Dan Houser and Lazlow will discuss storytelling and worldbuilding alongside several key partners from Dark Horse Comics, Smilegate and more onJune 13 at 3:30PM EDT
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — May 29, 2026 — As the longtime creative force behind the Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption and Bully video games series among others, Dan Houser has written, directed and produced some of the bestselling and most critically acclaimed IP of all time including Grand Theft Auto V, which is the most successful entertainment release in history.
Houser has now founded and leads the storytelling-driven company, Absurd Ventures. Since its launch, Absurd has expanded across mediums with original projects including the chart-topping sci-fi audio series A Better Paradise, the bestselling crime fiction comic book American Caper, and new animation and video game worlds in development.
In this conversation, titled “LUMINARIES: DAN HOUSER’S ABSURD VENTURES” and part of Tribeca Fest’s Storytelling Summit, Dan Houser and his longtime writing partner, Lazlow, explore their approach to worldbuilding and the evolution of storytelling beyond video games alongside several of Absurd’s key partners from Dark Horse, Smilegate, and more.
The panel will include:
- Dan Houser, Longtime writer and director of the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption series, and now Founder of storytelling-driven entertainment company, Absurd Ventures.
- Lazlow, Houser’s longtime creative collaborator and founding member of Absurd Ventures where he serves as a Writer, Director and Executive Producer.
- Tim Wiesch, Head of Publishing at Dark Horse Comics. Wiesch signed Absurd Ventures’ American Caper comic book series, which launched in 2025 as a bestselling crime-fiction title.
- Kevin Anderson, CEO of Kevin Anderson & Associates, one of the world’s largest book writing and editorial firms. Anderson and his firm served as editorial partners on Dan Houser’s debut technothriller novel, A Better Paradise, and are currently working with Houser on upcoming books in the series.
- Paul Lee, Vice President of GTM (Global Operation) at Smilegate. Smilegate are strategic investors in Absurd Ventures and will be publishing an upcoming action-adventure videogame set in Houser’s A Better Paradise universe.
Award-winning broadcaster Elle Osili-Wood will moderate the conversation. Described as “one of the most influential women in games” by Google, Elle has twice hosted the BAFTA Games Awards, co-hosted the UK broadcast of the Oscars, and has created games documentaries and podcasts for the BBC.
The panel will take place on Saturday, June 13 at 3:30PM EDT at the Storytelling Summit – Tribeca Festival Hub at Spring Studios (50 Varick Street, New York, NY 10013). For more information, visit: https://tribecafilm.com/storytellingsummit
About Absurd Ventures
Absurd Ventures is a storytelling-driven entertainment company creating original video games, live-action and animated film and television, audio fiction, books, comic books, and more. The company was founded by Dan Houser, who was previously co-founder of Rockstar Games, and the lead creative force behind some of the most successful entertainment properties in history. Absurd Ventures’ original IP, created by Houser, includes sci-fi-thriller universe A Better Paradise, crime-fiction universe American Caper, and comedy-satire universe Absurdaverse. Its debut project, an audio fiction series set in the A Better Paradise world, debuted as the #1 fiction podcast on Apple. In 2025, Absurd Ventures released the American Caper comic book series, an A Better Paradise novel, and more. Absurd Ventures is headquartered in Santa Monica, with additional studio offices in Marin, California. Storytelling. Philanthropy. Ultraviolence.
