RoseBerry Media Uses AI to Recut Neighbours Soap Episodes
The media firm is repurposing archival footage into vertical micro-episodes featuring actress Margot Robbie.
Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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RoseBerry Media has launched a new project using AI to reframing vintage Neighbours footage into 150 minutes of vertical micro-episodes. The series highlights early performances by Margot Robbie in her role as Donna Freedman.
Why it matters
Fremantle is leveraging its massive library of over 9,300 episodes to unlock value in the emerging microdrama market. The project has sparked concerns among former cast members regarding the use of their likenesses without prior notification.
The production utilises RedSnapper software for automated catalogue analysis, editing, and vertical reframing of original broadcast footage. Human editors retain oversight to approve every stage of the production process.
The players
RoseBerry Media
A media company that distributes content on its own Epis platform and utilises AI tools for content production.
Margot Robbie
An internationally acclaimed actress who began her professional career on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.
Fremantle
A global television production and distribution company that owns the rights to the Neighbours series.
Australian Writers' Guild
A professional association representing writers that is currently seeking a resolution with production companies regarding AI usage.
The details
The production process uses AI-assisted software to adapt original Neighbours episodes for modern mobile consumption. Fremantle maintains that the project relies solely on previously broadcast material and does not generate new AI performances or alter any actors' faces.
Timeline
Neighbours broadcast more than 9,300 episodes between 1985 and 2025.
Margot Robbie starred as Donna Freedman from 2008 to 2011.
The Tech Race
This move mirrors the strategy seen in the 2023 Paramount Pictures release of Mean Girls on TikTok where full-length films were segmented into 23 pieces to reach social media audiences. It marks a shift where legacy broadcasters experiment with micro-content formats.
Viewers can now consume classic soap opera content in a vertical, short-form format designed for mobile devices on the Epis platform. This transition represents a shift in how legacy media programmes are repackaged for modern consumption habits.
The takeaway
The rise of microdrama formats is driving significant investment, with the global market value now estimated at $15bn. Audiences should expect to see more archival content reformatted for mobile as production companies seek to maximise the utility of their existing intellectual property.
Further reading
For more on how modern tools are changing television, visit the Artificial Intelligence section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Guardian.
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