New Line Wins Horror Package Bidding War
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- New Line Cinema won a bidding war involving at least 10 parties for Theo James Krekis' horror package "Jealous People Are Ugly People," which Deadline reports as an exclusive
- The feature adapts Krekis' BBC-commissioned short — produced by UK outfit The Fold, it premiered at Midnight Madness at SXSW in 2026, following a man whose jealousy over his best friend's career success unleashes a supernatural force
- The hunt reflects a studio feeding frenzy for next-gen digital horror IP, with Deadline citing Curry Barker's "Obsession" (Focus Features) and Kane Parson's "Backrooms" (A24) as record-breaking breakout hits from young digital-first talent
- Krekis will write and direct the feature, produced by The Fold's Jennifer Monks and Michelle Stein alongside Temple Hill Entertainment (Isaac Klausner, John Fischer, Ben Levine, Ethan Cappello), with Josh Mack and Lauren Botchan overseeing for New Line
- Krekis is developing a second feature with BBC Film, has six-part series "Blossom" in development with Clerkenwell Films, and is writing a new series from the Peaky Blinders creator for Kudos
- New Line's upcoming slate includes Evil Dead Burn (just released July 10), The Revenge of La Llorona (February 26, 2027), The Conjuring: First Communion (September 10, 2027), and The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (December 17, 2027)
- Krekis is repped by Francesca Devas at Independent Talent Group and Ian McKnight at Anonymous Content
Why it matters: At least 10 parties bidding on a single horror package signals how aggressively studios are chasing digital-native genre IP, and New Line is paying premium prices to land it ahead of its major 2027 slate led by The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
