London-based hybrid production company Metrotone Studios has announced the lead cast for its upcoming animated vertical microdrama Raynmaker, which combines established screen and voice talent with Gen Z social media creators.
The project stars voice actor David Menkin, whose credits include Final Fantasy XVI, The Sandman and Lego Star Wars, alongside British actor Tim Frances, known for roles in Emmerdale, EastEnders and Holby City.
Menkin and Frances are joined by social media creators and musicians Jestress Joan and Jordan Nash, as well as actress and dancer Indira Maaike. Joan plays the lead role of Rayne Alaina, while Nash portrays Trey and Maaike appears as Miss Judith.
Raynmaker follows ex-Marine Rayne Alaina as she attempts to clear a friend accused of murder while uncovering a wider conspiracy in a dystopian near-future Los Angeles. The series is scheduled for release in summer 2026 and will be accompanied by an original music album tied to the show’s fictional pop star alter ego, Raynmaker.
The project uses a hybrid production workflow combining AI tools, motion capture and voice performance. A trailer was presented at this year’s Berlinale during a discussion on AI filmmaking and vertical microdrama led by showrunner Kat Gellein Viken.
According to Viken, the production is among the first in the vertical microdrama space to combine online creators with professional actors in lead roles. “This is the first time that a microdrama has cast Gen Z social media creators alongside world renowned actors – and we think it reflects the huge potential of microdrama to reinvigorate scripted entertainment and resonate across different generations of audiences.”
Viken, who has previously spoken at the TellyCast Digital Content Forum, said Raynmaker is a departure from the “romance meets light S&M stories that have dominated the genre up until now: it’s a mixture of action, crime drama and sci fi, with animation squarely aimed at an adult audience and an incredible soundtrack. We hope it will be the vanguard of a new era of creativity in microdrama.”
