A24 is not as independent as you think.

A24 is not as independent as you think. The one studio Gen Z actually trusts just took 75 million from Google. A24, the studio behind some of Hollywood's most beloved indie films, built their entire reputation on feeling independent, human, and anti-corporate. One studio literally called them an anti-brand brand. The last studio you would expect to take a check from Big Tech. And yet, Google's DeepMind just announced a 75 million dollar investment in A24 to build AI filmmaking tools. Roughly 50% of adults, A24's core audience, believe AI will harm society. The studio that positioned themselves as the antidote to algorithm-driven content is now a development partner for the company building the algorithm. To their credit, A24 covered all their bases. Google doesn't get the film library or the data and the deal isn't even exclusive. But ultimately, the stakes are much higher for A24, given their reputation as a champion for independent storytelling. The first project is AI-assisted storyboarding, pre-production work that supports the director's vision rather than replacing it. Everything in this deal is designed to protect the one thing Google paid for in the first place: trust. The question is whether the audience sees it that way. So, will you still watch an A24 film?