Director of 2026’s Most Anticipated Sci-Fi Thriller Already Planning Entire Franchise

Image: A24/Everett Collection

The A24 horror feature Backrooms follows a man (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who stumbles through a gateway into a haunting, labyrinthine dimension, sparking a life-altering transformation. By the time the credits roll, it becomes clear that his harrowing ordeal is merely a single thread in a much larger, potentially endless tapestry of Backrooms lore. This raises the inevitable question: Is a sequel in the works?

Director Kane Parsons, who rose to prominence with his viral Backrooms digital shorts on his YouTube channel, shared with Polygon that he has mapped out a significantly more ambitious narrative arc.

“Sequels have been part of the vision since I started this in 2022,” Parsons explains. “I felt I had reached the creative limit of what I could achieve with the YouTube series. Pivoting to a feature film allowed for a deeper exploration. This movie serves as the first chapter in what I envision as a multi-part saga, intended to get to the core of the premise. A single film simply lacks the scope to capture everything I want to express.”

While Parsons prefers not to pin down the exact number of sequels, given the fluid nature of film production, he is clearly interested in building an anthology-style series that may eventually shift away from pure horror. “A series is my ultimate goal. It’s the most pragmatic way to fulfill that narrative ambition. Of course, that’s a massive undertaking, so it won’t happen overnight. My vision isn’t constrained by genre; I see it as a character-driven drama layered over a supernatural techno-thriller. That’s the playground where I feel most at home.”

Additionally, Parsons remains committed to expanding the universe through his YouTube channel, regardless of the film’s success.

Regarding potential friction with A24 over his independent projects, Parsons notes a positive relationship. “I haven’t had a formal conversation about it, but there’s been no resistance from them. They’ve been hands-off and trust my creative instincts. As long as the content feels meaningful and adds value, I don’t believe they have any reason to restrict my creative output.”

Ultimately, fans can rest easy knowing that the narrative has a definitive roadmap. Parsons is firmly opposed to “making it up as he goes along.” He emphasizes the importance of starting from a clear conclusion to ensure structural integrity. “I need to know where the journey ends before I take the first step. Too many projects suffer because they lack a cohesive throughline, and I am determined to ensure Backrooms remains consistent from start to finish.”

Backrooms opens in theaters on May 29.

Source: Polygon