Jordan Peele signs five-year deal with Universal

Jordan Peele has signed a five-year exclusive production partnership deal with Universal Pictures.

The 40-year-old filmmaker worked with the studio on his acclaimed horror movies 'Get Out' and 'Us' and he has now put open to paper on a contract that will see him and his Monkeypaw Productions company - led by President Win Rosenfeld - work with Universal until 2025.

Peele's next two original films will be released under the Universal banner, whilst Monkeypaw Productions will be free to create its own original movies.

In a statement, Peele said: "It would not have been possible to make 'Get Out' and 'Us' without the endless trust and support we received from Donna Langley and the team at Universal. Their willingness to take risks and their commitment to original content makes them the perfect collaborative partner for Monkeypaw. I couldn't be more excited for what lies ahead."

After achieving success with his collaborator Keegan-Michael Key on their comedy sketch show 'Key & Peele' and appearing in several movies, Peele has now established himself as one of the most exciting writers and directors in the horror genre.

Universal made its name with horror films with the Universal Monster movies which began in the 1920s with 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and 'The Phantom of the Opera' and the creature features continued to be popular with audiences for the next three decades with 'Dracula', 'Frankenstein', 'The Mummy', 'The Wolf Man' and 'Creature from the Black Lagoon' all being major hits whilst making household names of Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Boris Karloff.

The next release from Monkeypaw Productions and Universal will be the 'Candyman' reboot, which is being described as a "spiritual sequel" to the 1992 original and is being produced by Peele and directed by Nia DaCosta.