Update: Sources now say Deadline that Daniel Kaluuya is in talks to co-star with Palmer, as first reported by The Illuminerdi. If the deal closes, it would mark a new team for Peele and Kaluuya, who worked together on Get out.
EXCLUSIVE: After the huge success of his first two films, Jordan Peele’s next film seems to be falling into place, as the Oscar winner has found the star of the untitled photo. Sources told Deadline that Keke Palmer will star in Universal Pictures’ next highly anticipated project, Get out and We director. In addition to directing and writing the photo, Peele will also produce alongside Ian Cooper for Monkeypaw Productions. The project falls under Monkeypaw’s exclusive five-year agreement with Universal.
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Like all Peele films, the details of the plot are being kept under lock and key, with no idea what it is about or who Palmer will interpret. Universal Pictures will release the film on July 22, 2022.
The first two films by Peele, Monkeypaw and Universal, which he produced, directed and wrote, Get out and 2019 We, became a commercial and critical success, with the two films together grossing more than $ 500 million worldwide. In addition to the box office success for Get out, Peele took home the Oscar for best original script, with the film also being nominated for best film.
Peele spent the autumn gathering talents for the film before meeting Palmer for the lead role. The two had had ties since Peele’s days in the Key & Peele show and after meeting Palmer for her latest project, he was quick to offer her the leadership of his next project. The film would mark Palmer’s biggest role so far, after roles in Pimp and Hustlers.
She just shot Steel Springs Pictures’ Alice opposite Common and Johnny Lee Miller, by writer and director Krystin Ver Linden. She is currently lending her voice to “Maya” at the Disney + renaissance The Proud Family and “Rochelle” in the new version of Netflix Big mouth spin off Human Resources after appearing in season 5 of Big Mouth. In 2020, she received an Emmy nomination for her work as a presenter on ABC channel GMA3: Strahan, Sara and Keke, and she also released two successful EPs, Virgo Trends: Part 1 and 2 from their own Big Bosses record label. Palmer is represented by 3 Arts Entertainment and Hertz, Lichtenstein & Young.
Senior Vice President of Production Sara Scott and Creative Executive Tony Ducret will oversee the project on behalf of Universal.
Last year, Monkeypaw launched the famous Lovecraft Country for HBO (named one of AFI’s 10 best of the year, receiving Golden Globe, SAG and WGA nominations) and hunters for Amazon (also nominated for a Golden Globe). Launch of MGM by Universal Pictures and the highly anticipated remake of Monkeypaw Candyman, comes later this year. The film is directed by Nia DaCosta, co-written by DaCosta, Peele and Monkeypaw president Win Rosenfeld, and produced by Peele and Ian Cooper.