Just two years ago, a groundbreaking collaboration was announced among some of the most prominent names in the entertainment industry, including A24, James Wan’s Atomic Monster, the Stranger Things creators at 21 Laps, and Chernin Entertainment, renowned for their work on Planet of the Apes. This partnership is set to produce an exciting new project titled The Backrooms, which will also serve as the feature directorial debut for the talented 19-year-old director and VFX artist Kane Parsons. Recently, we’ve learned that acclaimed actors Chiwetel Ejiofor from 12 Years a Slave and Renate Reinsve, known for her role in The Worst Person in the World, will be starring in this film. Additionally, according to a report from Variety, actors Mark Duplass from Creep, Finn Bennett from True Detective, Lukita Maxwell from Shrinking, and Avan Jogia from Zombieland: Double Tap have also joined the cast, with production set to commence this week in Canada. However, the details regarding their specific characters remain under wraps.
The concept of The Backrooms is inspired by a series of innovative viral videos produced by Kane Parsons on his YouTube channel, Kane Pixels. If these videos were compiled together, they would approximately form a feature-length film. Nevertheless, the upcoming cinematic adaptation of The Backrooms is poised to present an entirely original narrative. The screenplay for this much-anticipated feature film has been crafted by Roberto Patino, known for his work on DMZ.
According to Deadline, the specific plot details of this sci-fi horror feature remain undisclosed. However, the original short film introduces audiences to a young filmmaker who unexpectedly falls into a bizarre dimension, where he finds himself wandering through an eerily yellow, desolate, and maze-like office environment, which may be inhabited by supernatural entities. The title and setting of the film draw heavy inspiration from a creepypasta, or internet urban legend, that was published on the popular website 4chan back in 2019. In an insightful interview with Parsons on ABC, he revealed that his series explores the narrative of a clandestine organization named ASYNC, which, during the late 1980s, opens a portal connecting the real world to the enigmatic realm of The Backrooms.
In a noteworthy partnership, A24 and Chernin Entertainment are co-financing the production of The Backrooms. The talented Patino is producing the film alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Levine from 21 Laps, as well as James Wan and Michael Clear from Atomic Monster. Additionally, Alayna Glasthal is overseeing the project from Atomic Monster, with Judson Scott serving as the executive producer.
Are you excited about the upcoming film The Backrooms? What are your thoughts on the casting of Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell, and Avan Jogia? We invite you to share your opinions by leaving a comment below.
