Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi Join Forces for Chilling New Horror
Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are teaming up with Universal to produce a religious horror film inspired by Dylan Clark’s viral short Portrait of a God, which has racked up over 8.6 million YouTube views.
It might be early December, but horror fans are already getting a treat. Two of the genre’s biggest names, Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi, are set to collaborate with Universal on a fresh take on religious terror. Their latest project draws from Dylan Clark’s short film, Portrait of a God, which has made waves online since its debut in August 2022, pulling in more than 8.6 million views on YouTube. The original short, running just seven minutes, follows Mia Reilly, a young woman grappling with her beliefs as she studies a mysterious painting of a higher power.
Big Names Behind the Scenes
Peele, through his Monkeypaw Productions, will be producing alongside Win Rosenfeld, known for his work on Candyman and Nope. Raimi, meanwhile, is teaming up with Joe Russo from Ghost House Pictures. Russo will also be co-writing the script with Clark, who penned the original short, and Romel Adam is joining the production team as well. With this line-up, expectations are high for a film that will keep punters on the edge of their seats.
What to Expect from the Feature
While details about the plot are still under wraps, it’s likely the story will stick close to the unsettling themes of the short. The focus is on Mia’s internal struggle as she confronts her own faith, all while analysing the eerie portrait at the centre of the story. The viral success of the original has set the stage for a feature-length adaptation that’s sure to draw in both horror buffs and newcomers alike.
Other Projects on the Horizon
Before diving into Portrait of a God, Raimi is wrapping up work on another project, a darkly comedic thriller called Send Help. Starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, the film follows Linda Liddle and her boss Bradley Preston after their plane crashes on a remote island. What starts as a routine work trip quickly turns into a fight for survival, with the pair forced to put aside their differences if they want to make it home in one piece.
Peele, on the other hand, is busy with his fourth feature, which was originally slated for a Christmas 2024 release. After being pushed to October 2026, the film has now been taken off Universal’s release calendar due to strikes and other delays. Still, with both filmmakers juggling multiple projects, Aussie horror fans have plenty to look forward to in the coming years.