Warner Bros. wins Siren Head movie after studio bidding war
Warner Bros. has won a bidding war for "Siren Head," the creepy internet sensation created by artist Trevor Henderson, and will turn the viral urban legend into a feature film directed by Brian Duffield with "Weapons" filmmaker Zach Cregger co-writing the screenplay. The deal positions Hollywood's next big Gen Z horror bet after the success of "Backrooms."
Key Takeaways
- Warner Bros. beat rival studios to secure film rights to Trevor Henderson's Siren Head urban legend.
- Brian Duffield will direct; he and Zach Cregger are co-writing the screenplay.
- Producers include Cregger, Duffield, Roy Lee, Andrew Childs, and Scott Glassgold; Henderson will executive produce.
- The move reflects Hollywood's push to adapt viral internet horror for younger moviegoers.
- No release date or cast has been announced yet.
What is Siren Head?
Created by artist Trevor Henderson, Siren Head is an internet-fueled urban legend built around a mysterious predator with two sirens for a head and a long, thin frame. The name is literal, and the creature has become one of the most recognizable figures in online horror culture.
Variety notes that the character will now serve as the basis for a Warner Bros. theatrical feature, marking another step in Hollywood's effort to mine viral web phenomena for the big screen.
Who is making the Siren Head movie?
Brian Duffield will direct from a screenplay he is writing with Zach Cregger. Duffield's credits include the sci-fi horror film "No One Will Save You" and the upcoming survival thriller "Whalefall," an adaptation of a bestseller about a scuba diver trapped inside a whale. That film opens in the fall and stars Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams.
Cregger is among Hollywood's hottest horror voices after writing and directing last summer's breakout hit "Weapons," which earned Amy Madigan an Oscar. He also wrote and directed the well-received horror film "Barbarians." Next up for Cregger is a "Resident Evil" reboot arriving in September, also starring Abrams.
Why does this deal matter for Hollywood?
Fresh off the success of "Backrooms," studios are racing to find the next Gen Z phenomenon worth bringing to theaters. "Backrooms" began as a YouTube sensation before A24 turned it into a hit with 20-year-old director Kane Parsons. Another recent horror success, "Obsession," was created by 26-year-old Curry Barker, who also got his start on YouTube.
Recent studies cited by Variety show Gen Z has become Hollywood's most consistent audience, visiting cinemas more frequently than millennials and far outpacing Gen Xers and baby boomers in attendance. For more on how studios chase viral IP, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
When will the Siren Head movie be released?
Warner Bros. has not announced a production timeline, release date, or cast for the project. Cregger, Duffield, Roy Lee, Andrew Childs, and Scott Glassgold are producing, while Henderson will executive produce.
The Hollywood Reporter first reported that Warner Bros. had won the rights. With two of horror's most in-demand filmmakers attached, the Siren Head movie is already one of the most closely watched adaptations in the viral-creepypasta pipeline.