Chiwetel Ejiofor takes center stage in the chilling first trailer for the upcoming horror film Backrooms, released ahead of its May 29, 2026 debut. The brief 53-second preview introduces viewers to a sinister, labyrinthine world, setting the tone without revealing much about the plot, which remains deliberately mysterious given the source material’s enigmatic nature. Ejiofor’s character hints at a terrifying discovery, speaking to an unseen character played by Renate Reinsve, igniting curiosity about the film’s unfolding nightmare.
Plot Details Emerge Through Ejiofor’s Haunting Monologue
The trailer features Ejiofor’s character describing a vast, endless maze of rooms. His words paint a picture of an unsettling dimension that “builds” or “remembers” spaces, with its fragments becoming less distinct the longer they exist. This cryptic explanation deepens the intrigue surrounding the movie’s premise.
“I found the place. It’s massive in there, it just goes on and on and on,”
he says.
“All these rooms. This place builds them. Actually, it’s more like it remembers them. And the more time it remembers something, the less it does.”
— Chiwetel Ejiofor, Actor
A Notable Cast Joins Ejiofor and Reinsve in the Feature
Alongside Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve, the film features a diverse supporting cast including Mark Duplass, known for Creep; Finn Bennett, recognized from A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms; Lukita Maxwell from Shrinking; and Avan Jogia of Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City fame. Collectively, they bring life to the adaptation of YouTuber Kane Parsons’ viral web series, which inspired the film’s eerie world.
From Viral Series to Feature Film: Kane Parsons’ Vision
Kane Parsons first gained attention with his 2022 YouTube series exploring the Backrooms—a surreal, yellow wallpapered maze filled with monsters. The original video, starring Parsons as a cameraman who falls into this alternate reality, amassed over 71 million views. The series follows a research group called Async investigating the strange realm. The film hints that Ejiofor and Reinsve’s characters are part of this group, though the full story remains under wraps.
Collaboration Behind the Scenes Shapes Backrooms’ Unique Atmosphere
Kane Parsons makes his directorial debut on this project, working with writers Roberto Patino and Will Soodik to develop the screenplay. The team brings together a blend of fresh talent and experienced filmmakers, with producers James Wan and Michael Clear helming the project under Wan’s Atomic Monster banner. Their involvement signals a strong foundation for the film’s production values and suspense.
“It was amazing. [Kane] was so impressive. He’s young, and it’s his first movie, but he has so much life and he was so particular about his ideas and vision,”
shared Renate Reinsve in an interview with Collider’s Perri Nemiroff.
“He was very firm about them [but] he was trying all the time to ask how he could give better directions. He was just so humble. He’s a great person, and great director.”
— Renate Reinsve, Actress
Anticipation Builds for Backrooms’ Release and Horror Movie Season
As Backrooms approaches its release date, the horror community eagerly awaits more details about the film’s narrative and how it will expand on the unsettling themes introduced in the trailer. The movie joins a slate of highly anticipated horror films slated for 2026 and beyond, promising new chills and innovative storytelling. Its connection to a popular web series and the involvement of accomplished talents like Ejiofor and Wan heighten expectations for a uniquely intense horror experience.
