Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi, widely known for their influential contributions to horror cinema, are joining forces to bring the online hit “Portrait of God” to the big screen in a new Jordan Peele horror adaptation. The project will adapt the original short film created by emerging filmmaker Dylan Clark, with production under the banners of Monkeypaw Productions and Ghost House Pictures at Universal Pictures.
Universal Pictures Picks Up Script for Acclaimed Short Film
Universal Pictures has secured the rights to a screenplay by Dylan Clark and Joe Russo for the feature-length version of Clark’s “Portrait of God,” according to a report from Deadline. The project’s premise remains closely guarded, though the short film centers on Mia, a religious young woman grappling with the unsettling notion of what God might truly look like. The story’s tension is rooted in a mysterious painting that reveals different images to each viewer, sometimes appearing entirely black and at other times showing a person described with uncanny consistency.
Opening with a quote from the Old Testament — “No man shall see Me and live” — it finds Mia sitting in the dark, practicing a slide presentation about a work of art dubbed “Portrait of God.” To some who view the painting, she says, it appears completely black. But others report seeing a person in the darkness — one who’s been described time and again, in consistent detail. Minimalistic yet menacing, the short offers a counterpoint to the idea of God as a benevolent entity. Viewers of the portrait, beware.
Production Team Assembled from Industry Leaders
Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld will produce the feature through Monkeypaw Productions, utilizing their ongoing collaboration agreement with Universal Pictures. Sam Raimi and Romel Adam will produce on behalf of Ghost House Pictures, with Joe Russo also joining the production team. Executive production duties will be handled by Chris Rosati, with Sam Evenson co-producing. Oversight is divided between Jose Cañas for Ghost House Pictures, Kate Oh for Monkeypaw Productions, and Sara Scott, Universal’s Executive Vice President of Production Development.
‘Portrait of God’ Among Viral Horror Short Successes
Dylan Clark’s “Portrait of God” has attracted over 8 million viewers on YouTube since its release in 2022, generating significant online discussion and numerous in-depth analyses from the horror community. The film’s rapid rise is part of a broader trend, as other internet-originated horror projects such as the Philippou Brothers’ “Talk to Me,” “Bring Her Back” with A24, Chris Stuckmann’s “Shelby Oaks” for NEON, and upcoming adaptations like “Backrooms” also at A24 garner attention. Curry Barker’s works, including “Obsession” and “Anything But Ghosts,” have followed similar viral pathways to major studio deals after the success of “Milk & Serial.”
What Lies Ahead for the Feature Adaptation
With a prominent production team and a viral foundation, the upcoming Jordan Peele horror adaptation, “Portrait of God,” stands poised to draw both fans of the original short and new audiences. As the development proceeds, interested viewers can revisit the short film online while updates on casting, release dates, and creative direction are anticipated from Universal Pictures and the film’s producers.
