EXCLUSIVE: Jealous People are Ugly People, a hot horror package from Greek/British filmmaker Theo James Krekis, has landed at New Line Cinema following a bidding war involving at least 10 parties, Deadline has learned.
While Jealous People‘s logline is under wraps, the project will be adapted from Krekis’ short film of the same name, which was commissioned by the BBC, produced by UK outfit The Fold, and premiered at Midnight Madness at SXSW in 2026. The short follows Vasilly, whose jealousy over his best friend’s sudden career success feeds a dark supernatural force growing within him.
The intense pursuit of Krekis’ Jealous People speaks to the continued demand for elevated genre material from bold new voices following the outsized breakout success of Curry Barker’s Obsession (Focus Features) and Kane Parson’s Backrooms (A24). Both of those titles, from young digital-first talent, broke records to become the highest-grossing in the history of their studios, leading to a feeding frenzy over next-generation digital horror IP and its creators.
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Krekis will adapt Jealous People, directing from his own script. The Fold’s Jennifer Monks and Michelle Stein will produce the feature take alongside Temple Hill Entertainment, whose Isaac Klausner, John Fischer, Ben Levine and Ethan Cappello will oversee. Josh Mack and Lauren Botchan are overseeing for New Line.
Currently developing his second feature with BBC Film, Krekis’ original six-part television series Blossom is in development with Clerkenwell Films. Additionally, he’s set to write on a new series from the creator of Peaky Blinders for Kudos. Earlier short films include Pram Snatcher (funded by the BFI), Memoirs of a Geeza and Mangas, all of which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival.
Krekis is repped by Francesca Devas at Independent Talent Group and Ian McKnight at Anonymous Content.
Coming off the July 10 release of Sébastien Vaniček’s Evil Dead Burn, New Line’s upcoming slate includes Santiago Menghini’s 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).
