Chiwetel Ejiofor & Cristin Milioti Eyed To Star In ‘The Backrooms' At A24
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Cristin Milioti are in talks to star in The Backrooms, A24's sci-fi horror flick based on the viral series of found-footage videos from Kane Parsons, Deadline can confirm.
Reps for the studio declined to comment. No word on the roles to be played by the duo, and their deals may not make in the end, as it's still early days here. We were first to report on the project back in 2023, and while its plot remains a mystery, the '90s-set original short watches as a young filmmaker's fall into another dimension leaves him wandering through an unsettlingly yellow, empty and labyrinthine office space, which may or may not be home to otherworldly beings. The film's title and setting draw inspiration from the imagery of a creepypasta (or internet urban legend) published to the website 4chan in 2019.
More from Deadline
'Eleanor The Great' Review: June Squibb Is Quietly Powerful And Touching As A 94-Year-Old Woman Caught Up In A Lie In Scarlett Johansson's Impressive Directorial Debut - Cannes Film Festival
Emilia Jones & Leo Woodall Join A24's 'Tony'
'Longlegs' Star Maika Monroe Joins Horror 'Victorian Psycho' Ahead Of Summer Shoot; Project In Talks With New U.S. Buyers After Previous A24 Exit - Cannes Market
A prodigy of a filmmaker and VFX artist barely out of high school, Parsons shot his YouTube following into the stratosphere with the viral success of his mysterious short, 'The Backrooms (Found Footage).' It's the first in a series of found-footage horror videos which have garnered many, many millions of views online and will now be adapted for the big screen by A24, Atomic Monster, Chernin Entertainment and 21 Laps.
Parsons will direct from a script by Roberto Patino. Shawn Levy, Dan Cohen and Dan Levine will produce for 21 Laps, along with James Wan and Michael Clear for Atomic Monster, and Patino. Alayna Glasthal is overseeing for Atomic Monster, with Judson Scott exec producing for the company alongside White.
Most recently seen starring in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Ejiofor is part of the cast of Mike Flanagan's The Life of Chuck, which Neon releases in June, as well as Scarlett Johansson's Cannes-premiering debut feature Eleanor the Great. Upcoming, he'll also be seen in The Old Guard 2 at Netflix and Children of Blood and Bone from Paramount.
Coming off of rave reviews for her work in The Penguin and another stand-out Black Mirror turn in USS Calister: Into Infinity, Miloti most recently boarded the FX pilot Seven Sisters.
The InSneider's Jeff Sneider was first to the news on the actors in talks for The Backrooms.
Best of Deadline
2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
Men of Steel: Every Actor Who Has Played Superman - Photo Gallery
'Michael' Cast: Who's Who In The Michael Jackson Biopic
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Of Course Jennifer Lawrence Can Elevate Ugly-Cute Clogs
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As we march steadily toward ugly-cute shoe summer, one pair is leading the pack. I'd love to tell you that shoe is the Maison Margiela Tabi (I personally own three different pairs), but that's currently in second place. It's falling behind the humble, but mighty, garden clog. While Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Doechii do their part to further the freaky toe-shoe agenda, Jennifer Lawrence has been pioneering orthopedic clogs. Though she already owns multiple slip-on styles, the actor just debuted a brand new pair while on a May 29 walk through New York City. The Hunger Games star wore a collection of her favorite casual basics on the outing, styling a $1,550 sweater from The Row with a pair of gray sweatpants. Her high-low energy only built from there. Lawrence added on a new pair of navy blue clogs (not to be confused with her other pair of navy blue clogs) that matched her four-figure knit perfectly. View Deal View Deal Lawrence's final additions were a luxurious knee-length ivory leather coat, Garrett Leight sunglasses, and her favorite leopard print Prada bag—a vintage find she's been wearing on repeat. It's her go-to swap when she wants a break from her rare Lady Bag by The Row. Between her street style and her recent slate of red carpet appearances, Lawrence has freed herself from the shackles of painful high heels. She has long been a champion of footwear comfort, famously wearing flip-flops on the Cannes Film Festival red carpet back in 2023. At home in New York City, she's often the first to try a freaky—and 10,000 step-day friendly—new shoe trend. Lawrence was early to styling The Row's caged jelly sandals last summer; she likewise had a head start on Adidas' low-profile Taekwondo boxing sneakers. With her latest pair of clogs, Lawrence has left societal standards of shoe beauty in the past. She's instead paving the way for an ugly-shoe future—one step at a time.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ana De Armas Teases ‘Deeper' With Tom Cruise & Reveals The Lessons ‘Ballerina' Has Taught Her
