On Tuesday, it was announced that Jordan Peele and his production company Monkeypaw Productions were signed to an exclusive five-year, first-look deal by Universal. Under this deal, the studio will develop Peele’s next two films where he will act as writer, director, and producer.
After just one feature film, Jordan Peele became a household name as a director and writer. ‘Get Out’, Peele’s Academy Award winning film, was a box office hit becoming an overnight success when it was released in theaters two years ago. The film is what moved Peele from sketch comedy actor and thrust him into horror director. ‘Get Out’ followed with ‘Us’, a financial horror hit in its own right, in early 2019.
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After proving himself as a talented director and writer through the success of his first two films, Universal Pictures, the studio that distributed those films, has decided to sign the director to a five-year deal that includes at least two new movies. This means that any Monkeypaw produced film will go through Universal, including the Candyman reboot, which was written by Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta. Outside of film, Monkeypaw Productions seems to be a hot commodity as it has also signed a deal with Amazon Studios and is currently working on HBO’s ‘Lovecraft Country’ and the CBS All Access reboot of ‘The Twilight Zone.’
Universal Filmed Entertainment Group chairman Donna Langley spoke on the deal with Peele.
“Jordan has established himself as a premier voice and original storyteller with global appeal. He is leading a new generation of filmmakers that have found a way to tap into the cultural zeitgeist with groundbreaking content that resonates with audiences of all backgrounds. We also share an important goal with Monkeypaw when it comes to increasing representation onscreen in the characters that are portrayed, the stories that are told and the people who tell them.”
Jordan Peele spoke on his partnership with Universal and how “without the endless trust and support [we] received from Donna Langley and the team at Universal” the making of his first two feature films would not have been possible. He also asserted that “their willingness to take risks and their commitment to original content makes them the perfect collaborative partner for Monkeypaw. I couldn’t be more excited for what lies ahead.”
Source: Comic Book
