From Backrooms to SCP Foundation: A24’s next internet-born spooky mystery

A24 has found its gold mine with the upcoming SCP Foundation movie. After the groundbreaking success of Backrooms, the studio's latest psychological horror film based on director Kane Parsons' eponymous internet creepypasta, A24 is determined to replicate that success with one of the biggest internet-born horror anthology franchises.

A24 has teamed up with Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Studios to bring the SCP Foundation's fan-built horror universe to the big screen in 2027.

Image Nation Studios’ CEO Ben Ross and Spooky Pictures co-founders announced the project, saying:

“Internet lore is quickly rising as a compelling source of new stories for the horror genre, bringing with it built-in, highly devoted audiences. As fans increasingly seek out fresh scares, we’re focused on tapping into the most compelling online worlds in which talent already lives, such as the vast SCP universe, and helping them make the leap to the big screen."

Backrooms' success certainly played a major role in this collaboration, as the creators credited A24 with nurturing internet-born franchises, which often fail to reach a larger audience:

"With A24’s expertise in nurturing and elevating internet-born phenomena like Backrooms into major theatrical success, they’re the ideal partner for V/H/S: SCP and we can’t wait to expand the franchise with new, spine chilling stories together.”

After Backrooms, A24 is betting on the SCP Foundation

The past year witnessed a revolution in the horror genre as it evolved from external supernatural monsters and haunted houses to deeply psychological fears, internet folklore and micro-budget, creator-driven stories like Obsession and Backrooms. Instead of fearing a ghost hiding in a closet, modern horror roots its terror inside the cracks of the human mind, and internet creepypasta is the biggest example of this trend.

Parsons' Backrooms had humble beginnings. The film, based on an impossibly large extradimensional complex of empty rooms, brought the liminal space aesthetic to the big screen and grossed over $394M worldwide. This breakout success hinted at a shift in fans' horror appetite and the upcoming SCP Foundation movie is the next big Internet-born spooky mystery to debut on the big screen.

For the uninitiated, the SCP Foundation originated in 2008 and has since evolved into a shared world responsible for capturing, containing and studying paranormal and other mysterious phenomena, while keeping its existence hidden from society. The found-footage horror anthology franchise V/H/S is naturally a great fit for the Foundation, which is entirely run by fans and online writers. The upcoming V/H/S: SCP is the tenth film in the anthology series, backed by A24.

After almost two decades, the secret SCP Foundation will get a much-deserved spotlight in the upcoming movie. Reportedly, V/H/S: SCP will feature segments documenting encounters with various SCPs (Special Containment Procedures), also known as anomalies. Josh Goldbloom, who has worked on past V/H/S entries including V/H/S/94, V/H/S/99 and V/H/S/Halloween, is also attached to the project as a co-producer.

The secret organization is credited with building a shared world with elements of horror, science fiction and urban fantasy.

A24's move from Backrooms to SCP Foundation signals just how far internet-born horror has come. What once lived in obscure corners of online communities is now becoming fertile ground for ambitious film and television projects. With its sprawling mythology, strange creatures and secret experiments, the fictional organization is especially ripe for adaptations, sequels and spin-offs, and could easily become the next horror obsession.