Google DeepMind Invests $75 Million in A24 to Build AI Filmmaking Tools

Google DeepMind is investing roughly $75 million in A24, the independent studio behind hits like Backrooms and Obsession, to develop AI-powered filmmaking tools. The research partnership, announced June 22, 2026, marks Google's first equity stake in a film studio and signals a shift in how tech companies approach Hollywood collaboration.

The investment comes at a time when other studios have sued AI developers over copyright, while A24 is taking a different path by embedding AI directly into its production pipeline.

A Different Approach to AI in Hollywood

Scott Belsky, A24 partner and head of the studio's technology division A24 Labs, told the Wall Street Journal that many AI developers mistakenly marketed their products as a way to make films cheaper and faster. “We think there are better uses that preserve creative control and support risk-taking,” Belsky said. He argued that the new tools “won't look anything like the prompted generation type of AI that people feel uncomfortable with.”

• Google is contributing approximately $75 million in funding, according to multiple reports.
• DeepMind will collaborate with A24 Labs to build tools for storyboarding, scene matching, and production workflow automation.
• The partnership focuses on AI that assists filmmakers rather than generating complete scenes or scripts.
• A24 retains full creative control over its films; Google does not receive any content rights.

What the Tools Will Actually Do

The initial applications include AI-generated storyboards and automated syncing of audio and video from multiple takes. Belsky's team is reimagining production tasks that are often tedious, such as matching picture and sound to a rough cut. Filmmakers like Martin Scorsese have already tested some of these workflow tools, indicating growing acceptance among established directors.

By focusing on backstage automation rather than front-end content generation, A24 aims to avoid the criticism that has dogged other AI entertainment ventures, such as the backlash against AI-generated music on Spotify.

What Comes Next for Hollywood and AI

The deal sets a precedent for how studios and AI labs can collaborate without litigation. While companies like OpenAI and Meta have faced lawsuits from authors and artists, Google's equity stake aligns incentives and gives DeepMind a real-world testing ground. A24 plans to roll out the tools to its filmmakers over the next 18 months, with potential to license them to other studios. The partnership also raises questions about whether other indie studios will seek similar arrangements as production costs continue to rise.