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With a fresh, passport-sized design, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 is optimized for both horizontal and vertical media. It’s also incredibly fun to use. 

Long before mewing, jawline measurements, and "mogging" took over social media, Batman villain Matt Hagen was willing to risk everything for a better face.

That pursuit of physical perfection sits at the center of Clayface, DC Studios' first full-fledged horror movie. Directed by Speak No Evil filmmaker James Watkins, the R-rated origin story stars Tom Rhys Harries, known for Netflix's White Lines and The Gentlemen, alongside Mickey 17 star Naomi Ackie. Warner Bros. released the official trailer Wednesday, July 22, ahead of the film's theatrical debut on Oct. 23.

DC fans celebrated the trailer's gruesome body horror and the character finally receiving a solo movie after decades in comics, animation, and video games.

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Harries plays Hagen, a rising Gotham actor whose face is mutilated just as his career takes off. Convinced that restoring his appearance is the only way to reclaim the life he built, he turns to scientist Dr. Caitlyn Corr (Ackie) and an experimental treatment that promises to make him look like himself again.

The possible consequences do not deter him.

"Even if it kills me, I'll be better off than I am now," Hagen says in the trailer.

The treatment initially restores his movie-star looks. Then his face begins melting and changing uncontrollably, turning him into the shapeshifting Batman villain.

It is a gruesome superhero origin story. But at a time when young men are being encouraged to measure, rank, and radically alter their faces, Hagen’s conviction that looking better will fix his life feels unexpectedly current.

So, was Clayface the first looksmaxxer? Let's examine the evidence.

What is looksmaxxing?

Looksmaxxing is the practice of attempting to "maximize" physical attractiveness through methods ranging from skincare, exercise, hairstyling, and clothing to cosmetic surgery and potentially dangerous forms of self-modification.

The term emerged from incel and manosphere forums during the 2010s before spreading into mainstream internet culture, particularly on TikTok. Within looksmaxxing communities, attractiveness is often treated as a system that can be measured and optimized. Users scrutinize jaw width, eye shape, cheekbone projection, facial symmetry, body-fat percentage, and even the angle at which someone's eyes tilt.

Its vocabulary sounds like a collision between a beauty tutorial, fitness plan, and video game. "Softmaxxing" generally refers to conventional grooming and lifestyle changes, including skincare, exercise, fashion, and better sleep. "Hardmaxxing" can include cosmetic procedures, anabolic steroids, weight-loss drugs, unapproved peptides, and other aggressive attempts to alter the face or body.

"Mogging" means visually outclassing someone, while "mewing" refers to an unproven tongue-positioning technique that supposedly reshapes the jaw. Some users also judge faces using the PSL scale, a hierarchy that sorts men into categories ranging from "subhuman" and "normie" to various levels of "Chad."

One of the movement's most visible figures is Braden Peters, the 20-year-old streamer known as Clavicular. Peters has built an audience of more than 2 million followers across TikTok, Kick, and Instagram by documenting his appearance and promoting increasingly extreme interventions.

He has claimed to practice "bonesmashing," which involves striking facial bones with a hammer in the scientifically unsupported hope that the resulting injuries will heal into a larger jaw or more prominent cheekbones. He has also said he began taking testosterone at 14 to "optimize" puberty and later used anabolic steroids including Masteron and Anavar. Although Peters has acknowledged that hormone use may have affected his fertility, he continues to frame the possible health consequences as an acceptable price for becoming more attractive.

Other creators have promoted DIY orthodontics, experimental substances, extreme fat loss, and procedures intended to produce "hunter eyes," hollow cheeks, and sharply defined jawlines. One creator known as Nocturnal Kent has claimed that consuming 500 grams of sugar a day changed the structure of his face.

The audience for masculinity content is substantial. A 2025 study found that 60 percent of men between 16 and 25 regularly consume material from at least one masculinity influencer. That does not mean all of them follow looksmaxxing advice, but reports have warned that recommendation systems on TikTok and YouTube can steer users from ordinary grooming and fitness videos toward more extreme content.

The rise of looksmaxxing has also coincided with more men seeking professional cosmetic work. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the number of surgical cosmetic procedures performed on men worldwide increased 95 percent between 2018 and 2024. Younger patients have shown particular interest in treatments designed to produce stronger chins, sharper jawlines, and more angular faces.

Was Clayface really the first looksmaxxer?

