Spielberg and Amazon MGM win 11-studio bidding war for Mandela Catalogue movie
United Artists’ Scott Stuber, Amblin’s Steven Spielberg, and Amazon MGM Studios have won the film rights to viral YouTube horror series The Mandela Catalogue, beating out ten rival studios in a bidding war this week.
TL;DR
- United Artists, Amblin, and Amazon MGM Studios acquired film rights to The Mandela Catalogue.
- Series creator Alex Kister will direct, from a script he co-wrote with Tyler Clifton.
- The deal followed an 11-studio bidding war, per Deadline.
- The series has racked up more than 100 million views on YouTube.
United Artists’ Scott Stuber, Amblin’s Steven Spielberg, and Amazon MGM Studios won the bidding war for the rights to “The Mandela Catalogue.” The deal, first reported by Deadline, comes amid a broader Hollywood scramble for online horror franchises.
Why the studios are chasing YouTube horror
The move follows the success of the viral sensation-turned-major motion picture Backrooms and YouTuber Curry Barker’s Obsession, and studios have begun mining YouTube for content. Briefledger previously covered Obsession’s record-breaking box office run and reviewed the Backrooms adaptation, two projects executives keep citing as proof the format sells tickets.
According to TheWrap, Amazon MGM Studios and Stuber’s United Artists acquired the film rights following an extremely competitive 11-studio bidding war.
Who’s making the film
Series creator Alex Kister will direct the adaptation, working from a screenplay he adapted with Tyler Clifton. Kister launched the analog horror series in 2021.
Spielberg and Holly Bario will produce for Amblin Entertainment, alongside Aaron B. Koontz for Paper Street Pictures and Stuber and Nick Nesbitt for United Artists. Kister and Clifton are also attached as producers. Annie McCreery will oversee the project for United Artists, while Maria Fortese will oversee it for Amblin.
The numbers behind the deal
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| YouTube views (official episodes) | 100 million+ |
| Source: Deadline | |
| Studios in the bidding war | 11 |
| Source: TheWrap |
What the series is about
The Mandela Catalogue is set in the fictional Mandela County, Wisconsin, where shape-shifting, nearly immortal beings called Alternates try to wipe out humanity by psychologically breaking people down, often driving them to suicide. The franchise is regularly named alongside Local 58 and The Backrooms as one of the genre’s defining works, according to World of Reel.
UK angle: where it may land
No UK release date has been set. But if the film follows Amazon MGM’s usual pattern, it would likely land on Prime Video in the UK, where a standalone subscription costs £7.99 a month, according to About Amazon UK. Spielberg’s Amblin slate has featured heavily on the platform recently, including Briefledger’s coverage of Disclosure Day’s theatrical rollout.
No production start date, cast, or theatrical window has been confirmed. We’ll keep you posted on updates about The Mandela Catalogue as the project develops.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed July 4, 2026.
Chloe Jones is a film and television critic dedicated to providing expert analysis of movies, web series, and the latest in prestige TV. Known for her insightful perspective and deep industry knowledge, Chloe helps audiences navigate the crowded streaming landscape with honesty and expertise. Folow me on letterboxd
