The Hill Country Group expects to invest $267 million in a film studio being planned in San Marcos. The towns city council gave the project its final approvals and the developer is ready to get moving. Groundbreaking is planned for later this year.

The groups website says it It could eventually provide more than 800,000 square feet of studio facilities at full buildout, including 12 purpose-built sound stages, four workshops and more than 200,000 square feet of production office space. Build-out could total 820,000 square feet — about the size of a regional mall.

The San Antonio Business Journal says the total project will be constructed in three phases. Phase 1A would include seven production stages, two workshops and a welcome center, while phase 1B would include 250,000 square feet of office space. Phase 2 would include five additional stages, two workshops and support space. Hill Country also is planning to allow for vendor spaces.