What started as a viral internet mystery may be evolving into something far bigger than anyone expected. After the release of A24’s ‘Backrooms’, director Kane Parsons has revealed plans for the franchise, confirming that the movie was not meant to be a standalone.
Indeed, the universe is getting bigger and has been for years, meaning that audiences have only witnessed the first chapter of a much bigger vision. The update is an exciting sign that the eerie world of endless yellow hallways has yet more territory to explore, for fans who have been following the ‘Backrooms’ since its inception on YouTube.
Kane Parsons has Bigger Plans For The ‘Backrooms’ Universe
Since 2022, sequels have been a part of Parsons’ long-term vision. “Sequels are more than an option; it’s been the intention since 2022,” Parsons says. “I went as far as I could with the YouTube series. Making a feature film became an option, I thought it’d be a much slower road to get to where things are now,” he told Polygon.
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His initial YouTube series introduced fans to this disturbing idea and slowly began to build up the lore of the ‘Backrooms’. However, he also thinks a feature film is not enough to fully explore what makes the Backrooms interesting.
The director said the film is merely a first step to what he sees as the “true heart” of the idea. That’s a really interesting comment, as it implies that the franchise’s biggest secrets could yet be uncovered. What’s really fascinating is that Parsons does not consider the series to be horror-related per se.
The disturbing images and supernatural elements are still important. However, future episodes might take a completely different turn in their narrative. This adaptability could be one of the strongest attributes of the franchise. The series can continue to evolve with its growing mythology.
‘Backrooms’ Is More Than Just A Horror Series
One of Parsons’ most interesting remarks was his interest in pushing the franchise into new genres. He suggested that future stories might also have more of the elements of character-driven drama, science fiction, and conspiracy thriller elements, but still retain the weirdness that made the ‘Backrooms‘ popular.
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An ambitious plan, certainly, but it also seems logical, as the world he has built is so large. There’s enough material here to write a lot of stories besides horror, with the mysterious Async Research Institute, alternate dimensions, and hidden experiments.
Longtime fans might be pleased with the fact that Parsons is staying true to his roots on YouTube. As he moves into his big screen career, he will still be making online content for the universe. This could imply that the ‘Backrooms’ isn’t just for movie theaters.
The story of a concept that started with a single disturbing image on the web has been extraordinary so far. And if Parsons gets his wish, ‘Backrooms’ could become one of the most unique multimedia franchises of the next decade. It could expand far beyond the endless hallways where it all began.
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