โOpen Door,โ Kevin Cateโs viral sci-fi short with nearly 15 million views across YouTube shorts, TikTok and Instagram, will be adapted into a feature-length film through a six-figure development deal.
The news follows the success of breakout horror films โObsession and โBackroomsโ as the industry invests in YouTube creators and younger filmmakers with established audiences.
Cate wrote the spec script based on his short with โIOโ screenwriter Charles Spano. With Sean Anthony Baker and Mia Matthews set to reprise their roles from the original three-minute short, โOpen Doorโ follows โthe surreal, genre-bending journey of Malcolm Powers,โ according to an official statement. The short follows two people on an elevator ride from hell.
The film is in development with executive producer Rick Kearney and Cateโs Clinging Vine Films, the same indie production venture that produced Cateโs upcoming debut โUnbearable Christmas,โ which stars Julia Stiles, David Cross and Stephen Root.
โI literally canโt go a day without someone asking me what our characters saw down there,โ Cate said in a statement. โAnd I really, really canโt wait to show everyone โ and give some hints along the way โฆ We are ride or die with our original cast and crew who made this all happen.โ
Timed with the development news, Cate has launched a website giving out clues and updates for fans of the short film, along with theories and behind-the-scenes content. Cate says the budgeting process for the film is expected to be finished later this month as the crew continues to raise money and consider additional casting options.
โAnd weโve written some of the most incredible roles to make this a next-level project,โ Cate concluded. โRight now, itโs just a matter of showing the demand and finding our village.โ
Upcoming YouTube creators set to helm features include โPortrait of Godโ director Dylan Clark and โMoraโ director Sam Evenson.
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