barracks in east-central Alabama with reported plans to turn it into a film production center.
Connie Alexander Jacks of The Luxe Group, the firm handling the purchase, confirmed the sale of the Fort McClellan barracks with FOX54.com on Saturday.
"We were thrilled to work with Katt Williams on this incredible project," Jacks said. "His plans for the property, as mentioned in [a] recent BET article, reflect his ambition to expand his empire by building a movie studio inspired by production giants like Donald Glover, 50 Cent, and Tyler Perry.
"It’s a visionary endeavor, and we’re excited to see how this historic site evolves under his leadership," she added.
As AL.com reports, the 90+ acre property had been priced at $1.5 million, though it has not been confirmed what the final sale price may have been.
The complex, known locally as "Starship," includes four two-story dormitories of 125,000 square feet each, two 20,000 square-foot gymnasiums, and a 78,000 square-foot academic building, per data provided by the Alabama Film Office.
Williams has confirmed his desire to create a film studio of his own. In a GQ article published this week, Williams said it's "not fair to put all that pressure on Tyler Perry" with regards to telling Black-centric stories.
His self-described "great relationship" with Netflix could potentially be the outlet to where any future productions that come out of the Anniston film studio may lead.
Official plans for the property and its redevelopment have not been made by Williams or his management.
