‘Divergent’ Producer Pouya Shahbazian Reveals Investors, First Productions for His Staircase Studios AI

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As a passionate fan, I’m thrilled to share that Pouya Shahbazian, the producer behind the “Divergent” franchise, has unveiled his ambitious plans for Staircase Studios AI – a groundbreaking studio focusing on film, TV, and gaming, all powered by AI technology. This venture is set to churn out over 30 projects in the upcoming 3-4 years, with each project budgeted under $500,000. I can’t wait to see what incredible stories this innovative studio will bring to life!

Prominent figures on our team are Kenneth Lerer, a partner and principal investor, who shares the credit for establishing The Huffington Post and currently serves as an emeritus managing director at Lerer Hippeau, a venture capital firm. Other investors joining us are Aryeh Bourkoff, CEO of Liontree; Robert Pittman; Tad Haley from Rafiki Ventures; and Red Sea Ventures, another venture capital firm.

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Important contributors to our team are Kenneth Lerer, who is both a partner and key investor, having co-founded The Huffington Post and serving as an emeritus managing director at Lerer Hippeau, a venture capital company. Other investors involved in this project include Aryeh Bourkoff, CEO of Liontree; Robert Pittman; Tad Haley from Rafiki Ventures; and Red Sea Ventures, another venture capital firm.

Producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura (“Transformers”) is an advisor to Staircase Studios.

Over the last 15 years, we’ve sent 150 projects into the studio system, but I’ve seen too much wastefulness to keep things as they are,” said Shahbazian, CEO of Staircase. “For the past year, I’ve been focused on combining ethical AI with our industry’s least exploited resources – compelling stories from talented writers and directors that have been overlooked. It’s been exhilarating to be able to bring these skilled artists on board, allowing them to create the films that the industry desires but currently lacks the courage to finance.

Currently in progress is Staircase’s inaugural venture titled “The Woman with Red Hair,” helmed by director Brett Stuart based on the 2016 Black List script penned by Michael Schatz. This captivating tale follows Johanna “Hannie” Schaft, a university dropout who joined the Dutch Resistance during WWII and eventually emerged as one of their top assassins. The film stars Maya-Nika Bewley, Leander Vyvey, Angus Castle-Doughty, and Geoffrey Breton. Notably, Teddy Newton, a Pixar veteran known for his character designs in “The Incredibles,” has contributed original character designs, while Emmy Award-winning animator Alfred Gimeno (“Tiny Toon Adventures”) provides the artistic and design elements.

Furthermore, “Every Living Creature,” an exhilarating animated action-thriller helmed by Emmy Award winner Bernie Su, is currently in the preparatory stages for production. J.R. Arellano has adapted the screenplay from a piece published in Truly Adventurous, a digital media magazine, which recounts the authentic tale of three daredevils who braved danger to save animals stranded on the Caribbean island of Montserrat following a 1997 volcanic eruption.

Staircase has obtained intellectual property and scripts for various projects. Among them are:

1. “Wild Night,” adapted from a novel by the New York Times bestselling author Patrick Lee, to be produced by di Bonaventura.
2. “Between The Dog & The Wolf,” penned by writer/director Matthew Sand.
3. “Fully Wrecked,” a story about an explicit-rated talking car, created by Josh Feldman and Scott Wolman.
4. “Sundown,” written by Nick Hurwitch.

The roster features an as-yet-unnamed procedural TV series created by Gabe Rotter, in addition to a television adaptation of the graphic novel “I Hate You, Kelly Donahue” written by Mark Svartz.

On the gaming side, Staircase is partnering with AI gaming tech company Mother Games.

As a movie enthusiast, I’ve been excitedly following the advancements made at Staircase Studios, particularly in the development of their innovative AI workflow, ForwardMotion. This groundbreaking project, spearheaded by Brett Stuart, the head of AI filmmaking, is designed to deliver productions that rival the quality of major studio releases.

AI will undoubtedly impact every sector, and it’s evident what the future holds for films, television, and gaming,” stated Lerer. “Although the industry often grapples with the innovator’s dilemma, slowing progress, at Staircase, we have been pioneers and have established a system that positions us to grow into an exceptional AI-driven studio and platform for content.

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2025-03-04 18:00