Jordan Peele’s next film recently fell off the calendar. Universal confirmed what many in the industry suspected: the director’s fourth feature, once slated for October 23, 2026, is no longer dated. Peele, remarkably, has no working script.
This isn’t the first time the timeline has shifted. At one point, Peele was eyeing a Christmas Day 2024 release before that project was abandoned. A second idea gained traction briefly, only to be scrapped as well. As recently as this summer, Peele was brainstorming yet another concept, but there’s no indication he’s committed to anything concrete.
One studio executive didn’t mince words when speaking to TheInSneider. He’s saying the hype around Peele is starting to deflate.
“He got too high on his own supply and needs a change of pace,” the exec said, pointing out that while “Us” and “Nope” were financial successes, they split audiences and carried increasingly hefty budgets. The exec noted that Peele “hasn’t done anything that has truly worked since Get Out” and that “each of his three films has cost more and grossed less than its predecessor. In effect, he’s been delivering IOUs since Get Out.”
It’s a stark assessment of a filmmaker who, with “Get Out,” redefined the horror genre and cemented himself as one of the industry’s most original voices. However, in the years since, depending on who you ask, the trajectory has been uneven. “Us” opened big but divided critics and audiences. “Nope,” though ambitious and visually striking, left viewers similarly split.
Adding to the uncertainty, Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions recently went through layoffs, and is coming off the ill-received “HIM.” He also fired his reps over losing the 2023 bidding war for “Weapons.” The pressure of following up three ambitious originals is clearly looming large.
For now, the question remains just when Jordan Peele will return, and whether he can deliver a film that connects as strongly as his debut. Some clearly have doubts he can replicate the magic of “Get Out,” but the good news is he still has critics on his side, and can use that as fuel for his next effort.