Jordan Peele’s Next Social Thriller Will Have Five Times the Budget of ‘Get Out’
Who knew that a low-budget horror film from a first time filmmaker would become such a major, record-breaking hit. Jordan Peele‘s Get Out, made for a mere $4.5 million, now rests at fifth place in the 2017 box office earning $172 million. The horror film, which had a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes, has shattered a couple of records. It’s the highest grossing film from a black director, and also holds the honor of the (oddly-specific) record as the highest grossing directorial debut from an original script. Get Out is Universal’s second biggest film of the year following The Fate of the Furious, so it’s no surprise the studio is eager to get back to work with the filmmaker.
The Hollywood Reporter reveals Peele has signed a two-year first-look deal with Universal, securing the studio’s rights to his next film. Peele has previously teased that he has ideas for four more social thrillers over the next decade. One of those ideas, still untitled, will be produced under his Monkeypaw Productions company for Universal. And the most interesting bit? The film will have a budget five times bigger than Get Out, according to the report. Giving Peele the freedom to not only tell socially and politically-relevant stories through a genre lens, but with more financial room to play is most exciting.
Univeral also seems committed to Peele’s vision and to giving a platform to marginalized voices. The two-year deal will also include producing projects for Peele, and as the report notes, a key part of that is projects that give opportunities to underrepresented talents on and off camera.
Meanwhile, Peele has also made the shortlist to direct Warner Bros.’ live-action Akira remake. But with plenty to keep Peele busy under this Universal deal, that project might have to find another filmmaker.