Lionsgate Expands AI Collaboration with Runway, Plans AI-Driven Series Using Studio IP

Lionsgate has announced an expanded partnership with generative AI video company Runway, including acquiring an equity stake in the firm and plans to develop AI-generated short-form series based on Lionsgate’s existing intellectual property. This move builds on a collaboration initiated in September 2024 and signals the studio’s strong commitment to integrating AI technology into its creative processes.

The financial terms of the equity stake were not disclosed, but Lionsgate clarified that the investment is not a cash transaction. The expanded deal will also establish a new development program aimed at creating original content using AI, with multiple projects planned to incorporate generative AI tools. Additionally, Lionsgate and Runway will launch a series of events focused on supporting filmmakers in utilizing AI technology.

Michael Burns, Lionsgate’s vice chairman, emphasized the strategic value of the partnership, stating, “Runway is a great creative partner, an exciting part of our AI strategy and a valuable driver in expanding our storytelling capabilities. 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 initial partnership, formed in September 2024, saw Lionsgate employing Runway’s AI technology for pre-visualization, storyboarding, post-production processes, and potentially repurposing content across different rating scales and genres. The newly expanded deal could enable characters from Lionsgate’s well-known franchises—such as “John Wick,” “The Hunger Games,” “The Twilight Series,” and “Saw”—to appear in AI-generated projects, although the studio has not confirmed which properties will be utilized.

Runway co-founder and co-CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela highlighted the creative potential of the collaboration, saying, “We consistently see that the studios most serious about AI are thinking about it as a creative resource, not a cost-cutting tool. 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’s embrace of AI technology comes amid widespread industry debate over the implications of generative AI, particularly regarding intellectual property rights and compliance with union contracts governing actors and writers. To lead its AI initiatives, Lionsgate appointed Kathleen Grace as its first chief AI officer in February 2025.

At the recent Gabelli Sports & Media Symposium in New York, Burns indicated the financial benefits of AI adoption, projecting that it will save Lionsgate “tens and tens of millions of dollars a year” in film and television production costs. He also alluded to the expanded Runway partnership, describing Lionsgate as “an interesting strategic partner” and joking about a potential acquisition of Runway, which was valued at $5.3 billion earlier this year.

Lionsgate’s financial performance remains strong, with revenues reaching $906.5 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2025, up from $865.6 million year-over-year. The company reported a net profit of $70.2 million for the quarter, a significant turnaround from a $117.4 million loss in the same period last year.

This expanded collaboration between Lionsgate and Runway marks a significant step in the entertainment industry’s exploration of AI as a creative tool, blending traditional intellectual property with cutting-edge generative technology to produce new forms of storytelling.