Acclaimed horror visionaries Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi are officially joining forces to produce Universal Pictures’ newly acquired horror project, Portrait of God. The film is based on a viral short created by Dylan Clark, which has amassed more than 8.6 million views on YouTube since its release in 2022.
According to Deadline, the feature-length adaptation will be written by Clark alongside Joe Russo. While specific plot details remain tightly guarded, the film is expected to significantly expand upon the eerie mythology introduced in the original short. Peele will produce through Monkeypaw Productions with Win Rosenfeld, while Raimi produces under Ghost House Pictures alongside Romel Adam and Russo. Executive producing duties will be handled by Chris Rosati, with Sam Evenson serving as co-producer. Ghost House executive Jose Cañas and Universal’s Sara Scott will oversee the project on the studio side.
The original short follows a devout young woman named Mia who uncovers a deeply unsettling answer to the question, “What does God look like?” Much of the story unfolds as she rehearses a presentation in the dark about a mysterious artwork known as Portrait of God. According to Mia, some viewers see nothing but total blackness—while others claim to see a figure hidden within the shadows, described with strikingly similar details each time. Sparse, ominous, and deeply unnerving, the short reframes traditional ideas of divinity with a chilling edge—leaving viewers with a stark warning: examine the portrait at your own risk.
