FAYETTEVILLE — Gov. Nathan Deal’s planned Georgia Film Academy has likely found a home at Pinewood Atlanta Studios in Fayetteville, according to thecitizen.com.

Last week, Pinewood Atlanta Studios architect Bill Foley told the Fayetteville City Council the academy would be located in the Pinewood Production Centre, across the street from the 288-acre studio complex where “Captain America 3: Civil War” is reportedly filming now.

Foley said the academy would open this summer and the program would begin with 50 students.

Pinewood developer Jim Pace said the studio has been working with film academy organizers for the past two years, and they have indicated they plan to be located at Pinewood.

Pinewood is currently in the process of drafting a Letter of Intent with the University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents.

Fayette County Development Authority’s Film Fayette has a notice on its Facebook page that says the film academy is hiring, though it did not confirm its location will be Pinewood.

Atlanta Business Chronicle first reported the state was considering launching a film academy to bolster the film industry’s local crew base back in September 2014. Cecil Staton, vice chancellor for extended education at USG, then referred to the program as a “virtual academy,” and it is unknown if Pinewood will be the only physical location.

Another sign of progress is Deal’s fiscal 2016 state budget, which allocated about $2.6 billion to establish and develop the academy.

Atlanta Business Chronicle