AceShowbiz - Kevin Cate is expanding his viral YouTube short Open Door into a feature-length film, TheWrap reports. The three-minute short has amassed nearly 15 million views across social media platforms, and Cate’s company Clinging Vine Films, alongside Rick Kearney, will develop the project for the big screen.

Per Imdb, the story of Open Door centers on two co-workers trapped in an elevator descending into mysterious negative levels beneath the ground floor. Dexerto adds that the feature will grow the original concept into a surreal, genre-blending narrative focusing on a character named Malcolm Powers. Cate and Kearney previously collaborated on adapting Cate’s short film Unbearable Christmas into another project, underscoring their experience in transitioning viral shorts to longer formats. The original actors Sean Anthony Baker and Mia Matthews are anticipated to return for the feature, with further casting decisions pending budget finalization.

Kevin Cate shared the news on social media, describing the film adaptation as beyond what he had ever imagined. He expressed enthusiasm about unveiling more of the story and hinted at maintaining continuity by working again with the original cast and crew for the movie version.

Obsession, the 2019 drama-thriller starring Mekhi Phifer, Elika Portnoy, Brad Dourif, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, and others, provides a relevant precedent for how viral shorts can evolve into major film successes. Produced by Samuel Goldwyn Films, Obsession became a significant box office hit and exemplifies the growing trend of digital content crossing into traditional cinema.

This move to adapt Open Door follows a pattern where Hollywood increasingly turns to online creators for fresh horror and thriller material. TheWrap notes that films like Backrooms and Obsession also originated from viral online videos, with directors Kane Parsons and Curry Barker achieving remarkable box office results. Cate’s project signals the continuing rise of YouTube shorts as a fertile ground for genre filmmaking, potentially setting the stage for innovative storytelling and new talent discovery in the industry.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TheWrap.