Lionsgate Appoints Kathleen Grace as First-Ever Chief AI Officer Amid Hollywood’s Pivot to “AI-First” Production
Lionsgate, the studio behind massive franchises such as John Wick and The Hunger Games, has been increasingly proactive regarding AI integration.
RMN Stars Talent Desk
New Delhi | February 7, 2026
In a significant move signaling the entertainment industry’s transition toward a technology-driven future, Lionsgate has hired Kathleen Grace to serve as its first-ever Chief AI Officer. Grace, who will report directly to CEO Jon Feltheimer, is tasked with leading the studio’s AI strategy, providing new tools for filmmakers, and creating operational efficiencies across production, marketing, and distribution.
A Strategic Shift in Filmmaking: The appointment comes at a time when artificial intelligence is moving beyond simple special effects to fundamentally alter how films are financed, conceived, and produced. The industry is increasingly exploring an “AI-first” pipeline, a model that challenges traditional high-risk production by allowing creators to front-load the development of high-fidelity creative assets.
This approach helps de-risk major investments by presenting potential backers with a tangible vision of the project from the outset. A prime example of this model in action is the global project Robojit and the Sand Planet, which utilized a proprietary AI-first pipeline to achieve key milestones before seeking major investment.
Also Read:
[ From Novel to Transmedia IP: Robojit’s AI-Assisted Production Pipeline ]
[ How AI is Redefining Filmmaking: From Production Pipelines to Creative Collaboration ]
[ Robojit: Creating a Canonical Superhero Image Through an AI-Assisted Production Pipeline ]
Protecting Intellectual Property: Beyond creative enhancement, a core component of Grace’s role will be spearheading initiatives to protect the intellectual property (IP) of the studio and its talent partners. Grace brings extensive experience in this area, having previously served as the chief strategy officer at Vermillio, an AI platform focused on licensing and protecting IP. During her tenure there, she focused on ensuring content owners could track and be compensated for the use of their work in AI models.
Grace also brings a deep creative background to the role, having previously headed New Form, a digital studio where she developed dozens of pilots and sold series to major platforms like TBS and Freeform. She also led YouTube’s global Spaces initiative, establishing creator studios in major cities worldwide.
Lionsgate’s Bullish Stance on AI: Lionsgate, the studio behind massive franchises such as John Wick and The Hunger Games, has been increasingly proactive regarding AI integration. In 2024, the company announced a deal to train an AI model on its own content library to assist in developing new material.
CEO Jon Feltheimer noted that the studio continues to find “exciting new use cases” for the technology to increase productivity and expand the “creative tool kit” for storytellers. However, he emphasized that these advancements must be balanced with responsibility, stating he is in favor of AI only if “appropriate guardrails are established”.
Grace expressed her enthusiasm for joining a culture she describes as “entrepreneurial and forward-looking,” noting her intent to expand the “creative palette” for Lionsgate’s filmmakers.
