AI creative studio Wonder Studios, based in London, has secured $12 million in seed funding to ramp up its production capabilities as it aims to introduce more AI-driven content to the entertainment sector.
Atomico led the funding round, with continued support from LocalGlobe and Blackbird, building on Wonder’s earlier pre-seed round that included backing from leaders at ElevenLabs, Google DeepMind, and OpenAI.
With this new investment, Wonder plans to expand its engineering team twofold and speed up its initiatives in intellectual property and original content creation. Recently, the company collaborated with DeepMind, YouTube, and Universal Music Group to produce an AI-powered music video for Lewis Capaldi’s ‘Something in the Heavens.’ Wonder has also launched its debut original series, the anthology “Beyond the Loop.”
Looking ahead, Wonder is developing multiple commercial and original works set for release next year, including a documentary in partnership with Campfire Studios—the production house behind Netflix’s “The Menendez Brothers” and “America’s Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.” Campfire’s CEO, Ross Dinerstein, is also among Wonder’s investors.
The emphasis on securing IP rights comes as Hollywood studios pursue legal action against AI firms for both using their content to train models and generating works that feature protected characters. For instance, Disney and Universal Studios have filed lawsuits against China’s MiniMax and AI image generator Midjourney.
Wonder’s funding round coincides with Netflix’s commitment to generative AI as a tool to boost storytelling efficiency for creatives.
AI continues to spark debate in the entertainment world, as many artists worry that LLM-based tools—often trained on their creations without permission—could jeopardize their careers. OpenAI’s Sora 2 has faced particular backlash for replicating actors’ likenesses without their approval or awareness.
Wonder brands itself as “Hollywood without borders,” aiming to democratize AI storytelling tools for creators everywhere. The startup’s app acts as a central platform, connecting its creative community with job opportunities, collaborators, and essential resources, according to the company.
“The coming decade will shape the nature of creativity in the AI era,” stated Justin Hackney, Wonder Studios’ co-founder and chief commercial officer. “We’re dedicated to making sure storytellers are at the heart of this evolution. By collaborating with top studios, industry trailblazers, and independent filmmakers, we’re forging a path where technology and creativity flourish together.”
Clarification: An earlier headline inaccurately described OpenAI’s role with Wonder Studios.
