From Supergirl and The Death of Robin Hood to The Odyssey and Moana, Hollywood’s blockbuster machine shows no signs of slowing down. But beyond the big release, a quieter transformation is underway. As new technologies, evolving business models, and shifts in audience behavior reshape the entertainment industry, studios are rethinking the way they create, distribute, and monetize content.
The most visible manifestation of Hollywood’s shift is the rise of microseries, a mobile-first storytelling format that has intrigued creator economy innovators and Hollywood veterans alike. During a session at the NAB Show discussing the proliferation of microdramas, vertical video and creator-driven short-form programming, former NBCUniversal Chairman Susan Rovner observed how traditional Hollywood is in a “moment of retrenchment,” while microseries is a place of growth due to its low production costs, quick post-production cycles and direct-to-fan distribution. Built around 60- to 90-second episodes, these productions prove that while audiences still crave compelling stories, the difference lies in how they consume them.
That same audience-first mindset influences the way studios think about intellectual property and fandom. Today’s franchises are no longer limited to theaters or streaming platforms. From collectibles and merchandise to community-driven initiatives, studios are discovering new ways to extend the life of their stories beyond the screen. Eric Robles, showrunner for Netflix’s “Stranger Things: 85 Years of Tale,” said in a separate session on Today’s Franchise Economics on the NAB Show that “fans want to see the storytelling of a movie embedded in a product or service. They can understand the difference between something that’s just a money grab and something that’s a faithful representation of the artwork.”
Meanwhile, AI is accelerating transformation behind the camera. Koh Terai, CEO of AI filmmaking platform Martini, argued that the industry often confuses two different developments: generative AI and autonomous AI agents. Although the headlines focused on automation, we emphasized that today’s most successful workflows still put creators at the center. “It’s not a binary, it’s a spectrum,” he said, speaking of a future where filmmakers blend traditional production, AI-assisted workflows and synthetic media.
These developments are just part of Hollywood’s ongoing evolution, but they point to a new studio model that is agile, audience-centric, and technology-enabled. The future of filmmaking may look different, but creativity remains the industry’s most valuable asset.
This week’s signal
Want to learn more about microdrama and vertical video, one of the fastest growing areas in the entertainment industry? Check out this session from the Creator Lab at NAB Show 2026. In this session, studio executives explore how this recent surge is creating new opportunities for creators and platforms.
NAB Show Road to New York: Registration is coming soon!
Registration for NAB Show New York will open in the coming weeks.
NAB Show New York returns to the Javits Center on October 21-22, 2026. From sports and journalism to cloud workflows and technology strategy, NAB Show New York is the East Coast hub for innovation in media-created content. Join the list now and be the first to know when registration opens.
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Listen to the conversation between AWS and Presidio to gain a clearer understanding of how to move from fragmented media archives to a more intelligent, reusable, and monetizable content foundation and where a focused accelerator approach can accelerate time to value.
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NAB display signal is your weekly pulse check on the ideas, talent, and breakthroughs that are reshaping media and entertainment.
