In a bold move that could reshape the landscape of science fiction and intellectual property, filmmaker David Goyer announced plans to launch a new blockchain-based universe dubbed “Emergence.” Speaking Friday at the CoinDesk’s Consensus conference in Toronto, Goyer shared his vision for a sprawling, community-driven sci-fi world built on the blockchain platform Incention, which he hopes will revolutionize how narratives are created and shared.
A New Frontier for Storytelling
Goyer, known for his work on the Blade trilogy, The Dark Knight, and Apple TV’s Foundation series, is no stranger to crafting intricate worlds. With Emergence, he aims to leverage the power of blockchain to democratize storytelling. “The idea is that we’re going to involve the community in all of this,” Goyer explained, highlighting how fans will contribute characters and stories to the universe, which includes spaceships, relic-hunting, and the mysterious phenomena of white holes.
At the heart of this initiative is Story Protocol, a blockchain platform focused on intellectual property management. Co-founder SY Lee, who joined Goyer on the panel, emphasized the platform’s ability to register, track, and monetize IP without intermediaries, enabling a more fluid and collaborative creative process. “Without any middleman, someone can remix, license, and basically build upon someone else’s IP,” Lee noted. This innovative use of blockchain mirrors recent developments in other industries, such as Google’s integration of blockchain tech into its wallet, which enhances privacy and data security.
A Break from Hollywood Tradition
Goyer’s critique of Hollywood’s traditional IP-building methods was candid. “Franchises are built in the film and television industry [on] models that are a century old,” he lamented. The slow pace and exclusivity of traditional media can stifle innovation, and Goyer sees Web3 as a potential game-changer. As blockchain continues to gain traction, its applications are expanding beyond entertainment, as seen in Visa and Baanx’s launch of USDC stablecoin payment cards, signaling a broader shift towards digital integration.
To ensure the Emergence universe is both robust and engaging, Goyer has penned a 2,500-page story bible and engaged a team of talented concept artists and award-winning science fiction authors. This foundational material has also been used to train an AI agent named Atlas, designed to help contributors develop stories within the pre-defined narrative framework.
Empowering Creators in a Tokenized World
The integration of AI and blockchain into creative processes has sparked debate, with concerns about job displacement and the commodification of creative work. Goyer, however, sees an opportunity to empower artists. “It’s really about deciding whether I’m going to stick my head in the sand, or I’m going to have a seat at the table,” he said, expressing a desire to guide this technological shift in a way that benefits creative professionals.
Visitors to the Emergence platform will have the chance to engage deeply with the universe—reading about its characters and settings or generating their own content. A community-driven approach allows users to upvote stories and visuals, while an editorial board chaired by Goyer will curate the official canon.
A Future in Flux
As blockchain technology continues to evolve, Goyer’s project raises intriguing questions about the future of narrative creation. Will blockchain and AI redefine how stories are told and consumed? Can this model offer a sustainable and equitable path for creators? These are questions that the Emergence project seems poised to explore.
Goyer’s commitment to learning and adapting in this rapidly tokenizing world underscores a broader industry trend. As he puts it, “AI, Web3, blockchain — none of this stuff is going away.” With Emergence, Goyer is not just telling a story; he’s inviting the world to help write it, signaling a potentially transformative era for storytelling.
Source
This article is based on: Filmmaker David Goyer Bets on Blockchain for Next Sci-Fi Franchise
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Steve Gregory is a lawyer in the United States who specializes in licensing for cryptocurrency companies and products. Steve began his career as an attorney in 2015 but made the switch to working in cryptocurrency full time shortly after joining the original team at Gemini Trust Company, an early cryptocurrency exchange based in New York City. Steve then joined CEX.io and was able to launch their regulated US-based cryptocurrency. Steve then went on to become the CEO at currency.com when he ran for four years and was able to lead currency.com to being fully acquired in 2025.
