Can A24 keep Kane Parsons after Curry Barker frenzy?
Not yet. A24 has offered Kane Parsons its biggest deal ever for a Backrooms sequel and another film, but Warner Bros. and HBO are circling hard. The fight echoes the multi-million-dollar chase for Curry Barker after Obsession. No studio has locked him in; a decision is due before summer ends.
Key Takeaways
- A24 has proposed a three-year first-look for Parsons, including a Backrooms sequel and another original, in what sources call its richest filmmaker package yet.
- Warner Bros. chiefs Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy flew to the Bay Area to court him; HBO’s Casey Bloys and Francesca Orsi also met him on Zoom about a film-and-TV package.
- The scramble mirrors the hunt for Curry Barker, who stayed in the Universal family on a rich eight-figure deal after Obsession’s breakout run.
- Parsons, 21, fully owns the Backrooms IP that began as YouTube shorts; he remains a free agent as Universal and Sony also pursue meetings.
Hollywood’s Gen Z genre land grab just hit another flashpoint. Mere months after Obsession and Backrooms stormed theaters, studios are throwing millions at internet-fluent horror talent—and Streaming & TV Alerts watchers should track which streamer-studio combo lands Parsons next.
What deal has A24 put on the table for Kane Parsons?
According to The Playlist, citing Puck, A24 has proposed a three-year first-look with performance bonuses tied to Parsons making two films, including a contemplated Backrooms sequel. One source estimated a payday around $65 million, though talks continue. A24 and Parsons’ reps declined to comment.
The Hollywood Reporter notes Backrooms, made for about $10 million, stands as A24’s top-grossing movie ever at $374 million globally. Parsons fully owns the IP, which started as YouTube shorts—helping explain why no first-look was baked into his first feature deal.
Why is Warner Bros. and HBO chasing him so hard?
THR confirms De Luca and Abdy flew to Parsons’ Bay Area home area to pitch a Warner deal spanning film and TV. On Thursday he Zoomed with HBO boss Casey Bloys and drama/HBO films head Francesca Orsi. Parsons has said he watches more TV than movies and is a major HBO fan, giving Warner a real edge.
Warner Bros. already signed Backrooms producer Chris Ferguson to a first-look. Parsons’ statement—“I am very excited to continue collaborating with this lot”—sounded encouraging, though A24 still wants TV inside its own first-look. His team may prefer holding TV rights for a separate Warner/HBO path.
How does the Curry Barker bidding war compare?
The Parsons frenzy follows the chase for Curry Barker after Obsession. Focus Features landed his follow-up Anything But Ghosts after acquiring Obsession at Toronto. Mid-run, a rival offered Barker an astounding $10 million, sight unseen, for his next original. He ultimately stayed with Universal Film Group and Blumhouse Atomic Monster on a rich eight-figure deal for his third film.
Playlist puts Obsession at $428 million through Focus; THR frames it as an epic $400 million-plus run. Either way, Curry Barker proved what a digitally native hit can unlock—and why Universal chair Donna Langley also flew Parsons to Los Angeles, while Sony is arranging its own meeting.
When will Kane Parsons pick a studio home?
Parsons is prioritizing originals and has floated interest in adapting Portal, though Valve controls that IP. Managed by 3 Arts with Ziffren Brittenham counsel and no agency, he is not expected to choose immediately. Puck, via Playlist, says a decision should land before summer’s end—possibly an A24 sequel deal with HBO TV on the side.