Not literally. The term "looksmaxxing" did not exist until decades after Clayface first appeared, and several DC characters have used the villain’s name.

But the version of Matt Hagen developed in the early 1990s anticipated the movement's underlying logic: Appearance determines value, physical flaws can be engineered away, and nearly any intervention (no matter how gory) is justified if it brings someone closer to an ideal face.

The original Clayface, Basil Karlo, debuted in 1940's Detective Comics No. 40. Karlo was an actor who committed murders while wearing the mask of a horror character he had once played. He possessed no shapeshifting abilities and was not attempting to improve his appearance.

Matt Hagen became the second Clayface in 1961. Initially portrayed as a treasure hunter, Hagen encountered a strange pool of protoplasm that transformed his body into a clay-like substance. He could temporarily reshape himself into other people but had to return to the substance to restore his powers.

The version closest to a modern looksmaxxer arrived in 1992, when Batman: The Animated Series combined elements of those characters’ histories for the two-part episode "Feat of Clay."

This Hagen was a successful actor whose face had been severely disfigured in a car accident. When reconstructive procedures failed, he began using Renuyu, an experimental cream. The product restored Hagen's appearance and allowed him to reshape his face for different acting roles, but its effects were temporary. Each transformation left him dependent on another dose and on the man who controlled the supply.

Renuyu was, in effect, the ultimate hardmaxxing product. It did not merely smooth Hagen's skin or define his jaw; it allowed him to rebuild his entire face around whichever role or identity he wanted.

The problem with it, though, is that its effects are temporary. Every time the cream wears off, Hagen's injuries return, forcing him to seek another dose from Roland Daggett, the businessman who controls the supply. That dependency gives Daggett control over Hagen. In exchange for Renuyu, Hagen impersonates other people and commits crimes on his behalf. The treatment that was supposed to restore his identity gradually requires him to surrender it.

This is where the comparison to extreme looksmaxxing becomes clearest. Hagen isn’t trying to "mog" strangers or boost his PSL score. But he does believe his face determines whether he can work, appear in public, and live the life he wants.

That mirrors the blackpill belief that physical traits like facial structure and height largely determine a man’s romantic, social, and financial prospects. If appearance controls your future, looksmaxxing offers a supposed way out: Change your appearance. The new Clayface carries that same logic into the present, with Hagen declaring he'd rather risk death than keep living with his injuries.

The terminology may have changed by 2026, but Gotham’s original hardmaxxer would get it.

Clayface opens in theaters Oct. 23.

After a week of testing, here's what's actually new and whether the higher prices are worth it.

For years, I accepted Excel's ribbon exactly as Microsoft designed it, even though I only used a fraction of its commands. After spending 10 minutes removing the clutter and reorganizing my favorite tools, I had a personalized workspace that sped up my workflow and stayed with me every time I opened Excel.

Samsung set up a gym, a kitchen and a darkened test room to show off the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Fold 8 Ultra, Z Flip 8 and Watch Ultra 2. Here's everything we got our hands on.

Plug-in hybrids promise the best of both worlds, but they only deliver their biggest benefits if you remember to charge them regularly.

Choosing a three-row SUV isn't just about passenger space anymore. For many families, long-term reliability is just as important as comfort, especially when repairs on larger, more complex vehicles can quickly become expensive.

Raspberry Pi just gave DIY dashboard builders exactly what they’ve been asking for. The company has expanded its official touchscreen lineup with a 10-inch Raspberry Pi Touch Display 2, joining the 5-inch and 7-inch models. It is aimed squarely at anyone who has been cramming a dashboard onto a screen that feels just too small.

The next big Galaxy Unpacked launch event is upon us, and as expected, Samsung delivered big news for Android users — and Android-curious users.

Samsung's big event kicked off on July 22 at 9 a.m. ET in London, where the company debuted five new devices. Mashable is in London reporting live on all of the day's biggest announcements and surprises, so keep checking back as the day unfolds. During the mobile launch event, Samsung launched five new devices, including three new foldable phones:

• Galaxy Z Flip 8

• Galaxy Z Fold 8

• Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra

• Galaxy Watch 9

• Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

We also got our best look yet at the upcoming Samsung smart glasses, with designs from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker. So, if you missed the Galaxy Unpacked livestream, check out our live coverage of one of the biggest tech launch events of the year.

