Rooster Teeth Founders Will Develop Bad Toys Horror Film

Matt Hullum and Burnie Burns are teaming up to create a horror-comedy movie inspired by ancient Scandinavian elf folklore.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Horror

Rooster Teeth Founders Will Develop Bad Toys Horror Film

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Do you enjoy watching horror-themed movies during the holiday season?

Rooster Teeth founders Matt Hullum and Burnie Burns are developing a new horror-comedy film titled Bad Toys. The project will pull narrative inspiration from traditional medieval Scandinavian elf folklore and holiday pranks.

Why it matters

This film serves as a creative reunion for the pair to reconnect with their longstanding community of YouTube fans and professional colleagues. It marks a return to collaborative project development for the former media company founders.

The production team includes producer Suzanne Weinert of Flatiron Pictures alongside executive producer Burnie Burns. The film narrative is grounded in historical research regarding medieval Scandinavian elf lore.

The players

Matt Hullum

He is a founder of the media company Rooster Teeth and will write and direct the new film.

Burnie Burns

He is a founder of the media company Rooster Teeth and is serving as the executive producer.

Suzanne Weinert

She is a producer representing Flatiron Pictures who is leading the development of the project.

Rooster Teeth

This is a media company known for its online content and established by Hullum and Burns.

The details

The movie concept stems from Christmas pranks involving the hiding of elf dolls, which the creators are expanding into a feature-length horror-comedy. Matt Hullum is set to serve as the writer and director for the production.

Pre-production on the film is expected to begin in early 2027.
The project is slated for a release around the 2027 holiday season.

Industry Dynamics

This project follows a pattern set by the 2023 release of the horror-comedy Violent Night by blending traditional holiday tropes with dark, comedic violence. It reflects a broader trend of independent creators leveraging their digital followings to transition into high-concept genre cinema.

Fans of the founders can anticipate production updates as the project nears its 2027 release date. The film aims to provide a unique holiday viewing experience that diverges from traditional seasonal offerings.

The takeaway

Horror-comedy films continue to thrive by subverting familiar festive traditions and folklore. Readers interested in independent cinema should keep an eye on how digital-native creators adapt their storytelling styles for the silver screen.