Brahma Acquires Metaphysic in $1.43 Billion Deal, Boosting AI-Powered Content Creation

Brahma-Metaphysic valuation set by UASG's investment: CEO Namit Malhotra

Prime Focus-backed DNEG, through its global AI and content technology division, Brahma, has strengthened its position with the acquisition of Metaphysic, resulting in a post-transaction valuation of $1.43 billion for the combined Brahma-Metaphysic entity. While the exact valuation metrics remain undisclosed, DNEG Global CEO Namit Malhotra stated that the valuation of the combined firm was based on the price at which Abu Dhabi-based United Al Saqer Group (UASG) invested $25 million in Metaphysic. "It's a market-clearing valuation, meaning that when an investor commits capital at a specific price, it determines the value," he explained. Although ownership details remain private, all parties -- including new investors -- are aligned under a unified capital structure with a shared long-term vision. "There are no shareholders exiting the system, as everyone believes in the future potential of this venture," he added. Metaphysic, a London-based company specialising in generative AI technologies for creating hyper-realistic synthetic media content, was founded in 2021 by Thomas Graham, Chris Umé, and Kevin Umé. Malhotra mentioned that the $25 million investment from UASG will be directed towards research and development to accelerate AI advancements. This funding is expected to drive innovation and enhance AI capabilities in digital content production. The post-acquisition board structure is still being finalised but will include representatives from key investors and stakeholders, Malhotra added. While the financial details of the combined entity's revenue and profitability remain undisclosed, DNEG remains open to strategic investments that provide both financial and technological value. The company continues to explore investment opportunities that align with its growth strategy. "For the right partner, the right fit, and the right value, there's definitely a deal to be made. Ultimately, it's not just about the money; it's about the strategic value each investor brings. The form, shape, and source of the investment all play a crucial role in determining the overall impact," Malhotra said. Metaphysic has developed software capable of reconstructing low-resolution footage, generating lifelike facial representations, and enabling the editing of expressions and features. Metaphysic's AI technology will integrate with DNEG's existing solutions, combining efforts in AI, content, and technology to create an advanced platform for content creation. Post-acquisition, Brahma's global team has expanded to more than 800 engineers and creative technologists. "We don't foresee any challenges in integrating Brahma and Metaphysic because both teams highly appreciate each other's work. There's a strong familiarity, especially since we successfully collaborated on a project over a year ago. The teams are already working together, and while there's a difference in size, Metaphysic's team is incredibly talented and specialised in their field," he noted. While DNEG has built formidable VFX capabilities over the decades, Malhotra said that the company remains open to evaluating disruptive technologies that align with its vision. Future acquisitions may be considered, but there is currently no immediate need for additional assets, he said. The merger is set to expand DNEG's reach beyond film and entertainment. With applications in social media, education, industrial design, and the broader creative economy, AI-driven solutions are poised to impact various industries. DNEG and Metaphysic share a common client base, making the acquisition a natural fit. The integration streamlines client workflows, reducing the need for multiple vendors and enabling a more seamless and efficient content production pipeline. As AI technology evolves, ethical concerns -- particularly around deepfakes -- have become a significant topic of discussion. Malhotra believes that for deep fakes, as well as for the internet and social media, new legislation will create a completely new paradigm for technology governance -- defining the rules of engagement and outlining the consequences for violations.

