‘Backrooms’ Producer James Wan Reveals Director Kane Parsons Was Only 16 When They First Met About the Film

A new report about Backrooms reveals that director Kane Parsons was only 16 years old when he first spoke with Hollywood producer James Wan about turning his viral internet series into a feature film

James Wan, known for horror films like Saw and Insidious, said his first meeting with Parsons happened over Zoom. At the time, the team did not even realize how young he was until later in the process.

Wan explained, “We didn’t realize until we reached out that Kane was still in high school.”

Parsons had created Backrooms as a series of short “found footage” style videos online, based on the idea of endless empty spaces that feel strange and unsettling. The clips went viral and built a large online audience, which eventually led Hollywood studios to take interest in adapting it into a full movie.

Even though Parsons was very young, Wan said the idea immediately stood out to him. He described the project as something fresh and different from typical horror ideas.

He said, “It felt unique. It felt different. There was a vibe and a concept that seemed fresh.”

The film was eventually produced by Blumhouse-Atomic Monster, with Wan involved as a producer. The project expanded Parsons’ short-form internet concept into a full feature film with a much larger story and cast.

According to the production team, Parsons did not have formal film training when he started working on the movie. Because of that, experienced producers and filmmakers were brought in to guide him through the process. This included mentorship from established directors and producers who helped him adjust to working on a large studio production.

One of the producers, Kori Adelson, explained that the industry is now more open to young creators who come from platforms like YouTube. She said that filmmakers like Parsons grew up online and understand how to reach audiences in ways older systems did not.

The production also involved helping Parsons transition from making short videos on his own software to directing a full cast and crew. He had previously used Blender, a free CGI tool, to build much of his early work and pre-visualize scenes before filming.

Producers say this preparation helped keep the movie organized during production and allowed the team to plan ahead more carefully than usual for a film of this type.

Michael Clear, another producer on the film, said Parsons had a strong understanding of the world he created. He explained that even though Parsons was new to professional filmmaking, he knew exactly what he wanted from the story and visuals.

Because of his age and background, some online rumors suggested that Parsons might not have been the real director of the film. However, people involved in the production strongly denied those claims.

One producer said clearly, “Kane was the director of the movie — full stop.”

The report also highlights how Backrooms has become part of a larger trend where young filmmakers from YouTube and other online platforms are moving into Hollywood. The success of projects like this is encouraging studios to look for new voices in digital spaces rather than only traditional film schools.

For James Wan and the producing team, the experience has shown how internet-born ideas can grow into major studio films. They believe creators like Parsons represent a new generation of filmmakers who understand online audiences in a direct and natural way.

As one producer explained, the industry is changing quickly, and audiences are responding to fresh and unpredictable ideas.

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