WILMINGTON, N.C.—Dark Horse Studios has broken ground on a major expansion that it says is the first purpose-built studio to be built in North Carolina in more than 40 years.

“This expansion has always been integral to our vision for Dark Horse Studios,” said Dark Horse founder and CEO Kirk Englebright. “We’ve been fortunate enough to have our existing stages fully booked for the past two years with the exception of the writers’ strike, and it’s a privilege to be at the forefront of the local industry’s growth.”