Google invests $75 million in A24 for an AI-driven filmmaking experiment

Google is making a bold move into Hollywood, pouring roughly $75 million into A24, the indie studio behind hits like Backrooms and Obsession. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, this isn’t just a cash injection—it’s a strategic bet on how artificial intelligence can reshape the creative process. The investment comes with a new research partnership between A24 and Google DeepMind, Google’s advanced AI lab. This means that Google invests in A24 not only as a financial backer but as a co-creator of future filmmaking tools.

For years, A24 has built a reputation as the most filmmaker-friendly studio in the business. Now, it’s joining forces with one of the world’s leading AI research teams. The goal, according to DeepMind, is to let artists shape the technology rather than the other way around. Directors and producers at A24 will get hands-on access to DeepMind’s research and infrastructure. In return, DeepMind gets real-world feedback from working filmmakers as they develop new tools together.

DeepMind cofounder and CEO Demis Hassabis put it simply: the best way to build tools that actually empower artists is to work with them directly from day one. This partnership is designed to be collaborative, not exploitative. Importantly, the deal does not give Google access to A24’s existing film and television library or its data. So your favorite A24 titles—from Moonlight to Everything Everywhere All at Once—remain exactly where they are.

Why Google chose A24 for its AI filmmaking push

A24 has spent the last decade building a brand that people genuinely love. Survey data shows that more than half of moviegoers count themselves as fans of the studio itself, not just individual movies. This deep audience loyalty makes A24 an ideal partner for experimenting with new technologies like AI. Moreover, the studio is gearing up for its biggest project yet: a roughly $175 million Elden Ring adaptation, directed by Alex Garland. This high-profile production could serve as a testbed for AI-assisted filmmaking techniques.

This deal lands amid a broader wave of studios warming up to AI. Martin Scorsese recently joined AI startup Black Forest Labs as an adviser, using its tools to storyboard an upcoming project. Meanwhile, Netflix quietly built its own AI animation studio, INKubator, to crank out AI-generated shorts and specials. And OpenAI went even further, backing an AI-assisted animated feature called Critterz that’s heading straight for Cannes, made on a $30 million budget using OpenAI’s own tools from start to finish.

Building on this trend, the A24-DeepMind partnership stands out because of its focus on artistic input. Instead of imposing AI on filmmakers, the collaboration lets directors and writers guide the development of new tools. This could lead to innovations in areas like storyboarding, visual effects, or even script analysis—all while keeping the human creative voice at the center.

What this means for A24’s films going forward

So, what will actually change for A24 movies? The partnership is still in its early stages, but the potential is huge. Filmmakers might get access to AI tools that help them visualize scenes faster, experiment with different camera angles, or even generate rough cuts of complex sequences. DeepMind’s expertise in areas like generative AI and computer vision could directly translate into practical filmmaking aids.

However, the deal is careful to protect A24’s creative independence. No existing library or data is being handed over. This means that any AI tools developed will be used on a project-by-project basis, with filmmakers retaining control over how they’re applied. As a result, the studio’s signature aesthetic—gritty, human, and emotionally resonant—should remain intact.

For Google, this investment is a way to gain credibility in the entertainment world. By partnering with a beloved indie studio, they avoid the stigma of being seen as a tech giant trying to automate creativity. Instead, they position themselves as collaborators who want to empower artists. Check out more about how AI is changing filmmaking and Google’s AI projects in 2025 for broader context.

Could this lead to AI-generated A24 films?

Not likely—at least not in the way you might imagine. The focus is on tools, not full automation. DeepMind wants to build software that assists directors, not replaces them. Think of it as a digital assistant for complex tasks, not a robot filmmaker. This approach mirrors what other studios are doing: Netflix uses AI for animation, but human writers still drive the stories. A24’s model will probably be similar, but with more direct input from filmmakers.

In fact, the Elden Ring adaptation could be the first major test. With a budget of $175 million, it’s a high-stakes project that could benefit from AI-assisted planning. Director Alex Garland, known for his visually ambitious films like Ex Machina and Annihilation, might use DeepMind’s tools to streamline pre-production or experiment with new visual effects. If successful, this could set a precedent for how AI is used in big-budget indie films.

The bigger picture: AI’s growing role in cinema

This deal is part of a larger shift. Studios are increasingly exploring AI to cut costs, speed up production, or create new kinds of storytelling. But A24’s partnership with DeepMind is unique because it prioritizes artist feedback. While Netflix and OpenAI are building AI tools in-house, A24 is inviting a tech giant into its creative process. This could lead to more organic, filmmaker-approved AI applications.

Nevertheless, there are concerns. Some critics worry that AI could homogenize filmmaking, reducing the diversity of styles and voices. Others fear job losses for writers, editors, or visual effects artists. The A24 deal seems designed to avoid these pitfalls by keeping humans in control. Yet, as AI becomes more powerful, the line between assistance and replacement may blur.

One thing is clear: even the coolest indie studios are now AI’s newest playground. Google’s investment in A24 signals that the future of filmmaking will be shaped by both human creativity and machine intelligence. Whether that’s a good thing depends on how carefully these tools are used. For now, A24 fans can rest assured that their favorite studio is still in the driver’s seat—just with a very powerful engine under the hood.