Horror heavyweights Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are joining forces for the first time to bring the viral YouTube short Portrait of God to the big screen.. Universal Pictures has landed Portrait of God, a feature adaptation of Dylan Clark’s viral 2022 short film that has racked up more than 8.6 million YouTube views and a cult following in the online horror space.
The project marks a rare collaboration between Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures, blending two distinct horror sensibilities: Peele’s socially reflective, slow-burn terror and Raimi’s signature tension-meets-chaos style.
The Story Behind the Scare
While plot details for the feature film are being kept under wraps, the short film centers on a devout young woman preparing a school presentation on a mysterious painting known only as the Portrait of God.
To some, the canvas appears as a blank void. But others claim they see something lurking in the dark — a skeletal, humanoid figure so consistently described that it raises a terrifying question:
“What does God look like?”
Opening with the biblical warning “No man shall see Me and live,” Clark’s original short is minimalist but chilling, offering a stark counterpoint to the comforting, benevolent portrayals of God often seen on screen. The adaptation promises to expand this world while keeping its unsettling spiritual horror at the core.
The Team Behind the Feature
Clark will return to direct and is co-writing the screenplay alongside Joe Russo (The Inheritance).
Producers include:
- Jordan Peele and Win Rosenfeld (Monkeypaw Productions)
- Sam Raimi and Romel Adam (Ghost House Pictures)
- Joe Russo
- Chris Rosati (executive producer)
- Sam Evenson (co-producer)
The project is being overseen by a powerhouse group across Universal, Monkeypaw, and Ghost House — signaling that the studio sees major franchise potential in this eerie concept.
Who Is Dylan Clark?
Not to be mistaken for the producer behind The Batman, Clark is a breakout filmmaker in the digital horror space. His catalogue — steeped in themes of religion, technology, and the uncanny — has generated millions of views online and cemented him as one of YouTube horror’s rising auteurs.
Clark is also developing an adaptation of his short film Story Time, with Zak Olkewicz and LD Entertainment producing. He’s represented by 3 Arts, UTA, and Ginsburg Daniels Kallis.
What’s Next for Monkeypaw & Ghost House
Monkeypaw recently released Him, the football-themed horror film from director Justin Tipping starring Tyriq Withers and Marlon Wayans. Peele’s next directorial project remains paused after being removed from Universal’s schedule earlier this year.
Ghost House, meanwhile, wrapped production on Play Dead and Evil Dead Burn, the sixth entry in the Evil Dead franchise, set for release on July 24, 2026. A seventh installment, written and directed by Francis Galluppi, is also in the works.