Mandela Catalogue YouTube Horror Series Gets Feature Film

Amblin's Steven Spielberg is set to produce a feature film adaptation of the popular YouTube horror series, 'The Mandela Catalogue.' The film rights were secured following a competitive bidding war involving 11 studios. Series creator Alex Kister will direct the adaptation, which he co-wrote with Tyler Clifton. This move signifies a growing trend of YouTube horror properties transitioning to feature films, mirroring the success of titles like 'Backrooms' and 'Obsession.'

Launched in 2021, 'The Mandela Catalogue' is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, and features shape-shifting creatures known as Alternates. The series has garnered over 100 million views on its official episodes, establishing it as a significant analog horror franchise originating from YouTube. It is recognized as a seminal work within the analog horror genre, alongside other notable series such as 'Local 58' and 'The Backrooms.'

The acquisition follows the substantial commercial success of other YouTube-originated horror films. 'Obsession,' directed by Curry Barker, achieved $374 million USD globally, while Kane Parsons' 'Backrooms' became an unexpected hit, outperforming major releases. Studios are actively seeking to replicate this success by identifying and developing emerging YouTube genre filmmakers to attract younger audiences, Gen Alpha and Gen Z, to theaters.

By appointing Alex Kister as the director of his own creation, the adaptation of 'The Mandela Catalogue' adheres to a strategy of entrusting the original visionary with the cinematic translation of their work. This approach aims to maintain the integrity of the established mythology and creative vision that has resonated with millions of viewers online.