The Daily Show is swapping the news desk for romance, billionaires, and vertical video.

Comedy Central announced Tuesday, July 21, that the late-night franchise is producing its first microdrama — a serialized soap opera shot vertically and told through short, cliffhanger-heavy episodes designed for phones.

Its suitably dramatic title is The Daily Show Presents: Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country… And My Heart!

The series follows Alonka, the "beautiful daughter" of an aging president who would prefer to spend more of his Oval Office time sleeping. Two wealthy technology moguls, Egon Husk and Jiff Davos, compete to build an artificial intelligence president capable of running the country in his place.

Naturally, both men are also competing for Alonka.

"But their lust for power, and Alonka, leads to dangerously hot complications," the official description promises.

SEE ALSO: Josh Johnson is looking for the 'good parts of the internet'

The names do not require much decoding. Alonka appears to be modeled on Ivanka Trump, while Egon Husk and Jiff Davos combine elements of Elon Musk and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Davos' surname may also nod toward the Swiss town that hosts the annual gathering of political and business leaders.

The premise gives The Daily Show plenty to parody, but its choice of format is also arriving as vertical dramas become serious business.

What exactly is a microdrama?

Microdramas, sometimes called verticals or microseries, are scripted shows created primarily for smartphones. Episodes generally last anywhere from under a minute to a few minutes and are frequently released in large batches on dedicated apps such as ReelShort, DramaBox, and FlareFlow, or across social platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.

Many borrow heavily from soap operas and romance novels, using heightened dialogue, fast-moving plots, and cliffhangers to push viewers directly into the next episode. Billionaires, forbidden relationships, secret heirs, revenge plots, supernatural lovers, and remarkably complicated family arrangements are recurring fixtures.

Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country… And My Heart! will parody those conventions alongside current U.S. politics. In this case, the all-powerful billionaire isn't secretly married to his assistant's twin sister — he's trying to automate the presidency while dating the president's daughter.

The premise also gives The Daily Show a fresh opportunity to extend its satire beyond the nightly program, which airs Monday through Thursday at 11 p.m. ET on Comedy Central and streams the next day on Paramount+. Jon Stewart hosts on Mondays, while members of the show’s news team rotate behind the desk for the rest of the week. The franchise already produces digital segments like "Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse" and the Emmy-winning "Desi Lydic Foxsplains," as well as the The Daily Show: Ears Edition podcast.

The move follows a strong period for the nearly 30-year-old franchise. According to Comedy Central, The Daily Show recorded its highest-rated second quarter among adults ages 18 to 49 in nine years and ranked as cable's most-viewed program across social platforms in 2026. The show also received 7 Emmy nominations this year.

Hollywood is getting serious about vertical shows

The Daily Show is entering the format at a moment when entertainment companies are investing real money in them.

The format first grew into a major business in China, where more than 718 million people now subscribe to micro-short dramas. The Chinese market is valued at more than 100 billion yuan, or approximately $14.7 billion annually — more than twice the country's yearly theatrical box-office revenue.

Microdramas are quickly becoming big business in the United States. The domestic industry generated an estimated $1.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach approximately $1.5 billion this year, accounting for half of all microdrama revenue outside China — and surpassing Netflix and Prime Video in mobile engagement.

SEE ALSO: The founder of E! says Hollywood is still making content for the wrong screen

The leading apps are already pulling in serious money: ReelShort and DramaBox each generated nearly $140 million in global in-app revenue during the first quarter of 2026. With viewers willing to pay to unlock the next cliffhanger, media companies, producers, creators, and consumer brands are now trying to make hits of their own.

Actor Taye Diggs is testing a model that gives creators a larger role in the business behind vertical series. During a July 18 panel at ViewerCon in New Jersey, Diggs said creator-led, long-form projects have found a path onto streaming platforms, but the same pipeline has not yet been established for microdramas. The format, he said, is something "no one has really cracked."

Diggs hopes his recently launched platform, Microhouse Films, can help build that path by involving creators "from the get." As Truth Headlam reported for Mashable, filmmakers on the platform set the token price viewers pay to unlock their episodes, receive 75 percent of the proceeds generated by their work, and can access data showing how audiences watch and spend on their series.

SEE ALSO: Taye Diggs challenges studio norms with creator-focused venture Microhouse Films

Some other news broke this week in the microdrama world. On July 22, BuzzFeed Studios and vertical entertainment company MuVpix announced a deal to produce over 100 microdrama titles over the next two years. The projects will launch across TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, connected-TV services, and MuVpix’s own platform.

