TheWrap will host its first-ever “Creators x Hollywood” Summit on April 8, 2026, at The Lighthouse Campus in Los Angeles. The invite-only event, presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, will bring together creators, entertainment executives, and brand partners to discuss the future of storytelling and the entertainment economy.
Speaker Lineup
Creator and producer Issa Rae will open the program with a conversation reflecting on her path from YouTube to Hollywood, where she became a showrunner and producer on projects including “Insecure.” TheWrap audience reporter Raquel will moderate the session.
FOX Entertainment CEO Rob Wade and Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategy Tony Vassiliadis will join Dhar Mann, founder of Dhar Mann Studios, to discuss their new multiyear partnership to produce 40 original vertical microdramas. The session will examine how creators and major networks are rethinking content formats for digital-first audiences.
Sports and the Creator Economy
Brandon Marshall, a decade-long NFL veteran, will moderate a panel featuring Ian Trombetta, the NFL’s Global Senior Vice President of Social, Creator and Content Marketing, alongside creators Adam W and Ross Smith. The discussion will focus on how sports leagues and creators are collaborating to reach younger, digital-first audiences.
Business and IP Development
Lionsgate EVP of Digital Strategy and Growth Brad Haugen, 3 Arts Entertainment Partner Dunia McNeily, and Tubi VP of Creator Partnerships Kudzi Chikumbu will participate in a conversation moderated by Loeb & Loeb Partner John Kulback. The panel will explore how creator-entertainment partnerships are being structured and where opportunities are emerging across the Creator Economy.
WEBTOON Entertainment President Yongsoo Kim and Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register will join creator Jessica Ramsden, who develops the webcomic “Rotaniah,” to discuss how creators are building storytelling universes that extend across multiple formats and platforms.
Creators as Entrepreneurs
Multihyphenate creator Josh Richards and “Challenge Accepted” host Michelle Khare will close the programming with a session moderated by Shira Lazar, founder and CEO of What’s Trending and Creators 4 Mental Health. The conversation will examine how creators are expanding from digital platforms into film, television, and brand ecosystems.
A cocktail reception presented by City National Bank will follow the programming sessions at 5:00 p.m. PDT.
The summit is sponsored by City National Bank, FOX Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP, and WEBTOON. Coverage of the event will be available at thewrap.com.
Karina loves writing about the influencer marketing space and an area she is passionate about. She considers her faith and family to be most important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her around her sweet pug, Poshna.
TheWrap will host its first-ever “Creators x Hollywood” Summit on April 8, 2026, at The Lighthouse Campus in Los Angeles. The invite-only event, presented in partnership with global creator agency Whalar and The Lighthouse, will bring together creators, entertainment executives, and brand partners to discuss the future of storytelling and the entertainment economy.
Speaker Lineup
Creator and producer Issa Rae will open the program with a conversation reflecting on her path from YouTube to Hollywood, where she became a showrunner and producer on projects including “Insecure.” TheWrap audience reporter Raquel will moderate the session.
FOX Entertainment CEO Rob Wade and Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategy Tony Vassiliadis will join Dhar Mann, founder of Dhar Mann Studios, to discuss their new multiyear partnership to produce 40 original vertical microdramas. The session will examine how creators and major networks are rethinking content formats for digital-first audiences.
Sports and the Creator Economy
Brandon Marshall, a decade-long NFL veteran, will moderate a panel featuring Ian Trombetta, the NFL’s Global Senior Vice President of Social, Creator and Content Marketing, alongside creators Adam W and Ross Smith. The discussion will focus on how sports leagues and creators are collaborating to reach younger, digital-first audiences.
Business and IP Development
Lionsgate EVP of Digital Strategy and Growth Brad Haugen, 3 Arts Entertainment Partner Dunia McNeily, and Tubi VP of Creator Partnerships Kudzi Chikumbu will participate in a conversation moderated by Loeb & Loeb Partner John Kulback. The panel will explore how creator-entertainment partnerships are being structured and where opportunities are emerging across the Creator Economy.
WEBTOON Entertainment President Yongsoo Kim and Warner Bros. Animation President Sam Register will join creator Jessica Ramsden, who develops the webcomic “Rotaniah,” to discuss how creators are building storytelling universes that extend across multiple formats and platforms.
Creators as Entrepreneurs
Multihyphenate creator Josh Richards and “Challenge Accepted” host Michelle Khare will close the programming with a session moderated by Shira Lazar, founder and CEO of What’s Trending and Creators 4 Mental Health. The conversation will examine how creators are expanding from digital platforms into film, television, and brand ecosystems.
A cocktail reception presented by City National Bank will follow the programming sessions at 5:00 p.m. PDT.
The summit is sponsored by City National Bank, FOX Entertainment, Lionsgate, Loeb & Loeb LLP, and WEBTOON. Coverage of the event will be available at thewrap.com.
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