Google is taking a roughly $75M equity stake in A24, the studio behind Backrooms, as part of a multiyear, nonexclusive research partnership with Google DeepMind. It is Google's first equity stake in a film studio.

A24 filmmakers gain hands-on access to DeepMind's research infrastructure, while DeepMind gets real-time feedback from working directors. An early project at A24 Labs uses AI to generate storyboards.

The deal does not give Google access to A24's existing film library or content data. DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis framed the goal as building tools that work with artists from day one, not in isolation.