Ana de Armas learned a lot on the set of Ballerina and is learning even more for her next project, Deeper, in which she will co-star opposite Tom Cruise. During the Hollywood premiere of the John Wick spinoff in which De Armas stars as Eve Macarro, the star revealed some of the lessons she learned while filming the action thriller. More from Deadline Lionsgate's Staggered 'Ballerina' Embargo For "Enthusiastic" & "Critical Sentiment" Irks Reviewers Tom Cruise & Ana De Armas? Jon M. Chu & Sydney Sweeney? Two Hot Projects Test Hollywood Risk Resolve: The Dish Lionsgate's 'John Wick' Spinoff 'Ballerina' Dancing To $35M+ Opening - Box Office Early Look 'I think it's important to keep looking for truth, answers… To keep pushing until you find your truth no matter what,' she told Deadline during the premiere. 'So, take risks and get to the bottom of it.' In Ballerina, De Armas plays a ballerina-assassin who begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma to avenge her father's death. The film, directed by Len Wiseman and written by Shay Hatten, takes place in the John Wick universe, between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum and Chapter 4. De Armas' co-stars include Anjelica Huston, Gabriel Byrne, Lance Reddick, Norman Reedus, Ian McShane, and Keanu Reeves. Ana de Armas on the lessons she'll take forth from her experience of portraying Eve Macarro in #BallerinaMovie — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 4, 2025 During the Ballerina premiere, Deadline also asked De Armas about her new film, Deeper, in which she will work alongside Tom Cruise. 'Training, just training, getting ready for what's going to come,' she told us. Deeper follows an astronaut who encounters a terrifying force while on a deep dive into a never-before-explored trench. Deadline recently reported that Doug Liman is set to direct the undersea supernatural film with Christopher McQuarrie involved with the script. Ana de Armas gives an update on the upcoming film she's working on with Tom Cruise, 'Deeper' — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 4, 2025 De Armas also discussed the legacy Ballerina will leave for the next generation of acting-starring women. #BallerinaMovie star Ana de Armas reflects on the legacy that Eve Macarro will leave on the next generation of women — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 4, 2025 De Armas' co-star Gabriel Byrne praised her for her stunt work. Gabriel Byrne compliments Ana de Armas' stunt work in #BallerinaMovie — Deadline (@DEADLINE) June 4, 2025 Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Everything We Know About 'Nobody Wants This' Season 2 So Far
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Audra McDonald Says She Didn't Know About 'Rift' Between Her and Patti LuPone
If Audra McDonald and Patti LuPone have beef, McDonald wasn't aware. The actress-singer has responded to Patti LuPone's recent New Yorker interview, where she seemingly dissed McDonald and claimed the two were no longer friends after a falling out. More from The Hollywood Reporter Leslie Odom Jr. on Becoming a SCAD Professor and His Return to 'Hamilton' This Fall Lin-Manuel Miranda and Original 'Hamilton' Cast Performing at Tony Awards Sadie Sink on Her First Tony Nomination, Shaking Off 'Stranger Things' Expectations When McDonald was asked by Gayle King on CBS Mornings on Thursday if she was 'surprised' by LuPone's remarks, she responded, 'I mean, if there's a rift between us, I don't know what it is. That's something you'd have to ask Patti about.' 'I haven't seen her in about 11 years because I've been busy with life and stuff,' McDonald added. 'So, I don't know what rift she's talking about. You'd have to ask her.' Earlier this week, when McDonald's name was mentioned during LuPone's interview with The New Yorker's Michael Schulman, she said, 'She's not a friend.' LuPone didn't elaborate but noted that they'd had a rift years ago. McDonald was just nominated for a Tony for playing Rose in Gypsy, a role for which LuPone previously won a Tony. When the latter was also asked about McDonald's current production of Gypsy, Schulman wrote that LuPone stared at him for 15 seconds in silence, before turning to look out the window and sighing, 'What a beautiful day.' The two stars have previously worked together, including in the 2007 Los Angeles Opera production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, as well as co-starring in the 2000 New York Philharmonic's concert version of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. McDonald wasn't the only person LuPone called out during her interview. She also recalled an incident that happened last fall when she was starring in the Broadway production The Roommate, involving fellow Tony winner Kecia Lewis. After LuPone filed a noise complaint from the musical next door, Hell's Kitchen, Lewis took to Instagram to call out LuPone, saying her actions were 'bullying,' 'racially microaggressive' and 'rooted in privilege,' because she had labeled 'a Black show loud.' McDonald reportedly liked the video. 'Here's the problem. She calls herself a veteran? Let's find out how many Broadway shows Kecia Lewis has done, because she doesn't know what the fuck she's talking about,' LuPone told The New Yorker in response. 'Don't call yourself a vet, bitch.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter From 'Lady in the Lake' to 'It Ends With Us': 29 New and Upcoming Book Adaptations in 2024 Meet the Superstars Who Glam Up Hollywood's A-List Rosie O'Donnell on Ellen, Madonna, Trump and 40 Years in the Queer Spotlight
