Wonder Studios, the entertainment company building new pathways for filmmakers in the AI era, has announced an agreement with Foundation Distribution, a distribution agent that negotiates placement across connected-TV platforms, to bring work from exceptional indie filmmakers who have built their audiences online to TV screens worldwide. It is a first-of-its-kind deal that will see AI-native content from emerging filmmakers streamed globally across major TV streaming services via platforms such as Roku, Samsung TV, Amazon and others.
First up is the second season of Beyond the Loop, Wonder's flagship anthology, which backs filmmakers to make original short films, with a stake in what they create and a route to features and series. Already released on YouTube and Wonder TV, season now heading to TV streaming services. Its filmmakers include Grammy-nominated artist Jidenna, making his directorial debut; Kavan the Kid, whose AI short films have drawn more than 100 million views; and BAFTA-winning editor Hal Watmough, who has since joined Wonder as Head of Post.
Beyond the Loop has drawn 14.8M combined views across all platforms to date, with coverage in outlets including Deadline, Sky News and Forbes, and Season 2 was executive produced by CapCut, ElevenLabs, OpenArt and invideo.
The deal is designed to give individual films and projects premium space on television. Rather than being added to always-on themed channel, each Beyond the Loop film and future indie films selected by Wonder will appear as title in its own right. For audiences, that means discovering emerging filmmakers same way they browse for traditional film or series. For filmmakers, it means reaching viewers beyond social and digital platforms, with work given same space on television as traditional film.
"We've seen firsthand over the years that bringing online creator content to connected TV doesn't dilute existing audiences – it amplifies them by meeting viewers wherever they watch. When used thoughtfully to complement traditional storytelling, AI tools open up immense creative possibilities – allowing indie filmmakers to produce elevated, cost-effective work that belongs across every major streaming platform alongside traditional film," said Sarah Craig, President at Foundation Distribution.
"This deal with Foundation marks a watershed moment for Wonder, what started as a mission to help filmmakers becoming founders has now materialised into a position where emerging talent is having their content broadcast into millions of homes worldwide. We're excited to catalyse this opportunity with our flagship anthology beyond the loop in addition to surfacing other great films and filmmakers from our community," said Xavier Collins, CEO and co-founder Wonder Studios.
After Beyond the Loop S2, Wonder will bring further work from filmmakers within community and beyond who have built substantial followings online. Focus will be on longer-form films and series, providing platform for filmmakers to get content seen worldwide on major streaming platforms. Alongside distributing existing work, Wonder plans to commission new originals. AI remains important creative tool but slate increasingly spans live-action and hybrid production.
"Substance over algorithm has been our north star from day one. Online, a great film can vanish in a single scroll. In the living room, it gets to be what it always was: a film, chosen and watched from beginning to end. That's the respect true storytellers earn, and it's what this deal gives them," said Justin Hackney, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Wonder Studios.
About Wonder Studios
Wonder Studios is an entertainment company building new pathways for filmmakers in AI era. Founded by filmmaker and creative technologist Justin Hackney and marketplace entrepreneur Xavier Collins, Wonder works across original IP, commercial productions and filmmaker development with studio, talent marketplace and global community pairing creatives and engineers.
