Executives, marketing professionals, entrepreneurs and creators across the field of film, television and gaming came together for a day of keynote speakers, panels and networking on Thursday for the Variety Entertainment & Technology Summit presented by EY. Industry professionals from Blumhouse Atomic Monster, Sony, Warner Bros., Mattel, Reddit and more spoke about navigating AI, engaging fandom, the creator economy and the future of the entertainment industry during the event at the Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel. A keynote conversation with Nick Kroll touched on his desire for productions to shoot in Los Angeles and his upcoming Netflix comedy series “A Hundred Percent.” Bill Hader spoke in a keynote conversation about voicing Cat in the Hat and why young people are resistant to AI.
Director, writer and producer James Wan, of Blumhouse Atomic Monster, addressed the accessibility to technology that allows the breakout success of YouTube creators on films like “Obsession” and “Backrooms,” both of which Atomic Monster Blumhouse had a hand in. Keith Le Goy, Sony’s TV chief, talked about how the company has activated its incredibly engaged audience. Nintendo of America president and COO Devon Pritchard discussed the Switch 2 and “Legend of Zelda” projects, including a film collaboration with Sony Pictures.
Other sessions included top media executives from NBCUniversal Entertainment, Crunchyroll, Hulu and more, who spoke about super-serving audiences and the dangers of AI slop. Panelists in another session discussed the possibilities for AI as a catalyst for communal engagement. Marketing professionals discussed how creators and platforms fuel fandom, and entertainment leaders talked about AI’s place in the industry.
Read below for a few key takeaways from the 2026 Entertainment and Technology Summit: When Stories Speak: Reaching Audiences in the Next Era of Entertainment Nancy Hall, U.S. CEO at WPP Media, talked about how to know when something resonates with audiences between short-form, long-form and live experiences. The conversation, moderated by Variety editor-in-chief Cynthia Littleton, discussed how to turn buzz into business.
LISTEN to Turning Buzz into Business With WPP Media’s Nancy Hall and Audible’s Tom McKenna on Variety’s “Strictly Business” podcast Tom McKenna, Audible global head of media, operations and business development, highlighted the company’s launch of its new brand, which focuses on stories that speak to its audience. Hall said the brands that think of media as a “creative canvas” are the ones that break through the “sea of sameness.” Looking to the future, McKenna said those who are willing to take risks will be the ones who succeed. Hall said modern marketing is rooted in science and art.
A hotel where families stay with IP for days is a “full flywheel of experiences” that is powerful when done right. The growing Nickelodeon hotel business has 1,000 rooms in the market and another 2,000 in development globally. One’s not enough without the other.” A brand like Hallmark is largely associated with one season, and in recent years has launched cruises and in-person experiences.
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