Monkeypaw Productions is an American independent film and television production company founded by Jordan Peele on January 31, 2012. It is known for producing horror films, such as Get Out, Us, Candyman, Nope, and Wendell & Wild, as well as other films, such as Keanu and Monkey Man.
On October 1, 2019, the company signed a 5-year exclusivity deal with Universal Pictures.
Overview In 2012, Jordan Peele launched Monkeypaw Productions and released the comedy series Key & Peele on January 31, 2012, on Comedy Central. After the series ended in 2015, Peele and Keegan-Michael Key wrote the script for the action comedy film Keanu which was released on April 29, 2016, by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures.
On September 21, 2015, it was announced that Peele would write and direct his directorial debut feature film Get Out, a social horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya and Allison Williams which was released on February 24, 2017, by Universal Pictures. Following the success of the film, Peele signed a two-year, first-look deal with Universal. The deal was made with the intention of highlighting stories and creatives from marginalized communities.
On November 3, 2015, it was reported that Henry Selick was developing Wendell & Wild, a stop motion animated horror comedy film based on an unpublished book by Selick and Clay McLeod Chapman. The film was set to star Key and Peele, the latter also being a writer and producer on the film. In March 2018, the film was picked up by Netflix. The film premiered at TIFF on September 11, 2022, and was later released on October 28, 2022.
On May 16, 2017, it was announced that the company and Bad Robot were producing a horror television series titled Lovecraft Country for HBO and Warner Bros. Television Studios. The series was based on and served as a continuation of the 2016 novel of the same name by Matt Ruff. The pilot was written by Misha Green, who served as the showrunner for the series. Peele, J. J. Abrams, and Ben Stephenson served as executive producers. The series premiered on August 16, 2020.
On May 8, 2018, it was announced that Peele would write and direct his second feature film Us, a horror film starring Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke and Elisabeth Moss. The film was released on March 22, 2019, by Universal Pictures. In 2019, Us was featured in a maze for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights and in 2022 as part of the terror tram.
On November 9, 2020, it was announced that Peele would write and direct his third feature film Nope, a science fiction horror film starring Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer and Steven Yeun was released on July 22, 2022, by Universal Pictures. The original set of Jupiter's Claim, the fictional theme park featured in the film was added permanently as a part of Universal Studios Hollywood's Studio Tour. The set became the first Studio Tour attraction to open the same day as a film's release.Jupiter's Claim from Jordan Peele Movie 'Nope' Comes to Universal Hollywood's Studio Tour In 2022, Nope was featured at Universal's Halloween Horror Nights as part of the terror tram with Us.
On September 1, 2021, Monkeypaw and Peele signed a multiyear TV deal with Universal Studio Group ending a previous first-look deal with Amazon Studios. The deal brought both film and television output under a partnership with Universal.
On March 20, 2023, it was announced that Peele would write and direct his fourth feature film. It was scheduled to be released on December 25, 2024, by Universal Pictures, but was removed from Universal's schedule due to the 2023 Hollywood labor disputes, before being rescheduled to October 23, 2026. On September 2, 2025, the film was removed from Universal's 2026 release schedule.
In 2023, Monkeypaw participated in the bidding war for Zach Cregger's mystery horror film Weapons, in conjunction with Universal Pictures, but after losing the auction, Peele parted ways with longtime managers Joel Zadak and Peter Principato, the latter of whom was also Cregger's manager.
On April 23, 2025, it was reported by Deadline that three vice presidents and four to five junior staffers were laid off. In May 2026, the company also laid off three members of its development team, continuing with four remaining members in the department.
Feature films Release date Title Director(s) DistributorApril 29, 2016KeanuPeter AtencioWarner Bros. PicturesFebruary 24, 2017Get OutJordan PeeleUniversal PicturesAugust 10, 2018BlacKkKlansmanSpike LeeFocus FeaturesMarch 22, 2019UsJordan PeeleUniversal PicturesAugust 27, 2021CandymanNia DaCostaJuly 22, 2022NopeJordan PeeleSeptember 2, 2022Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.Adamma EboFocus FeaturesOctober 28, 2022Wendell & WildHenry SelickNetflixApril 5, 2024Monkey Man Dev Patel Universal PicturesSeptember 19, 2025 Him Justin Tipping
Short films Release date Title Director(s) Distributor(s)March 13, 2022MoshariNuhash HumayunLittle Big FilmsMonkeypaw ProductionsLeft Handed FilmsJune 7, 2025NeverlandTi WestRepublic RecordsWicked Awesome RecordsSeptember 6, 2025Imago Ariel ZengotitaUniversal PicturesMortyChandler CrumpThe Pigs UnderneathCharlie DennisThick SkinHelena HawkesSpilled MilkJared Leaf
Television series Year(s) Title Creator(s) Network2012–2015 Key & Peele Keegan-Michael KeyJordan Peele Comedy Central2018–2021 The Last O.G. John CarcieriJordan Peele TBS2019 Weird City Charlie SandersJordan Peele YouTube Premium Lorena Joshua Rofé Amazon Prime Video2019–2020 The Twilight Zone Simon KinbergJordan PeeleMarco Ramirez CBS All Access2020–2023 Hunters David Weil Amazon Prime Video2020 Lovecraft Country Misha Green HBO2024 Scare Tactics Scott HallockKevin Healey USA Network2025 High Horse: The Black CowboyJordan Peele's 'High Horse: The Black Cowboy' Documentary Gets Peacock Premiere Date; First Trailer Jason Perez Peacock
Podcasts Year Title Creator(s) Network2022 Quiet Part Loud Jordan PeeleMimi O'DonnellWin Rosenfeld Spotify Chutzpah: Hunters Presents True Stories of Resistance Jordan PeeleDavid Weil
Books Publication date Title AuthorNovember 26, 2019Get Out: The Complete Annotated ScreenplayJordan PeeleOctober 3, 2023Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black HorrorVarious AuthorsSeptember 3, 2024Us: The Complete Annotated ScreenplayJordan Peele
Video games +YearTitleDeveloperPublisherTBAOD Kojima ProductionsXbox Game Studios
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