The first series, Romeo & Juliet, Reimagined, moves the Montague-Capulet feud into modern-day Los Angeles' criminal underworld. It was filmed in both horizontal and vertical formats and is scheduled to debut in August.

Veteran producers Alon Shtruzman and Scott Einbinder also announced microdrama platform New Short Media on Wednesday, with plans to move beyond the melodramatic romances that dominate many current platforms. Its initial slate includes an action romance about competing car thieves, a comedy about influencers who accidentally cross a cartel, and a reality dating show following a celebrity couple searching for a third partner.

Rather than launch its own app, New Short plans to work with established Hollywood talent and online creators on phone-first projects that could eventually expand into television, movies, games, and consumer products.

All this buzz helps explain why The Daily Show is entering the category now. Vertical dramas have become recognizable enough to parody, while the business surrounding them has become large enough that traditional entertainment companies no longer want to watch from the sidelines.

The cast, release date, episode count, and distribution platforms have not yet been announced. For now, The Daily Show is leaving viewers with the most important part of any microdrama: a cliffhanger.

I have been using smartphones for just about as long as Android has existed. Countless phones have lived in my pockets, and I begrudgingly put cases on many of them. However, screen protectors are where I’ve always drawn the line—until disaster finally struck.

In news that assures us that we are truly living in one of the worst timelines, Elon Musk has announced on X, the social media platform he owns, that Grok Imagine, the AI generator he owns, will make a "historically accurate" adaptation of Homer's The Odyssey.

SEE ALSO: Grok is producing millions of sexualized images of adults and children

You might well ask why if you have had the good fortune to be oblivious to Musk's repeated complaints about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Well, in February of 2026, Musk used X to declare "Chris Nolan has lost his integrity," because Musk didn't like the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy.

Then, in May, Musk retweeted X posts that criticized the casting of Elliot Page, including posts that misgender the trans actor. Musk also tweeted that month, "Chris Nolan is pissing on Homer’s grave. Disgraceful."

Musk has used the platform he owns to promote the idea that Nolan was casting not for "historical accuracy" of the fictional epic poem, but to appease the Oscars' inclusion standards. Musk was also a vocal part of the "go woke, go broke" online contingent that insisted Nolan's Odyssey would sink at the box office.

To put it simply, they were wrong.

SEE ALSO: As SpaceX IPO blasts off, Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire

Critics and audiences alike have heralded The Odyssey as a "masterpiece," cheering both the ensemble cast and the political messaging within the film. The nearly three-hour movie had a $124.5 million opening weekend, which is all the more impressive for a rated-R film. By contrast, Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises, a PG-13 movie with two prequels to build an audience, opened to $160 million in 2012.

On top of that, the demand to see The Odyssey in 70mm IMAX has become a status symbol to moviegoers, with tickets to screenings sold out into August — even for 3 a.m. showtimes. Audiences in person and online have also dove into discussing Nolan's unique adaptation, which plays as a spiritual sequel to Oppenheimer, and employs Matt Damon as its secret weapon.

However, Musk thinks he and Grok can do better. Today, he tweeted: "Before this year ends, Grok Imagine will make a full-length movie of The Odyssey that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer."

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The trailer he retweeted to illustrate what such a movie made by Grok Imagine might look like certainly is a trailer made by AI.

Earlier this month, Nolan shared his thoughts on generative AI with AFP in Paris. The Guardian quotes him as saying, "But I think the idea that it replaces human beings wholesale and human creativity, to me it’s a nonsense," adding, "I’ve never seen a technology that’s been so successfully adopted by Wall Street and by investors and by tech companies that the public has so thoroughly rejected."

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is now in theaters. Elon Musk's The Odyssey is promised by the end of the year.

At Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on Wednesday, Samsung provided a closer look at its upcoming Galaxy Glasses, which will compete with the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. Samsung is working with Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster and Warby Parker on the design, and the glasses will run on Google's new Android XR operating system.

We first saw these glasses at Google I/O 2026 in May, and Google has been teasing its smart glasses collaboration with Samsung for months. Google previously said the first pair of these smart glasses would be released in 2026, and Samsung confirmed on Wednesday that the full collection from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker will be released this fall. However, we still don't know how much the new wearables will cost, or exactly when they'll arrive.

