Oscar-nominated film and television studio XTR has acquired Late Night Labs, an AI-driven film and animation studio that prides itself on being artist-led. With this acquisition and the incorporation of Late Night Labs’ proprietary AI technology, XTR is launching a new holding company, Asteria Film Co., which will focus on producing animation, fiction, and non-fiction film and television. Asteria Film Co. will also house XTR’s streaming platform and FAST channel, Documentary+.
Asteria Film Co., named after the Greek goddess of constellations, was co-founded by filmmaker and entrepreneur Bryn Mooser. The studio is set to debut its first projects later this year. Financial details of the acquisition have not been disclosed.
“Late Night Labs has been building what I call the ‘Pixar of AI.’ Their team of animators, engineers, and artists has developed groundbreaking technology that enables filmmakers to unlock their creativity like never before,” Mooser said. “This technology empowers filmmakers, amplifying their visions rather than replacing them, and allows for the creation of more stories.”
Late Night Labs co-founder Benjamin Michel expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, saying, “We are thrilled to join Bryn in launching and building Asteria. Bryn has consistently led innovation in the industry, first with virtual and augmented reality at RYOT and now with production and distribution through XTR.”
Co-founded by Michel, Eric Day, and Nick Confalone, Late Night Labs has developed proprietary AI tools that offer artists enhanced control over the creative process. Asteria plans to leverage this technology to produce a slate of narrative films and television alongside leading filmmakers. Meanwhile, XTR will continue its work in non-fiction storytelling through documentaries, series, podcasts, and shorts, with Documentary+ available on smart TVs, reaching over 120 million American households.
Mooser added, “We are at a pivotal moment in the entertainment industry, and AI represents the biggest technological leap since the computer. It’s during these times of transformation that the future is shaped, and we are committed to ensuring that this moment is shaped responsibly, in service of the artists.”
XTR has earned a reputation for its high-quality documentary work, including the Sundance-hit “Daughters,” which is poised as a 2025 Oscar contender. Other notable projects include the Oscar-nominated “Ascension” (MTV Documentaries), the Emmy-winning and Peabody Award-winning “The Territory” (National Geographic/Disney+), and the Emmy-nominated series “They Call Me Magic” (AppleTV+).
