Lionsgate has emerged as the first major Hollywood studio to fully embrace AI technology. The company announced today a groundbreaking partnership with AI research firm Runway to create an exclusive AI model tailored from its extensive portfolio of film and television content. This exclusive model will be utilized to produce what Lionsgate describes as “cinematic video, " which can be enhanced further using Runway’s technology. The aim is to reduce costs significantly—“millions and millions of dollars, ” as stated by Lionsgate's vice chairman Michael Burns—by enabling filmmakers and creators to utilize the AI model to minimize the need for artists in production tasks like storyboarding. In business terminology, Burns noted that AI will be leveraged to “develop cutting-edge, capital-efficient content creation opportunities. ” He also mentioned, “many of our filmmakers are already enthusiastic about its potential applications in their pre-production and post-production processes. ” Burns further shared with the Wall Street Journal his vision of the tool potentially replacing visual effects artists, intending for the model to assist in creating backgrounds and special effects. “We produce many action films, which involve a lot of explosions, and that's an area where Runway excels, ” he explained. Cristóbal Valenzuela, co-founder and CEO of Runway, expressed the company's commitment to equipping artists, creators, and studios with powerful tools to enhance their workflows and unlock new storytelling possibilities.

He emphasized, “The history of art mirrors the history of technology, and these new models are part of our ongoing mission to create transformative mediums for artistic and creative expression. The best stories are still to come. ” However, it is important to note that Runway faces criticism from many in the creative community and is currently facing a lawsuit from a group of visual artists over copyright violations. Lionsgate offered limited information regarding which content will be used to train its models or how this material will be utilized legally. While the studio is best known for its live-action projects, including John Wick, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, it also boasts a catalog of over 20, 000 titles, having released numerous animated films over the years, such as Astro Boy, Rock Dog, Shaun the Sheep Movie, and Norm of the North.