Drew McIntyre lifts Jacob Fatu during their unsanctioned match during WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium on April 18, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images WWE is bringing its theatrics in the ring to vertical dramas, partnering with major verticals company ReelShort on an original live-action microdrama.
The partnership will pair WWE stars with two well-known vertical actors for a story whose details are under wraps, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. WWE stars that will appear in the vertical include the Scottish wrestlers Drew McIntyre and Joe Hendry as well as SmackDown star Jacob Fatu, with others promised to materialize in the drama as well.
The wrestlers will appear alongside seasoned microdrama stars Marc Herrmann (Fiancée’s Betrayal, Dante’s Inferno, Puck Me Baby One More Time) and Chase Mattson (Married to the Don, My Duplicated Husband).
“By bringing WWE Superstars into the ReelShort cinematic world, we are creating a new storytelling experience for the WWE Universe, while reaching a fresh audience with premium content on ReelShort’s innovative platform,” WWE head of original content and development Ben Houser said in a statement.
The drama is scheduled to start filming next month with a premiere date slated for the fall.
This is the latest creative collaboration for ReelShort, a company that got a head start on the U.S. verticals market and has become one of its biggest players, even in an increasingly crowded field. Earlier this year, the brand announced a co-production partnership with Korean studio Showbox (Exhuma), while the firm has released two separate microdramas with the shoe brand Crocs, Charmed to Meet You and its sequel, Charmed to Meet You, Too.
In a statement, ReelShort’s head of talent and business development, Sammie Hao, said, ”Brand partnerships are evolving beyond product placement. We’re creating entertainment ecosystems where brands, talent, and storytelling come together to build cultural moments that audiences actively engage with and share.“
Verticals are known to have a predominantly female fan base, though ReelShort has recently been attempting to cater to a male audience with projects like the 2025 thriller American Sniper: The Last Round. The collaboration with the WWE appears to be another push in that direction. Meanwhile, the WWE’s operatic drama and wild stunts seem well-suited to the verticals format, which attempts to hook viewers with melodramatic minutes-long episodes that often end in twists and cliffhangers to encourage viewers to keep watching.
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