Lionsgate Expands Partnership with Runway for AI-Generated Short-Form Shows

Lionsgate is broadening its collaboration with AI company Runway through a new agreement that deepens the studio’s involvement in AI-driven content creation. This announcement was made on Thursday and confirmed by Lionsgate in an official press release.

As part of this deal, Lionsgate is not only partnering with Runway but is also acquiring an equity stake in the generative AI firm. The two companies will move beyond initial testing phases to start developing new projects together. Their primary focus will be on creating and producing original intellectual property, including short-form episodic series utilizing AI tools.

These upcoming AI-generated series will draw from Lionsgate’s extensive film and television library. The companies plan to explore a diverse array of titles from the studio’s catalog, which boasts thousands of properties. While specific franchises have not been disclosed, Lionsgate is known for popular titles like ‘John Wick’ and ‘The Hunger Games’, both of which are among its most valuable assets.

The partnership has been described as a “preferred partnership” and aligns with Lionsgate’s broader strategy regarding artificial intelligence. The studio’s efforts are being guided by its Chief AI Officer Kathleen Grace and an internal AI Steering Committee that oversees the technology’s application across production.

Lionsgate Vice Chairman Michael Burns emphasized that this collaboration aims to enhance creative possibilities rather than replace traditional filmmaking. He elaborated on the company’s approach in a statement shared through the press release.

“Runway is a great creative partner, an exciting part of our AI strategy and a valuable driver in expanding our storytelling capabilities,” Burns said. “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.”

Runway, the AI company involved in this partnership, also shared its insights on the deal. Co-founder and co-CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela stated that the aim is to leverage AI as a storytelling tool rather than merely a means to cut production costs.

“We consistently see that the studios most serious about AI are thinking about it as a creative resource, not a cost-cutting tool,” Valenzuela said. “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.”

Lionsgate was among the first major Hollywood studios to collaborate with an AI company when it initially partnered with Runway in 2024. That earlier collaboration focused on testing AI’s potential in filmmaking but encountered limitations in producing fully AI-generated films.

With this new agreement, the companies are advancing into more direct production efforts. The plan is to create short episodic series using Lionsgate’s intellectual property alongside Runway’s generative AI tools. However, details regarding which franchises will be utilized or what the final projects will entail have not yet been revealed.

A release timeline for the AI-generated series has not been disclosed. Both companies indicate that the work is still in development, with an emphasis on experimenting with innovative storytelling methods using AI.

Lionsgate is also set to participate in the Runway AI Festival in June as a presenting partner, further showcasing its commitment to the evolving role of AI in entertainment production.

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