SEE ALSO: Samsung reveals undeniably hip Galaxy Z Flip 8 foldable at Galaxy Unpacked in London

During Galaxy Unpacked, Samsung dedicated a portion of the keynote to providing an overview of the glasses, which were also teased throughout the event. The company said the glasses will be able to "take calls, listen to music, and capture photos."

Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

According to our colleagues at CNET, there will be at least four frame designs to choose from. And after the event, two of the styles were on display for the first time, with a frame from Warby Parker and Gentle Monster. (Disclosure: CNET and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

The Samsung smart glasses designed by Korean eyewear brand Gentle Monster. Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable The Samsung smart glasses designed by Warby Parker. Credit: Shannon Connellan / Mashable

So, what do we know about the upcoming Samsung glasses?

Samsung's smart glasses will natively support Google Gemini AI and be able to connect with Android phones and Google Wear OS watches. The glasses will also utilize Samsung's Bixby AI assistant.

Samsung's COO of mobile experiences, Won-Joon Choi, told CNET that the glasses can run for nine hours on a single charge, while the case can charge them an additional seven times.

The glasses will not have a built-in display, but will have built-in cameras for content capture and microphones to help power AI features. During Samsung Galaxy Unpacked, the glasses presentation demoed different uses, such as asking the device to summarize meeting notes or tell you the next step in a recipe. You can also use the glasses' POV in Google Meet meetings.

Actions with the glasses "flow" into using other Samsung devices — for instance, double-pinching to answer calls.

For more coverage from Samsung's latest launch event, check out our Galaxy Unpacked live blog.

UPDATE: Jul. 22, 2026, 1:10 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional details and photos from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked in London.

Welcome to Samsung Unpacked 2026. We have a whole new lineup of Samsung tech including fresh phones, updated Samsung Galaxy Watches, and even Samsung smart glasses with design help from Gentle Monster and Warby Parker.

But with every new tech launch, we have to ask ourselves, "Is it really necessary to buy the latest model?" Oftentimes, the upgrades are minimal, and, for some people, not especially noticeable.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for free — how to claim

However, when comparing pricing on the latest Samsung phones, it might actually be worth going with the latest model instead of the previous generation (for now, at least). Let's break down the pricing of the new Flip and Fold8 verses the older Flip and Fold7 now that preorders are live.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 pricing compared to the Flip7

If you dig the looks and functions of a flip phone, the Samsung Z Flip has tons of appeal. In Mashable's review of the Galaxy Z Flip7, Freelance Reviewer Adam Doud wrote it was the best flip phone of 2025. At the time of launch, the 256GB unlocked version was selling for $1,099.99, and that's still the current price at Samsung. I found used models floating around the web, but none from especially trustworthy retailers I'd recommend.

Pricing for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 starts at $1,199.99 for the unlocked 256GB model. That's just a $100 price increase compared to the previous model. If you don't mind having an older generation, going with the cheaper Flip 7 makes sense on paper, but with preorder offers on the Flip8, that might not be the case.

Preorders for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 at Amazon come with a free $200 Amazon gift card. Depending on if you'll use a free Amazon gift card, going with this offer might be a better option compared to paying full price of the Galaxy Z Flip7.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8 and Z Flip7 buying options Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 $1,999.99 Get Deal Amazon Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8 $1,199.99 (get a free $200 Amazon gift card) Get Deal Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 $1,099.99 Get Deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 pricing compared to the Fold7

Pricing comparisons of the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 gets a bit more complicated. In strange news for 2026, the starting price for the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 (unlocked, 256GB) is actually $100 cheaper than the starting price for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 (unlocked, 256GB). The base Galaxy Z Fold8 comes with a price of $1,899.99 compared to $1,999.99 for the older Z Fold7.

But things get even more complex with current sales and preorder offers. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 is on sale at Amazon for $1,799.99 new or $1,424.99 for a renewed model from Amazon Resale.

However, if you want the latest model, you can preorder the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 from Amazon for the list price of $1,899.99 and get a free $350 Amazon gift card.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Z Fold7 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 $1,899.99 Pre-Order Here Amazon Galaxy Z Fold8 $1,899.99 (get a free $350 Amazon gift card) Get Deal Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 $1,999.99 Get Deal Amazon Galaxy Z Fold7 $1,799.99 (save $200) Get Deal Amazon refurbished Galaxy Z Fold7 $1,424.99 (save $575) Get Deal Will the Galaxy Z Flip7 and Fold7 drop in price?

