Siren Head: After Backrooms, the next internet horror sensation gets a movie adaptation
Zach Cregger and Brian Duffield are attached to the film adaptation
"Backrooms" proved to be a huge success at the box office – and now the next internet horror sensation is being adapted for the big screen. A film adaptation of "Siren Head" is currently in the works, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Behind the viral horror hit is Canadian illustrator Trevor Henderson. The creature he created is a giant, emaciated, skeleton-like being. As the name "Siren Head" suggests, it has two sirens for a head. While this may sound downright bizarre, it took the internet by storm. It all began in 2018 with a post on Instagram and, over time, took on a remarkable life of its own. The strange creature became the subject of numerous fan theories, as fans let their creativity run wild and kept the "Siren Head" myth alive through, among other things, self-created video games and short films.
Zach Cregger and Brian Duffield are set to turn Siren Head into a movie
Behind the upcoming film adaptation of "Siren Head" are two up-and-coming filmmakers: Zach Cregger and Brian Duffield. The two are set to co-write the screenplay. Duffield is also slated to direct. Cregger, meanwhile, is on board as a producer alongside Roy Lee, Andrew Childs, and Scott Glassgold. Brian Duffield has previously made a name for himself as the writer and director of the alien invasion thriller "No One Will Save You." In addition, his upcoming film "Whalefall" is already generating a lot of buzz: In this survival thriller, a diver fights for his life after being swallowed by a massive whale. Zach Cregger, for his part, made a name for himself as the writer and director of the acclaimed horror hit "Weapons," which earned Amy Madigan the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress this year. Next, we'll see him bring a reimagining of the horror franchise "Resident Evil" to the big screen.
With the planned film adaptation of "Siren Head," Cregger and Duffield are preaching to the choir. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the major studios – Sony, Universal, Paramount, and Disney's 20th Century Studios – were interested, but another major player walked away with the deal: Warner Bros. Pictures. The major streaming services reportedly weren't in the running, as the deal focused primarily on a theatrical release of the material.
After Backrooms: Hollywood is on the lookout for unconventional horror material
Following the massive success of "Backrooms," studios are apparently on the lookout for similarly unusual horror material that has its roots on the internet and could become the next potential theatrical hit. In the case of "Backrooms," director Kane Parsons adapted his own YouTube web series for the big screen. The big-screen adaptation, starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, tells the story of a failed architect who discovers a series of mysterious, seemingly endless rooms in his furniture store – and that's where the horror begins.
The film has grossed $330 million at the global box office so far – on a production budget of just $10 million. "Backrooms" currently ranks 10th on the 2026 charts of the world's most successful films and has broken several records. It is already the most successful A24 film of all time. In addition, 21-year-old Parsons is the youngest director whose film landed at number 1 on the box office charts upon its release. Alongside its financial success, "Backrooms" has also garnered critical acclaim, with reviewers highlighting its atmosphere, sound, and visual style, among other elements. Given this broad-based success, it's not too surprising that the major studios are interested in a project like "Siren Head." Especially since such films have the potential to be developed into a franchise. Parsons is reportedly already on the hunt for a screenwriter for "Backrooms 2." The director views the first film merely as the beginning of several narrative steps. And with "Siren Head" as well, if the first film is successful, it's likely to be just the beginning – after all, the many fan interpretations on the internet demonstrate just how much potential there is to expand the world of the eponymous creature.
