‘Divergent’ Producer Launches AI Studio Aiming for Studio-Quality Films on a Modest Budget

Blending AI and Filmmaking, Staircase Studios AI Aims to Produce High-Quality Features on a Fraction of Hollywood Budgets

Pouya Shahbazian, best known for producing the Divergent franchise, is taking a leap into artificial intelligence-driven filmmaking with the launch of Staircase Studios AI. The newly formed studio aims to shake up traditional production models by using proprietary AI technology, ForwardMotion, which it claims can deliver near-studio-quality films for under $500,000.

The company has ambitious plans, aiming to roll out around 30 low-budget projects over the next few years. The first glimpse of its work has arrived with a teaser for The Woman With Red Hair, a feature film directed by Brett Stuart. The project, based on Michael Schatz’s 2016 Black List script, tells the story of a real-life World War II war resister in Holland. Lending their voices to the drama are Maya-Nika Bewley, Leander Vyvey, Angus Castle-Doughty, and Geoffrey Breton. The film also features original character designs by former Pixar executive Teddy Newton (The Incredibles) and artwork from Emmy-winning animator Alfred Gimeno (Kung Fu Panda).

Backing the venture is Kenneth Lerer, co-founder of The Huffington Post and a managing director emeritus at the venture capital firm Lerer Hippeau. With Shahbazian stepping in as CEO and Brett Stuart leading AI filmmaking efforts, Staircase Studios AI positions itself as a company focused on blending AI tools with underrepresented stories and talent.

"After packaging and selling 150 projects into the studio system over the past 15 years, I’ve borne witness to far too much inefficiency to continue the status quo," Shahbazian said in a statement. "Over the past year, I’ve dedicated myself to pairing ethical AI usage with our industry’s most underutilized assets—overlooked stories waiting to be produced from fantastic writers and directors."

Looking ahead, the studio is already in pre-production on its second project, Every Living Creature, an animated adventure thriller directed by Bernie Su (Artificial) and adapted from a script by J.R. Arellano (Flicka 2).

With Hollywood in flux as AI tools reshape creative workflows, Staircase Studios AI is placing its bet on a future where technology helps filmmakers do more with less. Whether audiences will embrace this new approach remains to be seen, but Shahbazian and his team are moving full speed ahead.