Kane Parsons, 19, just hit the jackpot. The young YouTube filmmaker, known for his eerie short films, has been tapped by A24 to direct a feature-length adaptation of his viral hit, “The Backrooms.” Roberto Patino (“DMZ”) is set to write the screenplay.
This makes Parsons the youngest filmmaker ever to helm a movie for A24. Production is slated to begin this summer. Not just that. Actors Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve are set to lead the cast.
It's a major win for young creators cutting their teeth on YouTube. Of course, some might question whether a teenager should be steering a multi-million dollar production with a full crew behind him. Realistically, Parsons will likely have a team of seasoned producers by his side throughout the process to help guide the ship.
Although specific plot points remain under wraps, the original YouTube series employed a found-footage style to explore eerie spaces that feel like they exist just beyond the boundaries of reality. Its slow-burning tension and DIY visual effects captivated viewers and built a strong online following.
Parsons became a viral sensation thanks to “The Backrooms,” the first in a series of found-footage horror shorts that have collectively racked up nearly 200 million views. You can check out his YouTube channel.
Between this and YouTube duo RackaRacka’s critical success with “Talk to Me” and “Bring Her Home,” it’s clear that online creators are continuing to make serious inroads into traditional filmmaking. However, this isn’t the first time a short film has launched a major career—David F. Sandberg made the leap in 2016 with his short “Lights Out” (he was 35, not 19), which led to a nifty feature version, and eventually to directing “Shazam!” for the DCU.
Netflix and Skydance Animation have also called it quits. The two sides announced Monday that they're ending the animated film deal struck back in 2023, framing it as a mutual decision.