DNEG's Brahma acquires Metaphysic in $1.43 billion deal

DNEG's subsidiary Brahma has acquired AI-driven content creation company Metaphysic in a deal valuing Brahma at $1.43 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance AI technologies for content creation, expanding tools for video, image, and audio.DNEG's Brahma, a subsidiary of Prime Focus, has acquired Metaphysic, a developer of AI-driven content creation technology, in a deal that values Brahma at $1.43 billion. With this acquisition, Brahma aims to develop new AI technologies for content creation, data, and workflow management. Abu Dhabi-based United Al Saqer Group (UASG) will invest an additional $25 million into Brahma, following its $200 million investment in the DNEG Group in 2024. Metaphysic's existing investors, including Liberty Global, S32, Rakuten Capital, TO Ventures, and 8VC, will also become shareholders in Brahma. The merger will help expand Brahma's suite of AI-native products designed for enterprises, IP rights-holders, and content creators. Brahma is developing tools across video, image, and audio, while Metaphysic has worked on AI-driven visual effects for Hollywood films and live entertainment. Following the acquisition, Brahma's global team will grow to over 800 engineers and creative technologists. The team will integrate technologies such as Ziva's digital human and character simulation tools, Metaphysic's AI innovations, and the CLEAR platform, which supports content discovery, creation, and management. Ziva was recently recognised with a 2025 SciTech Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, while Metaphysic received the Emerging Technology Award at the Visual Effects Society Awards. "At Prime Focus, innovation has always been at the core of our vision," said Namit Malhotra, Founder of Prime Focus and Global CEO of DNEG. "With this acquisition, we are making a significant step forward in AI-driven content creation. This technology opens up new possibilities for storytelling and high-quality visual experiences." He added that Brahma's AI solutions will support IP rights-holders and content creators across industries, including media, retail, healthcare, and education, by making high-end content creation more accessible. Brahma's leadership team includes Prabhu Narasimhan as Executive Chairman, Namit Malhotra as Founder of Prime Focus and Global CEO of DNEG, and Thomas Graham, CEO of Metaphysic, who will also serve as President of Brahma. Other key members include Ramki Sankaranarayanan, CEO and cofounder of Prime Focus Technologies and President of CLEAR, Paul Salvini, CTO of the DNEG Group and CTO of Brahma, and Crawford Doran, Director of Character Tools and Workflows at Ziva, who has been appointed Vice President of Ziva. "With Brahma, we are combining DNEG's expertise in visual effects and animation with generative AI to develop a new suite of AI-driven content tools," said Prabhu Narasimhan, Executive Chairman of Brahma. "Our goal is to make high-quality content creation faster, more affordable, and more widely accessible."

Brahma acquires Metaphysic to scale AI-powered content creation | Digital | Campaign India

Post-acquisition, Brahma's 800-strong team will blend DNEG's digital human tech with Metaphysic's AI to drive next-gen content creation at scale. Brahma, the AI and content technology company created by the DNEG Group, has acquired Metaphysic, a developer of AI-driven content creation technologies. This merger is poised to accelerate Brahma's mission of delivering AI-powered tools for enterprises, intellectual property (IP) rights-holders, and content creators, empowering them to produce high-quality content at scale. The acquisition integrates Metaphysic's generative AI capabilities, known for creating hyper-realistic digital content, into Brahma's extensive technology portfolio. Brahma has been developing AI-native products that span video, image, and audio content. The merger will enable Brahma to enhance its suite of AI-driven tools, combining Metaphysic's groundbreaking AI advancements with DNEG's award-winning visual effects and animation expertise. The acquisition brings Brahma's post-transaction valuation to $1.43 billion. The company was launched in 2024 after Abu Dhabi-based investor United Al Saqer Group (UASG) invested $200 million into the DNEG Group. UASG will now contribute an additional $25 million to Brahma. Metaphysic's existing investors, including Liberty Global, S32, Rakuten Capital, TO Ventures, and 8VC, will also become shareholders in Brahma, ensuring strong financial backing for the company's future growth. DNEG Group, the privately held parent of VFX powerhouse DNEG, also owns Prime Focus, creator of the Clear asset management tools, and Ziva, a 3D character technology firm acquired last year. Prabhu Narasimhan, executive chairman of Brahma, articulated the strategic intent behind the move, stating, "With Brahma, we are taking DNEG's multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation toolsets and marrying them with the incredible power of generative AI to create a suite of AI content products, including what we believe will be the industry's leading photorealistic AI video creator." This vision extends Brahma's reach beyond the high-budget entertainment sector to enterprises and independent content creators across various industries. Post-acquisition, Brahma's global team will comprise over 800 engineers and creative technologists. This expanded team will merge the technological strengths of the DNEG Group's portfolio -- including Ziva's digital human and character simulation tools -- with Metaphysic's AI expertise. The company will also leverage the Clear AI platform, developed over eight years for content discovery, creation, and management, to further refine its product suite. Namit Malhotra, founder and CEO of the DNEG Group, remains the interim CEO of Brahma, while Metaphysic's CEO, Thomas Graham, assumes the role of president of Brahma. Once integration is complete, Graham will transition into the CEO role. Other key executives include Ramki Sankaranarayanan as president of Clear, Paul Salvini as CTO, and Crawford Doran as vice president of Ziva. Graham emphasised the company's broad ambitions, saying, "Brahma offers every business a strategy for generative AI content creation, from owning their data to delivering amazing, user-customised AI content across video, image, and audio." This highlights the potential of Brahma's tools to provide scalable AI solutions for businesses looking to create high-quality, personalised content. Malhotra reinforced Brahma's transformative potential, stating, "Brahma's acquisition of Metaphysic turbocharges the development of a truly game-changing suite of content creation and management products, fuelled by the limitless potential of AI." He further underscored Brahma's goal to redefine storytelling and content production, enabling industries ranging from media and entertainment to retail, healthcare, and education to leverage AI in unprecedented ways. For the advertising industry, the integration of Brahma and Metaphysic's technologies presents several possibilities. AI-driven content creation is becoming increasingly relevant as brands and agencies seek more personalised and efficient ways to engage consumers. Brahma's AI-powered solutions will allow advertisers to produce hyper-realistic, customisable digital content at scale, reducing production costs and timelines while maintaining high creative standards. DNEG played a key role in the visual effects for Dune and its technology was also instrumental in recreating the likeness of the late Richard Carter, originally Mad Max: Fury Road's Bullet Farmer, for actor Lee Perry in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Additionally, its tools contributed to Alien: Romulus, helping replicate the late Ian Holm's appearance from the 1979 Alien. As AI-generated content gains traction, the ethical and regulatory considerations around deepfakes, digital likeness rights, and IP security will become critical. Brahma's emphasis on securing user data and offering IP rights-holders full control over their AI-generated content suggests a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. Brahma's acquisition of Metaphysic marks a turning point in AI-powered storytelling and content production. With its enhanced capabilities, Brahma could well disrupt traditional content creation workflows by providing accessible, scalable, and high-fidelity AI solutions, enabling brands, agencies, and content creators to push creative boundaries.

