What Happened to Jordan Peele?
Jordan Peele has transitioned from a celebrated sketch comedian to one of Hollywood's most influential horror filmmakers, known for his critically acclaimed and socially conscious films like "Get Out," "Us," and "Nope." Through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, he continues to develop and produce innovative horror and genre content, while his highly anticipated fourth directorial feature remains in development following production delays.
Quick Answer
Jordan Peele is currently a highly successful and influential filmmaker, writer, and producer in the horror genre. While his fourth directorial film has faced delays and is currently without a release date, he remains active through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions. Most recently, a film he produced, "Him," which premiered in theaters in September 2025, is set to be released on Netflix on April 19, 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Joins Mad TV
Jordan Peele began his television career as a cast member on the Fox sketch comedy series 'Mad TV,' where he spent five seasons.
Key & Peele Premieres
Peele co-created and starred in the critically acclaimed Comedy Central sketch comedy series 'Key & Peele' with Keegan-Michael Key, which ran until 2015.
Wins Primetime Emmy for Key & Peele
Peele and Keegan-Michael Key won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series for 'Key & Peele'.
Directorial Debut with 'Get Out'
Peele's first feature film as a director, 'Get Out,' was released to massive critical and commercial success, redefining the horror genre.
Wins Academy Award for 'Get Out'
Jordan Peele won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for 'Get Out,' becoming the first African American to win in this category.
Releases 'Us'
Peele's second directorial effort, the psychological horror film 'Us,' starring Lupita Nyong'o, was released to strong box office performance and critical acclaim.
Releases 'Nope'
His third directorial film, the science fiction horror 'Nope,' starring Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer, was released and praised for its ambition and visual style.
Announces 'OD' video game collaboration
At The Game Awards, Peele announced his collaboration with Hideo Kojima on an experimental horror video game titled 'OD.'
Launches 'NO DRAMA' Initiative
Monkeypaw Productions, in partnership with TIFF and Universal, launched 'NO DRAMA,' an initiative to cultivate emerging horror filmmakers.
OD video game development resumes
After a halt in 2024 due to labor disputes, development on the Hideo Kojima collaboration 'OD' resumed.
Fourth directorial film removed from 2026 schedule
Universal removed Jordan Peele's untitled fourth directorial film from its October 2026 release schedule, with no new date announced and filming yet to begin.
Produces 'Him' theatrical release
The sports horror film 'Him,' produced by Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, was released in theaters.
'Him' to stream on Netflix
The Jordan Peele-produced horror film 'Him' is scheduled to make its streaming debut on Netflix.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Jordan Peele's career began in sketch comedy, most notably as a cast member on 'Mad TV' and later as co-creator and star of the Emmy-winning 'Key & Peele' (2012-2015) alongside Keegan-Michael Key. This period established his comedic talent and keen observational skills, often touching on social and racial themes.
The pivotal turning point in Peele's career was his directorial debut, the psychological horror film 'Get Out,' released in February 2017. Made on a modest budget of $4.5 million, the film grossed over $255 million worldwide and received widespread critical acclaim for its sharp social commentary and genre-bending narrative. Peele won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, becoming the first African American to do so, and was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Director. This success cemented his reputation as a visionary filmmaker capable of blending horror with profound social critique.
Following 'Get Out,' Peele continued to build his cinematic universe with 'Us' (2019) and 'Nope' (2022), both of which were commercial successes and garnered positive reviews for their ambition and unique storytelling. Through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, founded in 2012, Peele has also produced a slate of other notable projects, including 'BlacKkKlansman' (2018), 'Candyman' (2021), the stop-motion film 'Wendell & Wild' (2022), and the HBO series 'Lovecraft Country' (2020).
In recent years, Peele has continued to expand Monkeypaw's influence. In January 2024, Monkeypaw Productions, in partnership with TIFF and Universal, launched the "NO DRAMA" initiative to support emerging horror filmmakers. As of April 2026, Peele's highly anticipated fourth directorial film has faced significant delays. Initially slated for a December 2024 release, it was pushed to October 2026 due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, and then quietly removed from Universal's schedule in September 2025, with no new release date announced and filming yet to commence. Despite this, Peele is reportedly still "at work" on the project.
Beyond his own directorial efforts, Peele has been active as a producer. In December 2023, he announced a collaboration with video game designer Hideo Kojima on an experimental horror title called 'OD,' though its development was briefly halted in 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA video game strike and resumed in July 2025. Most recently, the sports-themed horror film 'Him,' produced by Peele's Monkeypaw Productions, was released in theaters on September 19, 2025, and is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on April 19, 2026. While 'Him' received mixed reviews and a modest box office performance, Peele's overall impact on contemporary horror and his commitment to diverse storytelling remain significant.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Jordan Peele made different choices?