Universal Acquires Portrait of God for Feature Adaptation

Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to develop a feature-length adaptation of the viral horror short "Portrait of God," with acclaimed filmmakers Jordan Peele and Sam Raimi set to produce the project through their respective production companies.

The announcement, first reported by Deadline, marks the first professional collaboration between Peele, known for directing "Get Out," "Us" and "Nope," and Raimi, the director behind the "Evil Dead" series and "Drag Me to Hell." The short film, written and directed by emerging filmmaker Dylan Clark, premiered on YouTube on August 28, 2022, and has since amassed more than 8.6 million views. Clark, who has cultivated a following in the online horror community with works blending religious themes and technology, will direct the feature adaptation himself.

The original seven-and-a-half-minute short centers on Mia, a religious young academic preparing a presentation about a mysterious artwork titled "Portrait of God." The story opens with a biblical warning from the Old Testament: "No man shall see Me and live." As Mia rehearses in a darkened room, she describes how some viewers perceive the canvas as complete blackness, while others...