Montreal is set to be home to another major film studio development, a $25.6m (C$40m) full-service facility backed by Los Angeles-based WonderWorks Entertainment Group, Avondale Pictures and Quebec architectural firm Smith & Koenka.

The new 210,000 sq. ft. studio, to be called WonderWorks Montreal will be situated on a 4-million square-foot plot of land fifteen minutes from the city centre and 25 minutes from the US border and close to major airports. Construction is set to begin in October and is to be completed next April.

It's the second major studio announcement this year. In February of 2002, a consortium announced it would be opening Studio Bromont, touted to be the world's largest studio, in a shuttered auto assembly plant. However, calls to Jocelyn Parenteau, a Studio Bromont promoter, yielded a disconnected number.

In a statement, WonderWorks Entertainment Group president John Palmer said, "Montreal's film-industry infrastructure matches our needs to a tee. Innovation, creativity and the talent of a specialised labour force were also determining factors in the decision-making process. Finally, the fiscal incentives and the strength of the U.S. dollar were, of course, added bonuses."

WonderWorks specialises in film production miniatures, sets and special effects and has worked on such films as Armageddon, Apollo 13, Back To The Future, Star Trek: The Motion Picture and Star Trek II & III. Partner Avondale Pictures is involved in film production.