Paul Heyman, a renowned creative force in professional wrestling, is expanding beyond WWE with an ambitious new venture in New York City. He announced plans to develop the largest LED volume wall in Manhattan, aiming to transform production capabilities in the region by blending cutting-edge technology with creative studio services.
Paul Heyman’s Vision for New York’s Largest LED Volume Wall
Known for managing iconic WWE Superstars like Seth Rollins, Brock Lesnar, and others, Paul Heyman is taking a significant step into the film and television production arena. His creative studio, Looking4Larry, founded with Mitchell Stuart, recently merged with the Manhattan-based MCM Studios. Their first major initiative is to install what Heyman describes as the biggest LED volume wall in New York.
These LED volume walls enable filming in virtually any environment while maintaining realistic lighting and sets. This groundbreaking technology makes it possible to shoot scenes with dynamic backgrounds without leaving the studio lot, offering production flexibility.
“That’s the type of step that is necessary to build out a business in 2025, 2026, 2027 that is forward-thinking and tries to stay one step ahead of the curve of the constantly changing production needs, both from major studios and from independent content creators on low budgets,”
Paul Heyman explained.
By bringing this technology to Manhattan, Heyman hopes to support both high-budget productions and more affordable projects, which currently tend to cluster around Los Angeles. Film studios in Los Angeles have long utilized such volume walls, but Heyman sees a void on the East Coast that his project aims to fill.
Revitalizing New York’s Role in Film and Television Production
The expansion of LED volume wall technology in Manhattan arrives at a key moment. Nearby regions like Bergen County, New Jersey, and Yonkers have seen a surge in studio development and film production potential, generating new hubs outside traditional centers. Production offices in Long Island City further signal renewed interest in New York as a creative epicenter.
Paul Heyman stated,
“This brings both big budget and affordable production back to New York at a time where we have these studios being built in Bergen County, New Jersey; We have the studios being built and these movies all being shot in Yonkers right now, which has become a big hub; We still have all these production offices in Long Island City, which 10 years ago, everybody thought was going to be the East Coast Burbank.”
His project aims to capitalize on these regional growth patterns by offering advanced production infrastructure that attracts diverse clients and content creators eager to produce cutting-edge material close to home.
Creating a Comprehensive Production Hub with One-Stop Services
Heyman criticized the current fragmentation in production facilities, especially in areas like Yonkers and New Jersey, where many soundstages operate but lack integrated services, forcing projects to move elsewhere during completion phases. He envisions the new LED volume wall as part of a larger creative center that offers clients end-to-end solutions from concept to finished product.
“What we’ve noticed is, all these movies are being shot in Yonkers, all these sound stages are being built in Yonkers. Are they doing LED volume walls? … It’s a lot of soundstages. There’s a lot of production going on in New Jersey, but then what happens? Then it goes elsewhere. There’s no one-stop shopping. There’s no hub, there is no center that you can walk in the door with a concept, walk out the door with a finished product, and the ability to market and promote it. And those were the boxes that we wanted to check,”
Heyman said.
This “one-stop shopping” approach could streamline the production process, making New York competitive with traditional markets like Los Angeles, but with a distinct East Coast advantage. It also aligns with Heyman’s goal of supporting a spectrum of productions, from major studio films to independent creators working with limited budgets.
Heyman Balances WWE Commitments While Expanding Creative Ventures
Despite these new endeavors, Paul Heyman remains active in WWE, holding a regular on-screen role for Monday Night RAW and serving as the creative architect of The Vision, a faction led by World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. The group includes rising stars Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed, with Heyman acting as The Oracle alongside Rollins.
Recently, Heyman reunited with WWE Hall of Famer Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza, WWE’s premiere live event on ESPN, showcasing his ongoing influence in professional wrestling as he continues to broaden his professional horizons into his 60s.
By combining his wrestling experience with innovative production projects, Paul Heyman is positioning himself at the intersection of entertainment industries. His LED volume wall development in Manhattan is poised to reshape New York’s creative landscape and redefine how content is produced on the East Coast.
