Warner Bros. has acquired film rights to “Siren Head,” the internet-born horror creation of artist Trevor Henderson, with “No One Will Save You” director Brian Duffield attached to direct and co-write the screenplay alongside “Weapons” filmmaker Zach Cregger. The deal follows a bidding war for the property, according to Variety.

“Siren Head” originated as one of Henderson’s creepypasta-style creature designs, depicting a towering, thin-framed predator with sirens in place of a head. The character built a following online before Warner Bros. decided to option it. Henderson will executive produce the film, which stars Josh Brolin and Austin Abrams.

Duffield, whose credits also include the upcoming “Whalefall,” will write the script with Cregger, who directed and wrote last summer’s “Weapons” and the horror film “Barbarian.” Cregger is also directing a “Resident Evil” reboot, also starring Abrams, due in theaters in September. Roy Lee, Andrew Childs, and Scott Glassgold join Cregger and Duffield as producers on “Siren Head.”

The acquisition places “Siren Head” alongside a run of studio films built from internet-native horror properties. A24’s “Backrooms” originated as a YouTube-born concept before 20-year-old director Kane Parsons brought it to theaters, and “Obsession,” created by 26-year-old Curry Barker, followed a similar path from online horror to studio release.

That audience is increasingly the one studios are chasing. Recent studies show Gen Z attending theaters more frequently than millennials, and at a rate that far outpaces Gen X and baby boomer moviegoers. Internet-originated horror concepts, built and popularized by individual creators rather than studio development pipelines, have become one of the more reliable routes to reaching that demographic.

The Hollywood Reporter first broke the news of Warner Bros.’ acquisition of “Siren Head.”

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