SCP Foundation Wiki Claims A24 Never Reached Out About ‘V/H/S: SCP’ Movie

A24 has established itself as a powerhouse in the horror genre in recent years, increasingly tapping into viral internet trends for its next big theatrical ventures. Following the phenomenal success of ‘Backrooms,’ which raked in nearly $400 million globally, the studio appears to be keen on continuing to explore creepypasta culture for its next franchise expansion.

This approach led A24 to acquire ‘V/H/S: SCP’ this month, securing worldwide theatrical rights to expand the long-running found-footage anthology series into the realm of the SCP Foundation. This expansive collaborative fiction universe revolves around a secret organization that contains paranormal anomalies. This deal marks the franchise’s first genuine theatrical release since its inception in 2012, as it has primarily existed on Shudder for most of its fourteen-year history.

However, this expansion has encountered an unforeseen hurdle, primarily due to the unique legal framework surrounding the SCP universe. The staff and authors behind the SCP Foundation Wiki have stated that they were never contacted by A24, the filmmakers, or the producers regarding the project, despite reportedly trying to reach out to the team before the announcement became public.

In a statement posted on the wiki, the Foundation directly refuted claims that A24 possesses exclusive rights to the material, asserting that the studio “does not and cannot have any exclusive rights” to anything associated with the SCP universe. This clarification is crucial, considering how the entire SCP project has functioned since its launch in 2008.

Unlike most Hollywood intellectual properties, SCP stories and concepts are released under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 license, which allows for commercial adaptations but mandates that those derivative works maintain the same open license. According to the Foundation’s interpretation, this implies that A24 would be prohibited from distributing ‘V/H/S: SCP’ with DRM protections or any technological measures aimed at preventing copying.

Following this logic, the Foundation contends that any commercial streaming service could legally host the film without compensating A24, and individual users could upload the entire movie to platforms like YouTube without facing legal repercussions. It’s important to note that this remains the Foundation’s interpretation of the license rather than a formal legal ruling, leaving room for A24’s legal team to potentially view the situation differently.

The Foundation’s concerns extend beyond distribution rights. Its statement specifically criticized the filmmakers for lacking interest in engaging with the actual authors and curators behind the material they are adapting, despite the project being rooted in a community-built universe that has inspired games, videos, and podcasts over the last two decades.

‘V/H/S: SCP’ is being developed in collaboration with Spooky Pictures and Image Nation Studios, with the anthology structured around segments presented as recovered footage documenting various containment breaches within the SCP universe. The project was initially revealed in July, with A24 officially acquiring worldwide rights in September, aiming for a theatrical release in 2027, although no director or cast has been confirmed yet.

Despite the ongoing dispute, the Foundation has expressed its willingness to find a resolution, stating it would welcome a meeting with A24 and the producers to devise a release strategy that complies with the license’s terms. Whether such a resolution will materialize before the film progresses further into production remains uncertain, particularly given the unusual nature of this situation compared to standard Hollywood IP negotiations.

For a studio riding high off ‘Backrooms’ and eager to continue exploring internet-born horror mythology, this unexpected licensing standoff serves as a reminder that not every viral universe comes with the same straightforward, easily licensed rights structure as a traditional franchise. How A24 navigates this particular challenge could ultimately influence whether Hollywood’s growing interest in creepypasta adaptations continues smoothly.

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