Oscar winner Jordan Peele and twice Emmy nominee Issa Rae team up to produce the sci-fi/terror film Sinkhole, which will evolve as a star vehicle for actress Insecure.
In a low-figure deal, Universal beat nearly a dozen other studios and broadcasters bidding for the rights to Leyna Krow’s short story, which was originally published in the literary magazine Moss.
Deadline announced the news, reporting that the gender-inviting story follows a young circle of relatives who moves into the space of their dreams, which goes through a mysterious chasm in the backyard that manages to repair damaged things. However, Krow’s tale asks: what if this thing is a person?
Sinkhole is said to explore themes of female identity and perfection, and the tale was encouraged through a project by Krow’s writers organization that asked members to write short fairy tales on the theme “I married a monster. Krow to put the story on the street where he lives in Spokane, Washington.
Peele and Win Rosenfeld will produce their Monkeypaw banner, while Rae will produce under his eponymous company with Montrel McKay and Sara Rastogi. Krow will produce in collaboration with Moss co-founder Alex Davis-Lawrence. Sara Scott of Universal will oversee the assignment on behalf of the studio, which has a five-year contract with Monkeypaw.
Rae’s Insecure earned 8 Emmy nominations on Tuesday, while A Black Lady Sketch Show, which she also produces, also earned 3 nominations. Rae recently starred in The Lovebirds and The Photograph, and lately is filming the film Blumhouse Vengeance, which marks the director’s debut as B.J. Novak. In addition, Rae comes with a new edition of Set It Off that also plays for New Line.
Peele is preparing for the release of its new HBO series Lovecraft Country, as well as for Nia DaCosta’s new film, Candyman. He is also an executive manufacturer and narrator of the restart of The Twilight Zone on CBS All Access. To see Candyman’s very good animated prologue, click here.