As Hollywood increasingly mines online communities for horror concepts, a new distinction has emerged between how studios handle intellectual property rights within those spaces. Neon has announced plans for an anthology film based on the SCP Foundation’s horror fiction, explicitly committing to the community’s open-source licensing requirements—a move that stands in stark contrast to recent controversies involving competitor A24.
The project follows a contentious episode in which A24 revealed plans for an SCP-based entry in the V/H/S franchise without contacting the SCP Wiki team or agreeing to release the final product under the required Creative Commons ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license. The omission triggered criticism from the community and formal warnings regarding licensing violations from the SCP Wiki administration.
In response, Neon took a collaborative approach, reaching out to the SCP Wiki’s admin team and pledging compliance with the CC BY-SA license. The studio confirmed that the anthology is scheduled for theatrical release next year. By adhering to these terms, Neon aims to respect the collaborative spirit that defines the SCP Foundation project.
According to the announcement, the film will serve as a platform for emerging filmmakers and highlight the creativity of the SCP community. However, it is important to note that this will not be an “official” production. No SCP Foundation staff members are involved in the development, and there will be no financial compensation for contributors. Additionally, the SCP Foundation cannot endorse the project, as doing so would violate its own operational rules.
SCP Wiki administrators expressed appreciation for Neon’s transparency and adherence to license requirements. In a separate statement, the admin team outlined their concerns regarding the A24 proposal, stating they would welcome discussions with A24, Spooky Pictures, and other parties to determine how those films could be made and distributed in compliance with CC BY-SA guidelines.
The SCP Wiki, launched in 2008, is built around the concept of a secret organization dedicated to studying dangerous supernatural entities. Notable entries include SCP-173, a concrete statue that moves only when not observed; SCP-096, a violent humanoid who lashes out if its face is seen; and SCP-3008, an infinite IKEA-like dimension staffed by hostile employees.
SCP-3008 as an infinite IKEA? Sign me up immediately. Can’t wait to see how they adapt that nightmare.
A24 really messed up by ignoring the CC BY-SA terms. Hopefully this opens their eyes for future projects.
Wait, so Neon gets the SCP license but no official endorsement? That’s a bit of a gray area for fans.
Finally, a studio that actually reads the fine print. This is how you treat a fanbase with respect.