Director Kane Parsons has transformed his viral YouTube creepypasta web series into a feature-length horror film titled Backrooms for studio A24.
The movie is scheduled for a wide theatrical release in late May 2026, marking the feature debut for the 20-year-old filmmaker.
>>> Police Incident Closes Manchester Airport Terminal 2 Forecourts
Production and Cast
The script was written by Will Soodik, according to reports from The Atlantic, The Guardian, and The Hollywood Reporter.
The production is produced by high-profile horror filmmakers James Wan and Osgood Perkins, alongside companies including Chernin Entertainment, 21 Laps, Atomic Monster, North Road, and Oddfellows Pictures.
The plot follows Clark, played by Chiwetel Ejiofor, an alcoholic architect who manages a failing discount furniture store named Cap'n Clark's Ottoman Empire.
Clark discovers a supernatural portal in his store basement that leads into an infinite, extra-dimensional maze of empty rooms, office hallways, and yellowish fluorescent lighting.
Renate Reinsve stars as Mary Kline, a therapist haunted by childhood memories who becomes trapped in the alternate dimension while searching for Clark.
The cast also features Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, and Lukita Maxwell, with cinematography by Jeremy Cox and production design by Danny Vermette.
The film originates from a 2019 4chan post featuring an empty retail space that inspired the concept of "noclipping" out of reality.
Parsons expanded this concept into a series of YouTube short videos starting in 2022, which accumulated hundreds of millions of views.
The Atlantic reported that the production operated on an estimated budget of nearly $10 million.
The film is currently projected to earn back more than double its initial production budget during its summer box office run.
>>> TfL Warns Commuters of Widespread Tube Strike Disruptions
Parsons discussed his initial attraction to the internet photograph of the empty, carpeted retail space that launched the online phenomenon.
"It's nothing," said Parsons. "But it's also kind of giving us everything."
He recalled his childhood development as a digital creator in Sonoma County, California, where he relied heavily on online resources to learn visual effects software.
"That sounds really bad, but, you know," added Parsons, discussing how the internet became a third parent during his youth.
Parsons noted that his ultimate filmmaking objective during his school years focused on creating grounded, deceptive digital narratives.
"When I was in school, the only thing I would think about all day was a random little explosion effect I wanted to achieve," said Parsons.
He explained his stylistic goals regarding the intersection of visual effects and fiction.
"Make iPhone videos of things that didn't actually happen, and have a fictional story that doesn't describe itself as fictional," said Parsons.
The source materials from The Guardian and The Atlantic note that the finished film blends digital fabrication with physical sets to create a disquieting atmosphere of liminal horror.
>>> St. John's Muslim Community Celebrates Eid-ul-Adha With Morning Prayers
The project represents one of the highest-profile adaptations of user-generated internet folklore to date.
