A24's planned V/H/S: SCP film collaboration with Backrooms studio Kane Pixels has collided with the SCP Foundation, the collaborative fiction collective behind the source material. The Foundation released a statement asserting that A24 does not hold exclusive rights to SCP content and that the studio "has not consulted or contacted" the organization about the project.
The SCP Foundation operates as a creative commons collaborative database where thousands of writers contribute horror fiction under an open-source licensing model. Content creators retain certain rights while the collective maintains the intellectual property framework. This structure fundamentally differs from traditional IP ownership, where studios like A24 typically acquire exclusive adaptation rights from a single rights holder.
A24 partnered with Kane Pixels, the creator behind the popular Backrooms horror project, to develop V/H/S: SCP. The Backrooms franchise emerged from internet folklore about liminal spaces and has built substantial audience momentum through short-form content. Kane Pixels' involvement suggested a crossover between two sprawling horror universes with devoted fan bases. However, the SCP Foundation's statement complicates the project's legal and creative standing.
The Foundation's position is direct. It stated that A24 cannot claim exclusive adaptation rights because the SCP Foundation itself does not operate that way. Instead, the organization asserts that anyone theoretically "could upload a copy to YouTube" and create their own SCP adaptation under the Creative Commons licensing framework. This reflects the Foundation's core philosophy: collaborative storytelling with distributed creative control rather than centralized studio gatekeeping.
This dispute exposes tensions between traditional Hollywood film production and open-source creative communities. A24, known for high-concept indie horror films like Hereditary and Midsommar, typically acquires clean IP rights before moving projects into production. The studio's approach assumes exclusive control. The SCP Foundation's model assumes the opposite. Multiple creators can monetize SCP content simultaneously, provided they adhere to attribution and licensing terms.
Kane Pixels' involvement adds another layer. The Backrooms project, while separate from SCP lore, occupies similar internet horror territory and has its own fanbase. Combining Backrooms with SCP under A24's distribution infrastructure suggests a major push to legitimize web-horror IP in mainstream media. That ambition runs directly against the SCP Foundation's decentralized philosophy.
The practical implications remain unclear. A24 could proceed with the film but without the SCP Foundation's official endorsement or cooperation. The Foundation cannot legally block adaptation efforts under Creative Commons terms, but it can withhold resources, community support, and official integration with canonical SCP material. This distinction matters for authenticity and fan reception.
Alternatively, A24 and Kane Pixels could negotiate formal licensing agreements with the SCP Foundation, though the statement's tone suggests such conversations have not occurred. Rebuilding that relationship would require A24 to acknowledge the Foundation's authority within the SCP ecosystem rather than treating the property as a standard acquisition.
The film industry has repeatedly underestimated open-source creative communities. The SCP Foundation's willingness to publicly dispute A24's position signals that this project will not proceed quietly. Fans and the Foundation itself may apply pressure that traditional box office economics cannot easily overcome.