Hollywood embraces Gen Z digital creators and the new generation of film talent

Hollywood executives are actively recruiting young filmmakers who first built audiences on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and Instagram. Successes like the horror film Backrooms, which earned $250 million worldwide, and Curry Barker’s Obsession, acquired by Focus Features for $15 million and expected to gross $300 million, illustrate the commercial potential of creators who test their work on millions of subscribers before a theatrical release. Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group co‑chair Mike De Luca noted that these filmmakers have already received “a billion test screenings” from online audiences.

At a SAG‑AFTRA Foundation First Act: Summer Soiree panel in Los Angeles, rising stars from projects such as Obsession, The Pitt and Euphoria discussed how Gen Z talent is reshaping the industry and voiced concerns about artificial‑intelligence contracts. Participants emphasized the need for actors to treat their careers as businesses, secure good legal representation, and push back against AI‑driven likeness use.