Lionsgate and Runway are launching joint projects to develop new intellectual property, as well as leverage Lionsgate’s existing catalog for AI-generated films and series.

This isn’t Lionsgate’s first dance with Runway. The two initially partnered in September 2024 to build a custom AI video model trained on Lionsgate’s library.

From tooling partnership to content creation

The original September 2024 deal was primarily about infrastructure. Lionsgate opened up its library of over 20,000 titles, including franchises like John Wick, The Hunger Games, and Knives Out, to train a custom Runway model. The goal was straightforward: build AI tools that could help with storyboarding, visual effects, and other production workflows.

Lionsgate Vice Chair Michael Burns was bullish at the time, stating the technology could save “millions and millions of dollars” in production costs.

Now the partnership is evolving from behind-the-scenes efficiency into front-facing content. The joint development program aims to create entirely new IP using generative AI, while also repurposing existing Lionsgate properties in new formats, including kid-friendly adaptations and alternate versions tailored for different audiences and platforms.

Runway raised $308 million in a Series D funding round in April 2025, pushing its total funding past $500 million. Its valuation now sits around $5.3 billion, backed by Google and Nvidia.

The Lionsgate deal was Runway’s first official partnership with a Hollywood studio when it launched in 2024.

The complications nobody wants to talk about

By mid-2025, the collaboration had encountered real friction. The AI model’s capabilities haven’t always matched the ambitions of the partnership, and legal questions around copyright and IP rights have become increasingly thorny. Particularly when it comes to generating alternate versions of existing properties, the question of who owns what, and whether ancillary actor rights are being respected, has created headaches.

The content repurposing angle raises questions about whether performers’ likenesses can be algorithmically modified, whether directors retain creative control over derivative works, and whether unions will accept AI-altered versions of previously negotiated projects.

Notably, there is no evidence of Lionsgate making an equity investment in Runway, as the nature of the partnership appears focused primarily on data and licensing rather than equity stakes.