THE APEX TIMES
Shadowbox Studios to Manage New York’s Historic Kaufman Astoria Studios
The studio management firm will oversee operations at the 500,000-square-foot Astoria, Queens campus, which has hosted both landmark productions and current series filming.
Shadowbox Studios has taken on management of Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, according to an exclusive report from Deadline published August 3, 2026. The agreement places the Astoria, Queens facility under Shadowbox’s operational control, with the studio campus described as a historically significant production site and a working hub for contemporary television and film.
Kaufman Astoria Studios is a 500,000-square-foot production campus located in Queens. The facility has a long track record of major productions, with Deadline citing classic film and television titles including Goodfellas and Sesame Street as having been filmed there.
In addition to its legacy, the campus continues to host high-profile current productions. Deadline also points to recent or ongoing series filmed at the studio, including Succession and Just Like That, framing Kaufman Astoria as both an archive of production history and an active production environment.
Deadline’s report describes the management change as an expansion of Shadowbox Studios’ role in managing major studio properties, situating the firm in charge of day-to-day stewardship of the Kaufman Astoria footprint. The report characterizes the studio as well-known for its stages and production infrastructure built for large-scale shoots, a key consideration for studios and production teams planning logistics and scheduling.
While the report does not lay out specific financial terms, it underscores that Kaufman Astoria functions as more than a historic landmark, operating as a working facility used by current productions. That operational continuity is central to how studio management decisions can affect shooting schedules, production access, and the availability of soundstage space for both established and emerging projects.
The next steps after a management transition typically involve confirming operational protocols with existing tenants and production partners, and aligning scheduling and facility services under the new management team. Deadline’s report positions the change as immediate in timing, with Shadowbox now handling management responsibilities for the Queens campus as of the August 3 publication date.
Why It Matters
- Studio management changes can affect how productions secure space and services, including stage availability and operational coordination for scheduled shoots.
- Kaufman Astoria’s mix of legacy and ongoing major series highlights its role in continuity of New York-area filming and local production work.
- Management responsibilities for a large, multi-stage campus can influence vendor access, facility scheduling, and day-to-day production logistics for multiple concurrent projects.
- The transition indicates continued commercial and operational interest in maintaining high-capacity studio infrastructure in New York’s media production ecosystem.
Key Facts
- Shadowbox Studios has taken on management of Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York, per an exclusive report by Deadline on August 3, 2026.
- Kaufman Astoria Studios is described as a 500,000-square-foot campus located in Astoria, Queens.
- Deadline says the studio has hosted classic productions including Goodfellas and Sesame Street.
- Deadline also cites contemporary series filmed at the facility, including Succession and Just Like That.
- Deadline’s report characterizes the campus as both historically significant and currently active for production work.