Now that the new lineup of Galaxy Z Flip8 and Fold8 phones are available, we're curious to see if the previous generation will drop in price. Typically, we see older generations slowly drop in price until it's no longer possible to buy them in a new condition. But with tech price increases and the global memory shortage, things could take a different path this time.

The Toyota Prius arrived in the United States in 2000 amid the SUV boom with the sole purpose of squeezing as many miles as possible out of a gallon of gas. Before the Prius, a “hybrid car” was not something American consumers had seen, let alone driven.

"Small space. Big stories." This is the motto for Microhouse Films, the vertical video platform that Taye Diggs launched with a mission of empowering creators two minutes at a time. 

The venture marks a turn away from the actor's traditional route in television and movies as he tests microdramas — vertical, short-form episodic content. 

On July 18, at ViewerCon in Newark, New Jersey, Diggs acknowledged that in the content creator to streaming platform pipeline, long-form, horizontal content has become popular. In his panel "The Future of Storytelling with Taye Diggs & Microhouse Films," he said that microdramas are a product that “no one has really cracked." He's hoping Microhouse Films can change that as “we're including the creators from the get."

The Best Man star launched the platform with co-founders and fellow panelists Shelby Stone, who produced Starz' The Chi, and actor and producer Troy Brookins. Film producers Autumn Federici and James R. Black are also co-founders.

Through their website and mobile app, Microhouse Films offers a model that favors tokens over the more traditional monthly subscription fees. Viewers purchase tokens sold in packs of 10, 30, 50, and 120 credits, priced at roughly $0.20 apiece. These tokens can then be used to watch Microhouse Films' episodes, which cost between one and three credits to unlock. Reflecting Diggs' goal of giving content creators more control, the token price per episode is set by the creator. 

“The creators get to stay along for the ride and benefit from how far the project goes,” Diggs explained in the panel. 

From there, Diggs shared a formative experience with Netflix, where he and his agents inquired about how audiences received a film, only to be told the platform was keeping metrics “under wraps.” 

These frustrations with gatekeepers drove him to promote transparency with creators as he steps into the emerging microdrama format. Diggs acknowledged he has been criticized for diving into vertical storytelling, with people in the industry telling him that “they’re beneath you.” But now, after producing two vertical microdrama series and launching Microhouse Films, he says vertical storytelling has “introduced me into a new way of looking at the industry.”

Microhouse Films takes a minority equity split for content.  "The Future of Storytelling with Taye Diggs & Microhouse Films" panel at ViewerCon 2026. Credit: Truth Headlam

In the panel, co-founder Stone said Microhouse Films strives for “transparency” in creators’ pay, by allowing creators to have access to audiences’ viewing metrics. Stone noted that content creators on their platform can see how many coins viewers are willing to purchase on the platform, the number of coins viewers spend to watch the content, and when viewers stop watching.

Beyond this feedback, the equity breakdown for creators on the Microhouse Films is atypical, allowing creators to walk away with the majority of their earnings rather than more traditional compensation such as flat-rate fees, ad-revenue sharing, and commissions.

“Every creator who ends up on the platform, you see your page,” she said. Of the proceeds raised from tokens, she continued, "The platform only takes 25% to manage the platform. The filmmaker takes 75% [for tokens used for their content].”

Diggs noted that providing that level of detail, transparency, and equity split “goes exactly against what the rest of the industry is doing." He added, “[When] the movie does amazingly well, they deliberately don't show anybody that information,” referencing his aforementioned experience with Netflix. “That way, they can have the power [and] if they want to do another movie with them, they can still give [the filmmakers and talent] pennies.”

In an interview with Diggs at ViewerCon, I learned more about his goals for Microhouse Films and his vision for the future of the creator economy. 

Mashable: What does the rise of microdramas mean for the entertainment industry and the creator economy?

Taye Diggs: We don't know yet. Hopefully, it'll be all good. I know that I want to prove myself because it's an exciting new time, [and] all of this is outside my wheelhouse. When it comes to acting and creating and producing and directing — this is a new kind of thrust, and I don't think anybody really knows what the future holds. 

For me, in a world where I'm used to having a script already written, a director that already has ideas, [and] producers that know how they want to produce a movie, all of this is fairly unknown, and it's very exciting.

