(Image Source: Pixar, Marvel Studios)
Tired of long waits for new movies and TV seasons? Disappointed by the shows you finally get to watch? What if you could create your own? Amazon has invested in Showrunner, an AI-powered TV show generation service spearheaded by Fable CEO Edward Saatchi. Dubbed the "Netflix of AI," the platform allows users to create their own drama, or even entire episodes, simply by inputting a few keywords.
(Image Source: Fable)
The name "Showrunner" comes from the television industry term for the lead creative force, executive producer, or head writer of a series. Saatchi stated that Showrunner will initially be free to use, but eventually, creators will pay a monthly subscription fee of $10 to $20. However, all content generated on Showrunner will be free to watch, and anyone can share it on YouTube or other third-party platforms.
(Image Source: Fable)
Saatchi believes AI should not be merely a cheap special effects tool but rather a new entertainment medium, akin to video games. He offered an example, stating that an AI-generated version of "Toy Story" on their platform wouldn't be a cheap knockoff; instead, the AI could explore millions of new storylines, with all intellectual property rights remaining with Disney. Saatchi also revealed that Fable is in discussions with major Hollywood studios, including Disney, to license their IPs, allowing Showrunner subscribers to create content using those properties.
(Image Source: Fable)
Showrunner currently offers two original series for users to experiment with: "Exit Valley," an animated satire intentionally mimicking the style of "Family Guy," and "Everything Is Fine." Users can freely adjust the plot developments for characters within both shows.
However, Saatchi acknowledged that AI is currently better suited for episodic shows—such as police procedurals, sitcoms, or space adventure series like "Star Trek"—where each episode typically tells a self-contained story. Creating long-form serialized dramas like "Breaking Bad" or "Game of Thrones" is more challenging, as AI cannot yet sustain a continuous storyline across multiple episodes.