Google is pouring roughly $75 million into A24, the indie studio behind films like The Backrooms, marking the tech giant's first direct stake in a movie studio. The multi-year, non-exclusive deal won't give Google access to A24's film and TV library, according to people familiar with the matter.
Google's DeepMind division and A24 are collaborating on new tools for filmmaking and distribution. Scott Belsky, A24's partner for technology and innovation, says current AI developers are too focused on cutting costs and production time — a pitch that doesn't appeal to filmmakers. Instead, Belsky argues AI should preserve creative control and support creative risk-taking. The joint tools won't use the prompt-based generation model that many creators currently find off-putting.
Talks started before Belsky joined A24 from Adobe last year. His 20-person team, A24 Labs, is already building an AI storyboarding app that helps directors spot potential issues through rough sketches before shooting begins. As part of its push to become a global media company, A24 is also working on its most expensive film ever: a $175 million adaptation of the video game Elden Ring, directed by Alex Garland.
The $75 million investment matches the amount Thrive Capital poured into A24 in 2024, when the studio was valued at $3.5 billion. But cozying up to Big Tech carries brand risks for A24, whose reputation rests on deep ties with emerging directors and a young audience that tends to be skeptical of tech companies and AI's societal impact.