How is Microhouse Films adding to the narrative of microdramas and creators having their own platform?

Well, it's new, so anything new to me is always welcome and exciting. And the fact that we’re not necessarily focused on ourselves and the monetary benefits, but we also want to include the creators, which unfortunately is something that is not done yet.

How many creators do you have in your network so far?

So many, and we will continue to invite them. We use submissions [to find creators]. It's great to be on the other side and to realize how many talented writers, actors, and directors there are that have not been heard of yet. 

How does your business model with Microhouse Films compare to the traditional studio business model?

The fact that we're including the artists and the fact that this is brand new. With models that already exist, they're using the blueprint that already exists. We're kind of making it up as we go along. 

SAVE $48.96: As of July 22, get the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat building set for $281.03 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $329.99. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon LEGO Ideas River Steamboat building set $281.03 at Amazon
$329.99 Save $48.96   Get Deal

Looking for something fun to build this summer? A new LEGO kit is always a good choice. They can get quite expensive, however, so it's understandable if you've shied away from a detailed build for a while. But if you're ready to take the plunge, you can save on a gorgeous kit right now that you'll love putting together thanks to this Amazon deal.

As of July 22, get the LEGO Ideas River Steamboat building set for $281.03 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $329.99. That's $48.96 off and a discount of 15%.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for free — how to claim

This massive set comes with 4,090 pieces to build a gorgeous paddle wheel steamboat, with a steam engine and moving pistons as well as crew quarters, special furnishing, and passenger decks. You'll learn a bit about the boat as you work to build it, and there's plenty to discover even after you're finished.

While building, you can use the LEGO Builder App to get 3D viewing tools if you're unsure where something goes as well as track your progress. Plus, when you're done, you'll have a model that stands over 15.5 inches tall, 27 inches long, and 5.5 inches wide. It may even become one of the crown jewels of your collection.

Whether you're building alone or with family and friends, it's an undertaking that'll leave you with a gorgeous finished product, and it's well worth picking up now that it's available at a discount. You may want to bust it out during a rainy day, since they're happening so often as of late.

TL;DR: The brand-new Tonies Bluey collection is now available exclusively at Target or directly through us.tonies.com.

Opens in a new window Credit: Tonies Shop the Tonies Bluey collection at Target   Shop Now

Bluey is currently the #1 most-streamed show in the U.S., which means it's playing on a near-constant loop in millions of living rooms right now. But if you're trying to cut back on screen time without triggering a full-blown toddler meltdown, an audio player might be the way to go.

We're big fans of the Toniebox around here because it gives kids a screen-free way to play and use their imagination. In our review, we called it "an intuitively-designed storyteller" and a "screen-less winner for children" — it gives kids a little slice of independent fun without needing a screen. Now, the brand's bringing the Emmy-winning Heeler family into their audio-first world.

SEE ALSO: 'Bluey' movie gets a 2027 release date

If you missed out during the initial pre-order phase, the brand-new Tonies Bluey collection is officially available for purchase exclusively at Target or directly through us.tonies.com.

The new Bluey collection features the Toniebox 2 in Cloud Pink and Sky Blue, plus brand-new interactive Tonieplay games. Credit: Tonies

The new Bluey lineup ranges in price from $15.99 for carrying accessories up to $169.99 for a play set:

• Tonies Bluey Toniebox 2 Play Set ($169.99): This includes a Sky Blue Toniebox 2, a Bluey Tonie, a Tonieplay controller, and a Tonieplay interactive game. This upgraded box features smart bedtime tools to help build routines and Bluetooth connectivity for headphones.

• Tonies Bluey Toniebox 2 Starter Set ($149.99): This set gets you a Cloud Pink Toniebox 2 and a Bluey Tonie so kids can start listening right out of the box.

• Tonies Bluey Tonie 3-Pack Bundle ($59.99): If you already own a speaker, you can get just the figures. This pack comes with Bluey, Bingo, and Muffin Tonies.

• Tonieplay Bluey: All Day Play ($24.99): This interactive game lets kids use the controller to participate in over 100 interactive moments from the show, including playing Keepy Uppy or using the Magic Xylophone to freeze Mum and Dad.

• Accessories: You can also get the padded Listen & Go Bag ($29.99) to safely store your Tonies during travel, or the Toniebox 2 Sleeve ($15.99) to customize the look of the speaker.

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