Armenian-American producer Kai Dolbashian named among Hollywood’s 35 rising stars by The Hollywood Reporter
- Published
- Place
- Los Angeles, United States
- Event date
- Past event —
Summary
Kai Dolbashian, an American producer of Armenian descent, has been named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Next Gen 2026” list, which each year honours 35 film and television professionals under 35. At 33, he heads film and TV development at 1.21, producer Andrew Mittman’s company, known for Netflix’s Wednesday. He spotted director Michael Shanks and guided his horror film Together, starring Dave Franco and Alison Brie, from script to a much-noticed sale at the Sundance festival. He is now working on Warner Bros.’ remake of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, with Margot Robbie and Tim Burton. And he claims his roots with humour.
From Zipcars to head of development
It started at Chapman University’s film school in California. Kai Dolbashian landed an internship at MGM Television. The problem: the office was an hour away “on a good day”, and he had no car. He rented Zipcars and ran up credit card bills, The Hollywood Reporter recounts.
The bet paid off. He got a job after graduating and found a mentor in producer Andrew Mittman. When Mittman launched his company, 1.21, in early 2020, Dolbashian was there from day one. Director of development, then head of development in June 2022, he has since overseen all of the company’s film and series projects. He was also a co-producer on the series The Consultant.
Wednesday, Together and a 50-foot woman
1.21 is behind Wednesday, Tim Burton’s Netflix series starring Jenna Ortega. Dolbashian took part in its development. His most personal win remains Together. He identified Michael Shanks and carried the film through to its high-profile sale at Sundance, where it premiered in 2025. He is an executive producer on it.
He will hold the same role on Shanks’s next project, a sci-fi comedy at Sony directed by Adam McKay. And he is developing Warner Bros.’ remake of Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, with Margot Robbie and Tim Burton.
“Impatient Armenians”
The magazine asks each honoree which fictional character they most identify with. Dolbashian’s answer: Arno, from Uncut Gems. “We’re both impatient Armenians and both desperately want to do business with Adam Sandler.” In the Safdie brothers’ film, Arno is the brother-in-law of the jeweller played by Sandler.
He also named producer Jerry Bruckheimer as the person in Hollywood he would trade places with. And he is dying to work with Bill Hader.
Analysis
Armenian names are plentiful in Hollywood in front of the camera. They are rarer in the offices where decisions are made about what gets shot. Kai Dolbashian’s path, from carless intern to head of development, captures that behind-the-scenes job: spotting talent, carrying a script, convincing a studio. His answer about Arno also shows a diaspora at ease with its identity, enough to joke about it. The next tests will be concrete: the Warner remake and the Shanks film at Sony.
Possible consequences
At 1.21, Kai Dolbashian continues developing the Attack of the 50 Foot Woman remake (Warner Bros.) and the Michael Shanks–Adam McKay film (Sony). No release dates have been announced.
