WWE and ReelShort commission an original live-action microdrama
Announced on 14 July on WWE's newsroom. Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry star; production starts in August for an early autumn premiere.
What this basis means: Disclosed by the company about itself, and not independently confirmed.
ReelShort and WWE announced an original live-action microdrama on 14 July 2026, on WWE's corporate newsroom and through an exclusive with The Hollywood Reporter. Both companies frame it as the first collaboration between a major sports and entertainment brand and a microdrama platform.
WWE Superstars Drew McIntyre, Jacob Fatu and Joe Hendry star alongside ReelShort regulars Marc Herrmann and Chase Mattson. Production begins in August, with a premiere set for early autumn 2026; the storyline has not been announced. Sammie Hao, ReelShort's head of talent and business development, said "Brand partnerships are evolving beyond product placement". Ben Houser is WWE's head of original content and development. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO) and claims reach in more than 1bn households and more than 20 languages.
The pattern across recent non-Chinese entrants is that each brings a distribution channel it does not have to rent: a telco in Lebara's case, broadcasters in ARD, RTVE and Nippon TV, big tech in Character.AI. WWE brings an audience through fandom instead, and it is the first case in which the brand supplies the audience and the platform supplies the format.
Two ReelShort figures differ by basis: the company claims more than 70m monthly active users across more than 100 countries, while third-party estimates put it at roughly 50m to 55m.
Companies ReelShort, WWE, TKO Group Holdings
Sources
- WWE
- The Hollywood Reporter