Viral YouTube Short Open Door Set for Feature Film in Six-Figure Deal

The viral YouTube short Open Door, created by Kevin Cate and The Workmans, is being developed into a feature film under a six-figure development deal. Cate will co-write the screenplay with IO’s Charles Spano, with Sean Anthony Baker and Mia Matthews set to reprise their roles. The project is in development with Clinging Vine Films and executive producer Rick Kearney, and directors Dylan Clark and Sam Evenson are tapped to helm future installments. The original three-minute short, which follows a surreal elevator ride from hell, has drawn tens of millions of views across YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram, reflecting the industry’s push to turn successful online content creators into feature films.