Brahma Acquires Metaphysic to Expand AI-Powered Content Creation Capabilities

Brahma aims to create a comprehensive AI-native content suite for video, image, and audio. Brahma, an AI and content technology company formed by the DNEG Group, has acquired Metaphysic, a developer of AI content creation technologies, in a merger aimed at accelerating the development of AI-powered content tools for enterprises, IP rights-holders, and content creators across industries. Also Read: Jio Launches AI-Powered JioTele OS for Smart TVs in India The acquisition values Brahma at USD 1.43 billion, with Abu Dhabi-based investor United Al Saqer Group (UASG) and the DNEG Group investing an additional USD 25 million. This investment follows UASG's USD 200 million investment in the DNEG Group in 2024. Meanwhile, Metaphysic's existing investors -- including Liberty Global, S32, Rakuten Capital, TO Ventures, and 8VC -- will become shareholders in Brahma, the company announced on Tuesday, February 18. Brahma will develop foundational AI, data, and content workflow and management technologies as part of a comprehensive suite of AI-native products designed to create user-customised content across video, image, and audio. Following the transaction, Brahma will integrate Metaphysic's AI technology with DNEG Group's creative technology, including Ziva's technology for the creation of digital human and character simulations and the Clear AI platform. The expanded team will consist of over 800 engineers and creative technologists, developing a suite of AI-native products. DNEG Group stated that this announcement follows Ziva's recognition with a 2025 SciTech Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, as well as Metaphysic's AI neural performance toolset receiving the Emerging Technology Award at the Visual Effects Society Awards. Also Read: Adobe Launches Firefly Video AI Model in Beta, Ensuring IP Safety "With Brahma, we are taking DNEG's multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation toolsets and marrying them with the incredible power of generative AI to create a suite of AI content products, including what we believe will be the industry's leading photorealistic AI video creator," said Prabhu Narasimhan, Executive Chairman of Brahma. "I am excited to take Brahma from a niche user base focused on high-end movie and TV production to enterprise and content creators across every industry." "Brahma offers every business a strategy for generative AI content creation, from owning their data to delivering amazing, user-customized AI content across video, image, and audio," said Thomas Graham, CEO of Metaphysic and President of Brahma. "By bringing together the incredible teams at Brahma and Metaphysic, we can deliver an operating system for generative AI content that starts with securing your IP and ends with new revenue streams built on a suite of products that deliver Hollywood-quality content and experiences at unprecedented scale." Also Read: Meta Unveils New AI Models and Tools to Drive Innovation "Brahma's acquisition of Metaphysic turbocharges the development of a truly game-changing suite of content creation and management products, fueled by the limitless potential of AI," said Namit Malhotra, Founder and CEO of the DNEG Group and interim CEO of Brahma. "IP rights-holders and content creators across every sector -- from media and entertainment, to retail, to healthcare, to education and beyond -- will be empowered to create incredible content at a scale and fidelity that is currently reserved only for those with the highest budgets."

