Fox and Dhar Mann Vertical Drama Deal: 40 New Shows

The vertical drama industry is no longer the underdog. It’s a major player in the entertainment world. And it’s just getting started.

For years, vertical drama has been the scrappy underdog of the entertainment world. It’s been dismissed as a niche, a fad, a format for low-budget content that could never compete with traditional Hollywood. That narrative officially ended this week.

Fox Entertainment just announced a multiyear partnership with Dhar Mann Studios to produce 40 original vertical drama shows. Let’s be clear: this isn’t a small-scale experiment. This is a major Hollywood studio making a significant, long-term investment in the vertical drama format. And it’s a signal that the industry is finally waking up to the reality that vertical drama isn’t just a trend: it’s the future of mobile entertainment.

The Deal: What We Know

Dhar Mann holding a glowing phone in a hallway of colored doors, above the words 163 million followers, 40 new shows, spring 2026

Here are the key details of the partnership:

40 Original Shows: This isn’t a one-off deal. It’s a multiyear commitment to produce a substantial slate of content.
MyDrama Platform: The shows will initially launch on MyDrama, a new platform from Holywater, the company behind the deal. This gives Fox a dedicated distribution channel for its vertical content.
Worldwide Distribution: After the initial launch, Fox will distribute the shows worldwide. This means we’re about to see vertical drama content on a global scale, backed by a major Hollywood studio.
Spring 2026 Rollout: The first shows are slated to launch in spring 2026. That’s an aggressive timeline that shows how quickly this space is moving.

This is the first time a major Hollywood studio has partnered with a vertical drama creator at this scale. It’s a landmark moment for the industry, and it’s going to have a ripple effect across the entire entertainment landscape.

Why Dhar Mann? Why Now?

Dhar Mann beside a web of connected phone screens under the headline They Were Wrong

Dhar Mann isn’t just a creator. He’s a media empire. With 163 million followers, 20 billion total views, and a 125,000-square-foot production facility, he’s built a content machine that operates at a scale most traditional studios can’t comprehend. He’s proven that you can produce high-quality, emotionally resonant content at a fraction of the cost of traditional television.

And that’s exactly why Fox is betting on him. They’re not trying to reinvent the wheel. They’re partnering with someone who has already perfected the model. Someone who understands the vertical format, the audience, and the economics.

This deal is also a validation of the creator economy. Dhar Mann isn’t just a hired gun. He’s a partner. He’s retaining creative ownership of his work while leveraging Fox’s distribution and marketing muscle. This is a new model for how creators can work with studios, and it’s going to open the door for other creators to follow.

Why This Isn’t Another Quibi

Split image of cracked phones in barren ground labeled 2020 and a field of glowing phones and a crowd labeled 2026

Whenever a major studio enters the vertical drama space, the ghost of Quibi inevitably comes up. But this is different. Here’s why:

Proven Creator: Quibi tried to impose a Hollywood model on a new format. Fox is partnering with a creator who has already proven he can succeed in this space.
Proven Audience: Dhar Mann has a built-in audience of 163 million people. Quibi had to build an audience from scratch.
Proven Monetization: The vertical drama industry has already figured out how to monetize content through a mix of ads, subscriptions, and in-app purchases. Quibi was trying to invent a new business model.

This isn’t a risky bet. It’s a smart one. Fox is investing in a proven creator, a proven audience, and a proven business model. That’s a recipe for success.

What This Means for the Industry

Glowing phone reading 20 billion views above a blueprint of a studio with stages and edit suites

This partnership is going to have a profound impact on the vertical drama industry. Here’s what you can expect to see:

Increased Investment: Other studios are going to follow Fox’s lead. We’re going to see a flood of new investment in the vertical drama space.
Mainstream Acceptance: This deal legitimizes vertical drama as a mainstream entertainment format. It’s no longer a niche. It’s a legitimate career path for writers, directors, and actors.
More Opportunities for Creators: This partnership creates a new model for how creators can work with studios. It’s going to open the door for other creators to get their work produced and distributed on a global scale.

If you’re a creator in the vertical drama space, this is your moment. The industry is growing. The opportunities are expanding. And the demand for quality content has never been higher.

Your Next Move

Phone at the center of rippling rings surrounded by film crew figures, headline One Deal. Infinite Ripples.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign that vertical drama is here to stay, this is it. Now is the time to start writing, start creating, and start positioning yourself for the opportunities that are coming.

Head over to VerticalDramaJobs.com and look at the open writing and production opportunities. See what’s being produced. See what’s in demand. Then get to work.