Inside the ShadowForge Media Universe: Building Worlds, Legacies, and Billion-Dollar IPs

ShadowForge Media isn’t just a studio — it’s a creative movement. Founded by Daequan Winbush, the New England-based company has evolved into a powerhouse of independent innovation, spanning film, animation, music, combat sports, and emerging wellness technology. Each division under the ShadowForge banner — Forge Fight League (FFL), Forge+, ForgeyWorld, Hammer Index, 40RUM Films, and AuraLink — reflects one purpose: to forge original worlds that connect with real human emotion.

From the beginning, the company’s mission has been clear — to create a self-sustaining entertainment ecosystem where story, sport, and community coexist. Winbush’s early filmmaking journey, marked by personal resilience and independent grit, gave rise to a studio that embraces both heart and hustle. ShadowForge’s content doesn’t just entertain; it empowers creators, athletes, and audiences to see themselves as part of something greater.

The foundation was laid through small but meaningful victories — short films, early music productions, experimental digital releases — all leading to a larger cinematic and cultural vision. Today, ShadowForge Media is scaling that vision with the discipline of a studio and the heart of a start-up, projecting a growth path toward a $1.5 to $3 billion valuation by 2036.

That growth is driven by real, living franchises.

Forge Fight League (FFL) is transforming combat sports into cinematic storytelling — an arena where fighters become legends, streamed directly through Forge+, ShadowForge’s own digital platform.

ForgeyWorld, its emotional children’s brand, blends music, plush collectibles, and emotional storytelling into a world that teaches empathy and creativity.

40RUM Films brings bold, art-driven filmmaking to the forefront — with projects like Terror Don’t Sleep, which has already earned festival recognition.

Hammer Index introduces a new wave of cultural commentary through community-driven film and series ratings.

And AuraLink, the company’s most futuristic division, merges emotion-tracking with AI wellness tools, bridging technology and human connection.

ShadowForge Media’s strength lies in uniting these creative divisions under a single narrative universe — a connected ecosystem of stories, styles, and souls. Every project builds upon another, creating a cycle of innovation across mediums.

The goal isn’t just to build an entertainment brand — it’s to create a generational legacy. ShadowForge Media is proof that imagination, when forged with persistence, can become an empire.

Explore the universe at shadowforgemedia.com

Follow on socials: @shadowforgemedia

🔥 Reforging the Future: ShadowForge TV Evolves Into Forge+

By Daequan Winbush – Founder & CEO, ShadowForge Media LLC

For decades, the entertainment industry has been dominated by mega-studios, exclusive gatekeepers, and algorithms that decide which stories get told. At ShadowForge Media, we set out to challenge that.

Now, we’re proud to announce the official transformation of our streaming platform—from ShadowForge TV into Forge+.

This isn’t just a rebrand. This is a rebirth.

🔧 Why Forge+? Why Now?

ShadowForge TV was always about raw, fearless storytelling—from our horror roots in “Terror Don’t Sleep” and “Elliot: The Iron Mask” to experimental projects like “9:13” and “Gold Guns & Girls.” But the scale of our ambition demanded a new identity—one that reflected not just the kind of stories we tell, but the kind of future we’re building.

Enter Forge+: a cinematic universe and creator-powered network forged in fire and passion.

The “+” in our new name symbolizes expansion—into originals, animation, collectibles, retail, and creator economy tools. It’s a badge of growth, power, and possibility.

🧠 Brand Philosophy: Forge the Culture

Forge+ is built on a simple truth: culture isn’t curated—it’s created.

We are not trying to be another streamer competing for algorithmic dominance. We’re forging a community where bold creatives, genre-benders, and underdog visionaries can own the spotlight. A place where an iPhone-shot indie film sits next to a lost silent-era gem. Where an animated series created by a teenager can trend next to a psychedelic docu-series from a retired professor.

Forge+ is where visionaries go when Hollywood says “no.”

🎨 A New Visual Identity

Our design overhaul represents everything we stand for:

• Molten Logo Reveal: Our animated intro opens with hammer strikes, sparks, and molten typography—emblematic of the forging process behind every idea.

