Built on the Word: Tyler Perry buried Bibles under his mega studio to counter its dark past

Film mogul Tyler Perry placed several Bibles underneath the land where he built his iconic studio in Atlanta, all due to the place’s dark past.

Perry acquired the land for the 330 acre studio in 2015. Since its grand opening in 2019, the studio has  been the launching pad for hundreds of TV shows and films.

“The land itself was once a Confederate Army base, which meant there were people here fighting to keep my ancestors enslaved. From the moment I walked onto the property, I was haunted by it,” Perry said during a recent interview with AARP. “So, as we built each of the 12 soundstages, we buried Bibles underneath them, as a way of refocusing the spirit of the place. I wanted this to be a place where everyone was welcome.”

The professing Christian  has since used the studio to create content honoring black experiences. His crime-drama series, “The Haves and the Have Nots,” ran for eight seasons on Oprah Winfrey’s Own Network. The motion picture studio is one of the largest in America.

Perry’s faith and clinging to prayer in times of pain and uncertainty is often reflected in his films. The film maker has also used his celebrity status to promote  mission projects, including the feeding of the homeless.

The actor hosted a church service during the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in 2019, where he invited Bishop T.D. Jakes to give the sermon.