Google's new division is called "100 Zeros," in collaboration with range Media Partners, a talent production and training company known for films such as "A Complete Unknown" and "Longlegs".
Google is looking to enhance its visibility and deploy its new services, including AI and space computing tools that combine real-world and virtual worlds through a marketing support initiative for the independent horror drama "Cuckoo" last year.
According to entertainment-focused social platform Letterboxd, 100 Zeros is one of the producers for Cuckoo.
Google's move into film and television comes as Hollywood struggles to cope with rising costs after two strikes by actors and screenwriters in 2023, as well as the impact of US tariffs on foreign-made films.
Previously, Google announced an 18-month partnership with range Media to order AI-related films. The first two films from the joint venture are Sweetwater and LUCID scheduled to be released later this year.
The use of Hollywood's cultural influence could also help Google in the AI race, as the technology giant is rapidly advancing the adoption of its services such as Gemini, competing with OpenAI's ChatGPT.
However, Business Insider reported that Google does not consider YouTube as the main distribution platform for 100 Zeros' works, but instead, the goal is to sell projects to film studios and traditional broadcasting services such as Netflix.
In 2016, YouTube launched YouTube Originals - a channel that provides users with feature films, rare films and original events. However, the project was shelved in 2022 when YouTube returned to its core focus of user-generated videos and promoted short-form video services in the TikTok, Shorts style.