India's Prime Focus takes global lead in Generative AI, powering the future of content creation

DNEG's Brahma, A subsidiary arm of Prime Focus Limited Announces Acquisition of Metaphysic Brahma, part of the DNEG Group, is developing a comprehensive suite of AI-native products across video, image, and audio. Metaphysic is a leading developer of generative AI technologies to create photorealistic content at scale, known for its work on Hollywood films and high-profile live entertainment. The acquisition of Metaphysic accelerates Namit Malhotra's mission (Prime Focus's Founder and Global CEO of DNEG) to spotlight India as a leader in the development of AI tech that will empower content creators across industries to create professional-quality content at scale. The acquisition is implemented by way of a merger with a post-transaction valuation of Brahma of US$1.43 billion. Prime Focus, India's leading content creation powerhouse, is at the forefront of transforming the generative AI landscape, positioning India on the global stage. Under the leadership of Namit Malhotra for over three decades, the company's strategic acquisitions have successfully elevated Indian artists onto the global stage. This effort has also earned DNEG seven Academy Awards for visual effects, along with numerous other accolades. Now, as it drives the next wave of innovation, the brand is making a bold leap into generative AI technology with its latest acquisition under DNEG's Brahma. Brahma, a global AI and content technology company created by the DNEG Group, announced today the acquisition of Metaphysic, a leading developer of AI content creation technologies. The acquisition, implemented by way of merger, will accelerate the development of Brahma's AI-powered products for enterprises, IP rights-holders, and content creators across industries, empowering them to create the highest quality content at scale. The valuation of Brahma following the transaction is US$1.43 billion. Leading Abu Dhabi-based investor United Al Saqer Group (UASG) will come together with the DNEG Group to invest a further US$25 million into Brahma. This follows on from UASG's US$200 million strategic investment in the DNEG Group in 2024. Metaphysic's existing investors, including Liberty Global, S32, Rakuten Capital, TO Ventures and 8VC will become shareholders in Brahma. Brahma is set to develop foundational technologies for AI, data, and content workflow management as part of a comprehensive suite of AI-native products designed to generate user-customized content across video, image, and audio formats. Following this transaction, Brahma's global team will grow to over 800 engineers and creative technologists. This team will merge the award-winning innovations from the DNEG Group's creative technology portfolio, which includes Ziva's technology for creating digital humans and character simulations, with Metaphysic's pioneering AI technology. Additionally, they will leverage the CLEARⓇ platform, a market-leading AI solution built over eight years of research and development in content discovery, creation, and management, and supported by a global client base. This announcement comes on the heels of Ziva being recognized with a 2025 SciTech Award by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, as well as Metaphysic's AI neural performance toolset being honoured at the Visual Effects Society Awards with the prestigious Emerging Technology Award. "At Prime Focus, innovation has always been at the core of our vision. We believe in empowering India's vast talent pool with cutting-edge technology, enabling them to excel across industries. With our latest acquisition, we are making a bold leap forward -- one that is set to disrupt the global entertainment landscape. This breakthrough unlocks a new dimension of storytelling, bringing our very own Ramayana to life with unparalleled visual fidelity and immersive experiences. Last year, we acquired Ziva, and now, with Brahma's acquisition of Metaphysic, we have the market-leading 3D and 2D tools to create ultra-realistic digital doubles of India's most iconic figures across industries" said Namit Malhotra, Founder of Prime Focus and Global CEO of DNEG. He further added, "IP rights-holders and content creators across every sector -- from media and entertainment to retail, healthcare, education, and beyond -- will now have the power to produce breathtaking content at a scale and quality previously reserved for those with the highest budgets. Brahma is set to redefine storytelling through a platform designed for the future of content creation." Brahma's executive management team consists of strong and experienced technology leaders, led by Executive Chairman Prabhu Narasimhan; Founder of Prime Focus and Global CEO of DNEG, Namit Malhotra; and Metaphysic CEO Thomas Graham, who additionally serves as President of Brahma. The Brahma executive leadership team includes several key members like Ramki Sankaranarayanan, CEO and Co-founder of Prime Focus Technologies, who will also take on the role of President of CLEARⓇ; Paul Salvini, CTO of DNEG Group, who will serve as CTO of Brahma; and Crawford Doran, Director of Character Tools and Workflows at Ziva, who has been appointed Vice President of Ziva. "With Brahma, we are taking DNEG's multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation toolsets and marrying them with the incredible power of generative AI to create a suite of AI content products, including what we believe will be the industry's leading photorealistic AI video creator," said Prabhu Narasimhan, Executive Chairman, Brahma. He added - "I am excited to expand Brahma from a niche user base focused on high-end movie and TV production to serve enterprises and content creators across various industries. If you have a story to tell and the imagination to bring it to life, we have the tools to help you do it faster, more affordably, and with better quality." About Brahma Brahma is a global AI and content technology company that builds AI-native products for enterprise, IP rights-holders and content creators across industries, empowering them to create the highest quality AI content at scale. As part of the DNEG Group, Brahma brings together the award-winning technical innovation of the DNEG Group's creative technology portfolio with Metaphysic's groundbreaking AI technology. The Brahma team combines a broad range of expertise: from the creative technologists that power Hollywood; to the pioneers of photorealistic AI video; to leading voices in the ethical creation of AI content. About Metaphysic Metaphysic is the industry leader in developing AI technologies and machine learning research to create photorealistic content at internet scale. Named one of Time Magazine's TIME100 Most Influential Companies, Metaphysic is focused on the ethical development of AI to support the genius of human performance. Metaphysic's cutting-edge proprietary technology has quickly positioned the company as an in-demand partner for creative professionals and enterprises looking to protect their data while unlocking the future of creativity. Moving forward under the banner of Metaphysic Studios, Metaphysic's creative teams will continue to build on their legacy of groundbreaking work bringing AI digital likenesses to screens of all sizes including recently for films such as Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, Alien: Romulus, HERE and more. About The DNEG Group The DNEG Group delivers award-winning creative services, AI-powered technology products, and content production and financing partnerships to the global media and entertainment sector, and for IP rights-holders and content creators across industries. Led by Founder and CEO Namit Malhotra, the DNEG Group comprises DNEG (Academy Award® visual effects and animation for film, TV and immersive content), Prime Focus Studios (production and financing for the creation of high-quality content for global markets), and Brahma (global content technology company that builds AI-native products for enterprise, IP rights-holders and content creators).

