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Neon Films Just Released an SCP Foundation Movie Under Creative Commons Licensing

Neon secures rights to adapt the SCP Foundation into a movie under Creative Commons, besting A24 in a PR battle for fan trust.

By mitch·4 min read
A neon-lit marquee reads 'SCP Foundation' against a dark urban backdrop.

Neon has announced a new SCP Foundation movie, and the reason it is the story is not the film itself. It is the fact that Neon reached out to the SCP Wiki team first, committed to releasing the movie under a Creative Commons ShareAlike (CC BY-SA) license, and secured a theatrical release date for next year. A24 had the idea first, but Neon is now the studio that has earned the fanbase’s trust by doing the paperwork.

Neon’s Announcement

Neon’s approach was simple: reach out to the SCP Foundation Wiki team and pledge to follow the rules. The studio says the movie will be in theaters next year. The release window suggests a quick turnaround, potentially a low-budget affair.

A24’s Missed Step

When A24 announced it was working on an SCP Foundation film, the wiki team was left out of the loop. The studio did not bother to contact the SCP Wiki team, nor did it commit to releasing the film under a Creative Commons license as required. That omission was noticed immediately, and the fanbase reacted.

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Neon’s Quick About-Face

Neon saw an opportunity. Rather than wait for A24 to stumble, the studio decided to make its own SCP movie and do it right. The move is a classic case of turning a competitor’s mistake into a feature. Neon’s approach was proactive: it reached out to the SCP Foundation Wiki team and pledged to release the film under the CC BY-SA license.

The studio says the movie will be in theaters next year. The release window suggests a quick turnaround, potentially a low-budget affair.

The Wiki Team’s Response

The SCP Foundation Wiki admin team responded warmly to Neon’s approach. In a statement, the team said that “The staff of the SCP Foundation Wiki and our community appreciate NEON’s excellent communication and commitment to following the requirements of our license as well as the spirit of collaboration at the core of the SCP Foundation project.”

That response is notable. It is a public statement of appreciation for Neon’s process, even as the team makes clear that it is not endorsing the film itself.

The Film’s Official Position

This is not an “official” SCP film. None of the wiki’s staff is involved in the writing or production, and the team is not receiving compensation. The team’s official position is not to endorse such projects.

Those conditions mean the film stands apart from the wiki’s own work. It is a licensed adaptation rather than a project born directly from the community. The distinction matters to fans who want to know where the official line ends and the commercial product begins.

The Licensing Details

The key difference between Neon’s approach and A24’s is the license. A24’s film was announced without a Creative Commons commitment. Neon’s film is explicitly under the CC BY-SA license, which requires that any derivative work must also be shared under the same terms.

The CC BY-SA license means anyone can reuse the film’s content as long as they attribute the original and share their own adaptations under the same license. For a studio, that is a significant restriction.

The Theatrical Release Date

Neon says the movie will be released theatrically in 2027. That suggests a quick turnaround, potentially a low-budget affair.

Studio Approach Contact with Wiki License Commitment
A24 Announced an SCP film Did not contact the team No Creative Commons commitment
Neon Reached out to the team Yes CC BY-SA license

Why Neon Won

Neon’s move is a textbook example of PR done right. By reaching out to the wiki team first and committing to the license, Neon has positioned itself as the studio that respects the community. A24’s film is now the one that skipped the step, and the fanbase knows it.

The comparison is stark. A24 announced a film without engaging with the people who built the IP. Neon reached out, followed the rules, and got a warm statement in return. The contrast is the whole story.

The irony is that Neon is now the studio with the fanbase’s goodwill, even though it was not the first to announce the film. A24 had the idea first, but Neon executed it better.

The Bottom Line

Neon’s SCP Foundation movie is a PR win dressed as a film. The studio reached out to the wiki team, followed the license requirements, and secured a theatrical release date. A24 had the idea first, but Neon executed it better.

The film’s theatrical release in 2027 gives fans a reason to watch it on the big screen. The CC BY-SA license means the film’s content will be freely available for fans to remix and reuse after its initial release.

Neon has turned A24’s misstep into a clear win. The studio has earned the fanbase’s trust by doing the paperwork, and the wiki team’s statement reflects appreciation for that approach. The film may not be the official SCP project, but it is the one that followed the rules.

Source material: “Neon sticks it to A24 by announcing a Creative Commons SCP Foundation movie,” The Verge.

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