‘The Backrooms’ – Renate Reinsve Boards A24’s Viral Horror Film Alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor

Kane Parsons, the 19-year-old filmmaker behind the massively viral YouTube horror series The Backrooms, is making his feature directorial debut with a big-screen adaptation, now officially greenlit by A24. Variety reports that Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve will lead the cast, with production kicking off this summer.

A24 is teaming up with Atomic Monster (James Wan), Chernin Entertainment, and 21 Laps Entertainment to bring the liminal nightmare to life. Roberto Patino (Westworld, Sons of Anarchy) is penning the script, with James Wan and Michael Clear producing under the Atomic Monster banner.

While plot details remain under wraps, the project is based on Parsons’ eerie found-footage YouTube series, which has racked up nearly 100 million views and helped popularize the “liminal horror” subgenre. Known for its unsettling maze-like environments and creeping dread, The Backrooms taps into a uniquely internet-age fear.

Parsons will helm the feature over his summer break, continuing his rapid rise from viral sensation to studio director.

Patino, an Emmy-nominated writer, recently served as creator and showrunner on HBO Max’s DMZ, and has been a key creative force behind Westworld and Sons of Anarchy.

Check out the original Backrooms short below to see what launched this terrifying phenomenon.