'Dune' VFX House DNEG Makes Major Move Into AI, Unveils Deal to Buy Metaphysic

Dune VFX house DNEG Group and its Brahma division have made a big swing in acquiring Metaphysic, a developer of artificial intelligence content creation technologies. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the agreement includes Abu Dhabi-based investor United Al Saqer Group and the DNEG Group investing another $25 million into Brahma, an AI and content technologies company launched by DNEG Group. In addition, Thomas Graham, CEO of Metaphysic and president of Brahma, will become CEO of Brahma when the transaction is completed. "Brahma offers every business a strategy for generative AI content creation, from owning their data to delivering amazing, user-customized AI content across video, image, and audio," Graham said in a statement on Tuesday about the acquisition deal for his company. In 2023, Metaphysic gained headlines for popularizing a deepfake TikTok account spoofing Tom Cruise. The tech firm has also seen its generative AI-driven tool dubbed Metaphysic Live used to de-age in real time Hollywood actors on screen, as when Tom Hanks and Robin Wright were made to look younger in Robert Zemeckis' Miramax movie Here using the face replacement technology. Metaphysic has also brought its AI digital likenesses tools to other Hollywood projects like Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga and Alien: Romulus. As the debate in Hollywood surrounding the ethics and legal questions of using AI and tech in digital content creation has only grown, the acquisition of Metaphysic aims to accelerate Brahma's push into AI products to create photorealistic video, images and audio for Hollywood-grade content. Post-transaction, Brahma said it will be valued at $1.43 billion. As hyperreal AI continues to disrupt and shape the future of entertainment, in July 2024, DNEG, the London-headquartered visual effects and animation house that has won Oscars for the likes of Denis Villeneuve's Dune and Netflix's Stranger Things, said it had secured a $200 million investment from the Abu Dhabi-based United Al Saqar Group to bolster its push into AI innovation. Metaphysic investors, including cryptocurrency moguls Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss and YouTuber Logan Paul, Liberty Global and the venture capital fund S32, will be able to become shareholders in Brahma. "With Brahma, we are taking DNEG's multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects and animation toolsets and marrying them with the incredible power of generative AI to create a suite of AI content products, including what we believe will be the industry's leading photorealistic AI video creator," Prabhu Narasimhan, executive chairman of Brahma, said in a statement on Tuesday. "I am excited to take Brahma from a niche user base focused on high-end movie and TV production to enterprise and content creators across every industry. If you have the imagination and a story to tell, we have the tools to bring your story to life faster, cheaper, and better," he added. In a push towards AI-driven Hollywood content production that makes once cost-prohibitive VFX affordable, DNEG Group will get deeper into creating digital human and character simulations. Namit Malhotra, founder and CEO of the DNEG Group and interim CEO of Brahma, in his own statement said the acquisition of Metaphysic will allow the production of "incredible content at a scale and fidelity that is currently reserved only for those with the highest budgets. Brahma will redefine how stories are told, through a platform that is purpose-built for the future of content creation."