This OpenAI-backed startup raised $12M to bring AI content to Hollywood 

London-based AI creative studio Wonder Studios has raised $12 million in seed funding to scale production in a push to bring AI-generated content to the entertainment industry.

The round was led by Atomico, alongside existing investors LocalGlobe and Blackbird, and builds on Wonder’s pre-seed investment, which included executives from ElevenLabs, Google DeepMind and OpenAI.

Wonder will use the new funding to double its engineering team and accelerate its push into IP ownership and original content production. The team recently created an AI music video for Lewis Capaldi ‘something in heaven’Created with DeepMind, YouTube, and Universal Music Group. Wonder also released his first original production, “Beyond the Loop“Compilation Series.

Wonder is working on several commercial and original projects for release next year, including an upcoming documentary with Campfire Studios, the production company behind the Netflix documentaries “The Menendez Brothers” and “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” Campfire CEO Ross Dinerstein is an investor in the startup.

The drive for IP ownership comes amid a wave of legal action from Hollywood producers targeting AI companies — both for training models on their content and for creating output containing copyrighted characters. For example, Disney and Universal Studios sued Chinese company Minimax as well as AI image generator Midjourney.

A surprising increase also comes Netflix goes “all in” on generative AI As a way to make creatives more efficient at storytelling.

As AI remains a divisive issue in entertainment, artists worry that tools powered by LLMs, who are often trained on their jobs without consent, could threaten their livelihoods. OpenAI has come under particular criticism for Sora 2 Similar reproduction of actors without notice or consent.

Wonder positions itself as “Hollywood without borders,” helping to make AI storytelling tools accessible to all creators. According to the company, the startup’s app serves as a hub to connect its community of creators with career opportunities, partners and resources.

“The next decade will define what creativity looks like in the age of AI,” said Justin Hackney, chief commercial officer and co-founder of Wonder Studios. “Our mission is to ensure this future is for storytellers. By working with leading studios, industry pioneers and grassroots filmmakers, we’re already building a bridge where technology and the arts thrive together.”