Tommy Harper is moving from gothic mega-hits to bite-size mobile storytelling. The producer behind Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and an executive producer on the first two seasons of Netflix’s Wednesday has launched VeYou, a new AI-powered microdrama platform built for vertical viewing.
Harper’s ambition is not modest. Speaking to Deadline, he said he wants VeYou “to become the HBO of vertical.” It is a bold pitch, but it also captures where a growing slice of entertainment is heading: short-form, phone-first, serialized drama designed to hook viewers in minutes rather than hours.
What Is VeYou, the AI-Powered Vertical Microdrama Platform?
VeYou launched in April and is positioning itself inside the fast-rising vertical microdrama space, where scripted series are made specifically for mobile screens. These shows are usually short, fast-paced and packed with cliffhangers, making them closer to premium soap-style chapters than traditional TV episodes.
Harper sees the market as wide open. He described the vertical microdrama business as a “blank slate,” comparing its potential to the early disruptive energy of major digital platforms. The idea is simple: creators can test stories quickly, audiences can watch anywhere, and the format can scale across genres without the heavy machinery of legacy television.
Tommy Harper’s VeYou Strategy: Premium Storytelling for Phones
What makes VeYou especially interesting is Harper’s background. This is not a tech founder casually wandering into entertainment. Harper has helped produce large-scale studio projects, including Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, and has experience with one of Netflix’s biggest genre brands in Wednesday.
That matters because the vertical video market has often been associated with speed over polish. Harper appears to be betting that audiences who binge prestige streaming series will also respond to stronger writing, sharper production choices and more intentional world-building in a vertical format.
The AI component is another major piece of the VeYou pitch. While the full creative workflow has not been detailed, the platform is being framed as AI-powered, suggesting technology will play a role in production, packaging, personalization or audience targeting. For streamers and producers watching costs closely, that could make VeYou part of a much larger conversation about how artificial intelligence changes scripted entertainment.
Soccer Microdrama Rival Hearts Is Set for VeYou
One of the first notable projects on the platform’s radar is Rival Hearts, a soccer-themed microdrama. The title suggests a blend of sports rivalry, romance and emotional conflict, all areas that fit naturally into the short-episode format.
Sports dramas have a built-in advantage in vertical storytelling: competition creates instant stakes. Add romance, betrayal or family pressure, and each chapter can end with the kind of twist that keeps viewers tapping into the next installment.
For VeYou, Rival Hearts could be an important test case. If the platform can turn a soccer microdrama into a repeat-viewing habit, it may prove that vertical scripted series can compete for attention alongside TikTok, Reels, YouTube Shorts and traditional streaming apps.
Is VeYou Available in the US, UK or EU?
VeYou has been announced as a new platform, but full regional availability for the US, UK and EU has not been clearly detailed in the source announcement. Viewers should check VeYou’s official site or their local app store for the latest access information by country.
Wednesday, the Netflix series connected to Harper’s executive producer credits, is available to stream on Netflix in the US, UK and across many EU markets, subject to local Netflix catalog availability. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice is a film release rather than a VeYou title, so its streaming home may vary by region after its theatrical and digital windows.
Where Can You Watch Rival Hearts?
Show: Rival Hearts
Where to watch: VeYou
When to watch: Release date to be announced
Availability: US, UK and EU availability has not yet been fully confirmed in the provided announcement.
Tags: #VeYou #Microdrama #VerticalStreaming #RivalHearts #StreamingNews
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