EXCLUSIVE: Anyone wondering where the next substantial YouTube horror feature is coming from following the mega success of Backrooms and Obsession,
EXCLUSIVE: Anyone wondering where the next substantial YouTube horror feature is coming from following the mega success of Backrooms and Obsession, well, United Artists‘ Scott Stuber, Amblin‘s Steven Spielberg and Amazon MGM Studios have it: The Mandela Catalogue.
We can tell you first that they’ve won the film rights to the viral YouTube horror series following a highly competitive 11-studio bidding war.
The movie will be directed by Mandela Catalogue creator, Alex Kister, based on a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton.
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The Mandela Catalogue has amassed well over 100 million views across its official episodes alone, making it one of the largest original analog horror franchises on YouTube. It is widely regarded as one of the defining titles in the analog horror genre, alongside Local 58 and The Backrooms.
Launched in 2021, Mandela Catalogue is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin which is invaded by shape-shifting, nearly immortal creatures called Alternates.
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After the surprise success of YouTube genre filmmaker Curry Barker’s horror romance Obsession ($374M WW box office) and the unforeseen phenomenon that is Kane Parson’s Backrooms ($331M-plus WW), which outstripped even anticipated substantial Disney tentpoles like Star Wars: Mandalorian and Grogu and DC Studio’s Supergirl, the town has been keen to mine the next substantial YouTube genre filmmaker, in an effort to keep the Gen Alpha and Gen Z audiences flowing into cinemas. That under 30 demo was historically difficult for Hollywood to dynamite, but they’ve finally found a way to appeal to them.
Spielberg and Holly Bario are producing for Amblin Entertainment alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also producing. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists. Maria Fortese will oversee for Amblin.
The deal was negotiated by Amazon MGM Studios and Sarah Vacchiano for United Artists.
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Paper Street
Paper Street Pictures is a boutique development and production house focused on high-concept, genre-bending films and series known for piercing innovative swings within capable production models. Notable recent titles include Shelby Oaks via Neon and the hit Peacock and SYFY series Revival, coming to Netflix later this summer.
Kister and Koontz are represented by Brett Rosen and Andrew Schoessel Mondragón at TFC Management and attorney Duncan Hedges. Clifton is represented by Brett Rosen and Andrew Schoessel Mondragón at TFC Management and attorney Larry Weinberg.
