By: Mitch Reynolds, Hollywood Reporter
As Hollywood 2.0 faces delays in Las Vegas, momentum in the city’s cinematic future is already in disarray, but the energy is taking shape in another organization. While actor Mark Wahlberg’s relocation from Los Angeles to Las Vegas helped spotlight early interest in the Hollywood 2.0 vision, the proposed studio development in Summerlin, one of the city’s most affluent districts, has stalled amid Nevada’s unresolved film tax incentives. In contrast, the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra is moving forward, bringing film scoring and cinematic music production to the forefront and proving that Las Vegas doesn’t need to wait on Hollywood to hit the big screen.
Orchestras like the Hollywood Studio Symphony and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra have long dominated film composition in Los Angeles, but the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra is proving that Las Vegas can compete on its own stage. According to them, the orchestra has already scored the 2026 World Cup highlights set for the United States and is currently working on the highly anticipated documentary I Am Tommy Morrison, chronicling the life of the late world boxing champion and Rocky V star, scheduled for release at the end of 2026.
As of early 2026, the much-talked-about Hollywood 2.0 initiative in Las Vegas, a vision to bring large-scale film and television production out of Southern California, has lost legislative momentum and stalled. A high-profile proposal that would have expanded Nevada’s modest film tax incentive program from a $10 million annual cap to as much as $120 million per year, largely to support a planned studio complex backed by studios such as Sony Pictures and Warner Bros., failed to pass the Nevada Legislature in late 2025, falling just short in the Senate and effectively killing the bill for now.
There has always been a bridge between Los Angeles and Las Vegas in the entertainment world: Las Vegas is known as the entertainment capital of the world, while Los Angeles remains the hub of Hollywood stars. Both cities have shaped how we view and understand the entertainment industry. Now, with a soon-to-open high-speed train linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas, combined with Nevada’s competitive real estate opportunities and what some call the “California invasion,” Las Vegas is positioning itself to be a U.S.-based film hub in its own right.
Tyrell Maison, Director of Artistic Affairs for the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, stated that the organization has held several meetings with key Hollywood 2.0 figures. While the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra believes the project may eventually move forward, it does not intend to wait. Instead, the orchestra is focused on building momentum now and is open to participating wherever it makes sense, without slowing down initiatives that are already established.
The Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra is far more than a traditional orchestra. Known for its innovative symphonic pops and original programming, CEO Shea Arender has positioned the orchestra as a symphonic rock band, moving seamlessly beyond classical and film scores. Their work spans Shea Arender’s Elvis Journey, Mozart, rockabilly, and genre-blending projects that fuse full orchestral arrangements with country, adult contemporary, and many other styles. The Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra is widely recognized as one of the most diverse and versatile orchestras in the world, having performed across R&B, Motown, oldies rock, classic rock, rockabilly, country, adult contemporary, and modern film scores.
In addition, the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra offers a selective Artist Collaboration Program designed specifically for recorded music. Artists with symphony-ready tracks can submit their work for consideration, and if selected, their songs are professionally arranged and recorded with the orchestra. These collaborations have helped place select artists on a global stage by transforming finished recordings into fully realized symphonic productions.
So whether it’s the neon lights of Las Vegas or the old glory of classic Hollywood, the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra has taken bold leadership roles in the entertainment sector and continues to expand its digital assets and global outreach.