Through harnessing the creative power of AI and by exposing the next generation of filmmaking talent, the company hopes to usher in a new age of storytelling. Backed by LocalGlobe and Blackbird, the studio aims to both incubate emerging talent and produce original IP, building an ecosystem that empowers a burgeoning community of AI filmmakers, traditional creatives, and technologists.

The round also includes independent investors such as Mati Staniszewski (Co-Founder, ElevenLabs), Laura Modiano (Head of Startups, OpenAI), Ross Dinerstein (CEO, Campfire Studios), Ammaar Reshi (Design Lead, Google DeepMind), Mika Salmi (Founder, AtomFilms), Andre Haddad (CEO, Turo), and Peter Hepworth (former COO, Activision Blizzard EMEA), among others.

Leveraging generative AI, Wonder enables the next generation of filmmakers and storytellers to craft stunning visual content, bring more concepts to life faster, radically improving the efficiency of the content creation process. For decades, filmmaking has been an industry controlled by high costs, technical complexity, and exclusive networks. $243 billion was spent globally on film and TV production in 2023, but outdated systems are a bottleneck for creativity, and industry pros frequently cite that 90% of scripts never get made because of budget demands or gatekeeping.

“We’re at an inflection point in history where the power to craft and create visually striking stories is being rapidly democratised through technology,” said Xavier Collins, Co-Founder and CEO of Wonder. “Storytelling should be about creativity, not overcoming financial and logistical barriers. We’re unearthing the next generation of talent and partnering with the traditional industry to unlock new avenues of creativity and empowering them to do more with less.”

Led by LocalGlobe, the investment reflects growing confidence in AI-driven content and brings together deep expertise in tech startups and film production, equipping Wonder with the backing to scale its innovation and grow globally. With AI in media and entertainment projected to reach $99 billion by 2030 – and $28.4 billion in advertising by 2033 – the market opportunity is vast.

“AI is fundamentally changing how film is produced, and Wonder is operating at the forefront of this shift,” said Ziv Reichert, Partner at LocalGlobe. “We believe they’re building what a 21st century studio should look like: capital-light, AI-first, and built to elevate creative talent rather than replace it. Their model empowers an entirely new generation to tell stories – ones that would otherwise never see the light of day.”

“The cost of high-end TV and film production typically ranges from $500,000 to $1 million per minute, and using AI, we can bring that down to $10,000–$20,000 per minute,” said Justin Hackney, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Wonder. “Traditional creative pipelines are too slow, expensive, and gatekept for the pace of AI-native storytelling. Wonder is being built to enable faster production at scale, global collaboration, and fairer ownership for the next generation of creators and entertainment.”

“Blackbird is honoured to be partnering with Xavier and Justin as they bring their global film, tech, and AI experience together to form Wonder,” said Sam Wong, Partner at Blackbird. “We love partnering from the very beginning and are excited by their human-centred approach to creative output, augmented by AI.”

“Wonder is building a future where technology amplifies human storytelling, giving rise to voices and stories that were previously impossible to tell,” said Mati Stanszewski, Co-Founder of ElevenLabs. “This is exactly the kind of bold, forward-thinking studio the industry needs, and I’m excited to see them shape the next era of entertainment.”

Aspiring filmmakers, advertisers, and technologists can join Wonder’s growing community at www.wonderstudios.com. Investors and partners interested in collaborating on the future of AI-driven filmmaking are encouraged to reach out, and existing partnerships with world-leading production companies and directors include: ElevenLabs, Campfire Studios, Ravensbourne University, Freepik, and others.

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