Sony’s Screen Gems beat out both Amazon and Searchlight in a competitive bidding war for Mime. The supernatural horror film stars John David Washington. It’s one of the most exciting horror packages to hit the market this year, and the talent surrounding it makes it even more compelling.
The Director
Nikyatu Jusu directs from a screenplay by Stephen Herman (Black Box), based on his original idea. Jusu made her feature debut with Nanny, a psychological horror that won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize in 2022. Moreover, it became the first horror film ever to take that honour. That’s not a small distinction. Jusu builds dread from character rather than spectacle, and Mime sounds like it’s in exactly the right hands.
The Setup
The film takes place in a New York City apartment complex during a heat wave blackout. Beyond that, the plot stays tightly under wraps, which, for a film called Mime, feels entirely appropriate and slightly threatening.
The Star
Washington starred in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman, Christopher Nolan’s Tenet, and Gareth Edwards’ The Creator. He most recently appeared in the 2024 drama The Piano Lesson. Mime marks his first venture into the horror genre. He also produces on the film alongside the rest of the producing team.
The Producers
The project falls under Screen Gems’ first-look deal with Black Phone filmmaker Scott Derrickson, who produces alongside Matt Tolmach under his Crooked Highway banner, as well as Camila Grove. Derrickson’s horror instincts have a strong track record, Sinister, The Black Phone, and now this.
What’s Next
Production is intended to begin next spring. No release date has been set yet. But with Washington starring, Jusu directing, Derrickson producing, and Sony fully behind it, Mime just became one of the most watched horror projects in development.
