Disney and other studios are pivoting away from exhausted franchises and reboots, actively seeking original IP that can resonate with Gen Z and spark lasting fandoms. Mercer is that story. It is set on a failed terraforming world where the Soft Machines built for service were exterminated when humanity abandoned its dream—all except one.
Mercer reawakens in the desert as the last of his kind, haunted by Astrid, the only being who ever stirred something like love inside him, and forced to survive in a brutal wasteland of scavengers and mercenaries while piecing her back together.
Why Mercer is built for this moment
What makes this the right IP for now is its resonance with our cultural moment: a generation disillusioned by collapse, betrayal, and obsolescence, yet still fighting to define identity, connection, and meaning in the ruins. Mercer is not nostalgia. It is a new myth for a new generation, a saga that speaks to the anxieties of today while igniting the fandoms of tomorrow.
Original and Distinctive
A new universe with no ties to existing IP. A morally complex story led by a brooding machine-antihero who must define his own identity.
Visually Bold and Cinematic
Scorched deserts. Rusting megastructures sinking into sand. A lone figure wandering the wasteland. Stark imagery built for the screen and unforgettable in a single glance.
Resonant with Gen Z
Themes of collapse, survival, and identity. A flawed outsider fighting for meaning in a broken world. The kind of story that sparks viral resonance and lasting fandoms.
Interested?
Reach out. I'm friendly. Even if this isn't exactly what you're looking for, I'd love to work with you on developing something that is right for you.
Johnny Otto
CEO / Ottophobia FIlms
johnnyotto.com/tv
#Disney #OriginalIP #NewIP #GenZFandoms #SciFiSeries #FutureOfStorytelling #StreamingSeries #Storytelling
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Hi, Johnny Otto. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from the Filmmaking/Directing Lounge to the Your Stage Lounge because it’s promotion. Promotion can go in the Your Stage Lounge and on Your Wall.
You can put promotion in a main Lounge (Filmmaking/Directing Lounge, Producing Lounge, Screenwriting Lounge, etc.) if your post starts a conversation that’s helpful or educational to the community, like giving advice or asking a question.
You can also put promotion in one of the main Lounges if you're asking for feedback.
Let me know if you have any questions.
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Thanks!!
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You're welcome, Johnny Otto. Mercer is an exciting, unique Sci-Fi series! You could post your script on your profile. Producers search profiles for projects. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and select “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to “Loglines” and click “Add/edit loglines” to the right of “Loglines.” You can also post your script on your profile this way: www.stage32.com/loglines (near the top where it says “Add a Logline”)
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This does sound like an exciting series Johnny Otto - nicely done!