Under the partnership, the companies plan to develop a slate of projects that blend AI tools with traditional entertainment production. While Lionsgate has not disclosed which franchises will be used for the initial short-form series, the companies said the program will draw from existing Lionsgate intellectual property while also pursuing the creation of new IP.
The collaboration forms part of Lionsgate’s wider AI strategy, which is overseen by Chief AI Officer Kathleen Grace and the studio’s AI Steering Committee. In addition to content development, the companies will jointly support filmmaker-focused initiatives, including Lionsgate’s role as a presenting partner at the Runway AI Festival.
“Runway is a great creative partner, an exciting part of our AI strategy and a valuable driver in expanding our storytelling capabilities,” said Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns. “This is an iterative process. As we continue to expand the use cases of Runway technology across our production operations and introduce its tools to more of our filmmakers, we believe it will help our talent redefine and reshape the art of the possible in their creative endeavors.”
The deal reflects a growing willingness among entertainment companies to integrate AI more deeply into creative workflows. Rather than positioning the technology primarily as a production-efficiency tool, both companies framed the partnership around expanding creative possibilities and increasing the volume of stories that can be developed.
“We consistently see that the studios most serious about AI are thinking about it as a creative resource, not a cost-cutting tool,” said Cristóbal Valenzuela, co-founder and co-CEO of Runway. “Lionsgate gets that. This expanded partnership will help more stories be told, faster. That’s core to our mission at Runway, and we’re excited to help create the next generation of iconic content.”
For Runway, the agreement strengthens its position within the entertainment industry as studios explore how generative AI can be integrated into both production processes and finished content. For Lionsgate, the partnership extends an AI strategy that the company says already spans multiple stages of filmmaking and content creation.
The companies have not provided financial details of Lionsgate’s equity investment or a timeline for the release of the first AI-generated series. However, the agreement signals a broader commitment from both organizations to developing entertainment projects that combine established studio franchises with generative AI tools.
Lionsgate said it was the first Hollywood studio to partner with an applied research AI company, the first to appoint a Chief AI Officer, and the first to build infrastructure dedicated to supporting its AI strategy. The expanded Runway partnership represents the latest step in that effort as the studio moves beyond experimentation and into AI-assisted content development.
This analysis is based on reporting from msn.com.
Image courtesy of Runway.
This article was generated with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy and quality.
