EXCLUSIVE: Jealous People are Ugly People, a hot horror package from 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 and Kane Parson’s Backrooms.
Krekis will adapt his own work, 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.
A Greek/British filmmaker, Krekis is currently developing his second feature with BBC Film. His original six-part television series Blossom is in development with Clerkenwell Films, and he’s writing on a new series from the creator of Peaky Blinders for Kudos. Earlier short films including 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.
