Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has laid off three staffers from its development team, TheWrap has confirmed. The company will retain a staff of four moving forward.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, which first reported the news, the decision reflects Peele’s intention to take a more hands-on role in the development of upcoming projects.
Peele’s Career and Monkeypaw’s Recent Projects
Since the 2017 release of his breakout feature ‘Get Out’—which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay—Peele has established himself as a leading filmmaker and producer through Monkeypaw Productions. His subsequent horror films, ‘Us’ (2019) and ‘Nope’ (2022), were critically acclaimed.
Monkeypaw also produced ‘Him’, released in 2023, which underperformed at the box office. TheWrap’s William Bibbiani reviewed the film, stating:
“‘Him’ lacks the fascinating characters, the misdirection, the carefully stretched out suspense, and the thoughtfulness that makes a spider web movie work. You learn about as much from the movie as you do from the trailer, and the trailer is free to watch and saves you a lot of time. Kudos to Marlon Wayans for bringing his A-game, but almost everybody else gives this game away.”
Upcoming Projects and Development Challenges
Peele’s next directorial project, an untitled horror thriller, has faced multiple delays. Initially scheduled for a December 2024 release, the film was later pushed to 2026 before being removed from the schedule entirely. Despite these setbacks, Peele continues to develop the project, which will mark his fourth directorial effort. As with his previous works, the film is expected to blend horror and thriller elements, though specific plot details remain undisclosed.
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