• Sleek Ember UI: The new interface combines cinematic design, ember loops, and Netflix-inspired carousel browsing.

• Forge+ Originals: A new visual tag highlights homegrown content, letting audiences know: this was made by the Forge, for the Forge.

🎬 What’s Streaming on Day One?

Forge+ isn’t just a platform. It’s a vault of classics, rarities, and licensed cult content—all available for free or via ad-supported streaming.

🧟‍♂️ Horror & Cult Cinema

• Phantasmagoria Theater Presents: Bloody Pit of Horror (1965)

• Marihuana – A 1936 cautionary tale turned midnight classic

• Five Minutes to Live – Pre-“Man in Black” Johnny Cash in a crime thriller

🕵️‍♂️ Mystery & Noir

• Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon

• Sherlock Holmes: The Woman in Green

• Meet John Doe – Frank Capra’s forgotten masterwork of populism and power

🧸 Family & Fantasy Classics

• The Little Princess (1939) – A young Shirley Temple in a heartfelt classic

• Larry Semon’s Wizard of Oz (1925, silent) – A surreal twist on the L. Frank Baum tale

🤠 Classic TV Episodes (Forge+ Retro)

• The Beverly Hillbillies:
  

• “Getting Settled”

• “Granny’s Garden”

• “The Clampetts Strike Oil”

• The Three Stooges – “Sing a Song of Six Pants”

• Woody Woodpecker – “Pantry Panic”

🥬 Animation & Public Domain Gold

• Popeye for President

• Popeye Meets Sinbad the Sailor

• Popeye Ali Baba

This is just the beginning. With regular drops of public domain restorations, indie student films, and underground series, Forge+ is turning its library into an ever-expanding vault of cinematic culture.

🔌 What Sets Forge+ Apart?

Forge+ is designed not just to entertain—but to empower:

• Upload-to-Stream Pipeline: Creators can soon submit their work directly, get featured, and earn from ad revenue.

• Interactive Viewing: Community reviews, Forge+ polls, and creator AMAs are in the roadmap.

• Ecosystem Integration: Watch a ForgeyWorld short, then buy the plushie from the Forge+ app. Style yourself in a Boxy drop while binging a docuseries.

This is vertical integration for the indie generation.

🔗 The Connected Universe of ShadowForge Brands

Forge+ sits at the center of a growing web of cultural IPs:

• 🎥 ForgeyWorld: A plush toy universe backed by lore, music, animation, and a Kickstarter campaign that blazes with heart.

• 👕 Boxy: Streetwear for the culture, built around bold box logos and limited drops.

• 📚 TitanVerse: A rising comic universe of superheroes and legacy storytelling.

• 💀 DreadVerse: Dark tales from the psychological and supernatural edge.

• 🎙️ A Frankie Productions: Music videos, audio documentaries, and underground visuals.

Every one of these verticals will have a home—and a heartbeat—on Forge+.

🛠️ What’s Coming Soon?

• 🔓 Creator Portals: Self-publishing, analytics, and monetization for indie filmmakers

• 🎉 Launch Events: Digital red carpets, online film festivals, and a real-world Forge Festival

• 🛍️ Merch Integration: Sync episodes to merch drops, limited apparel runs, and seasonal Forgey editions

• 📺 Native Apps: Android TV, Roku, Firestick, and iOS experiences in development

💬 From the Founder

“Forge+ isn’t just a new name—it’s a new era. I wanted a platform where our stories, our voices, our hustle didn’t need permission. We forged this from nothing. Now we’re about to forge a new future for content.”

— Daequan Winbush

🧲 Join the Movement

🎬 Submit your film

💼 Inquire about licensing & monetization

👕 Partner with Forge+ for merch, drops, or content

🌎 Help us forge a world where content doesn’t need clearance to be powerful.

📍 forgeplus.tv (coming soon)

📧 Contact: shadowforgemedia@gmail.com

📱 TikTok | Instagram | YouTube: @ForgePlus