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United Artists, Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios secure film rights to viral YouTube horror series “The Mandela Catalogue”
The Apex Times

THE APEX TIMES

Culture/The Apex Times/Jul 2, 2:06 PM EDT

United Artists, Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios secure film rights to viral YouTube horror series “The Mandela Catalogue”

Scott Stuber’s United Artists, Steven Spielberg’s Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios have won the movie rights to “The Mandela Catalogue,” a horror property that grew through online video installments.

2 min readEditor-approved Apex article

United Artists, Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios have acquired film rights to “The Mandela Catalogue,” Deadline reported July 2, bringing the viral YouTube horror franchise to feature film development. The deal centers on the property’s move from serialized online storytelling to the big screen, with a film team assembled across major Hollywood production companies.

Deadline said the project emerged after a competitive bidding process involving 11 studios. The report did not describe the financial terms of the acquisition, but it identified the winning parties as Scott Stuber’s United Artists, Steven Spielberg’s Amblin, and Amazon MGM Studios.

Deadline also reported that the feature film is set to be directed by Alex Kister, the creator behind the “Mandela Catalogue” series. Kister’s involvement is expected to carry the property’s signature tone and structure into a longer-format narrative designed for theatrical distribution.

The “Mandela Catalogue” franchise is described by Deadline as a “viral YouTube horror series,” following the broader industry pattern of studios seeking established audiences that have formed around online horror content. The report framed the acquisition as a response to the success of other YouTube-origin horror titles, including “Backrooms” and “Obsession,” which helped demonstrate demand for feature adaptations.

In addition to Kister, the collaboration brings together production leadership associated with large-scale genre development. Scott Stuber leads United Artists, while Spielberg’s Amblin is one of the companies behind a range of high-profile film and television productions, and Amazon MGM Studios oversees development and production within Amazon’s film and television structure.

Deadline’s report did not announce casting, filming start dates, or a release window for “The Mandela Catalogue.” It also did not specify whether the planned feature would be a direct adaptation of specific installments or a new story built on the series’ core premise.

For audiences that first encountered the series through online videos, the film rights acquisition marks a shift in distribution and production scale. For rights holders and creators, the deal also indicates the continuing pathway from digital-first entertainment to studio-backed filmmaking, with major-company backing aimed at reaching broader theater audiences.

Why It Matters

  • The acquisition converts a digitally distributed horror franchise into studio feature development, potentially expanding the property’s audience beyond YouTube.
  • The 11-studio bidding war indicates strong industry interest in horror IP that has already demonstrated traction online.
  • With a creator-director attached, the project may preserve the series’ original creative approach while adapting it for theatrical storytelling.
  • Studio-level development through Amazon MGM Studios and major partners could affect distribution scale, production budgets, and the long-term licensing value of the franchise.
  • Because no release date or casting has been announced, the next step will be formal development milestones that typically follow rights acquisitions, such as scripts, production scheduling and casting announcements.

Sources

Key Facts

  • United Artists, Amblin and Amazon MGM Studios have won film rights to “The Mandela Catalogue,” Deadline reported July 2.
  • Deadline said the acquisition came after a competitive bidding process that involved 11 studios.
  • The report identified Scott Stuber as associated with United Artists and Steven Spielberg with Amblin in the deal.
  • Alex Kister, creator of “The Mandela Catalogue,” is reported to be directing the feature film.
  • Deadline described “The Mandela Catalogue” as a viral YouTube horror series.