Jordan Peele to Helm Black Ghoulies for Netflix Next Thanksgiving
Jordan Peele, the actor, director, and writer known best for his work on Comedy Central's 'Key & Peele', and as the visionary creative force behind such blockbuster horror films as 'Get Out' and 'Us', has announced that his third directorial project will be at the helm of a spiritual sequel to the 1985 American horror comedy classic, 'Ghoulies', entitled 'Ilomba'.
Casting for the film is already underway, with Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave) set to play the role of Laurence Weathers, a man returning to his childhood home after inheriting it from his estranged father. He soon discovers there's more than just old memories locked away behind closed doors. Jeffrey Wright (Boardwalk Empire) is rumored to be in talks to play the titular Ilomba, a creature from Zambian mythology that devours the shadows of its victims to grant its dark masters life eternal.
Peele reports to BloJo Movie Network that he was "moved by the screenplay" (which was originally pitched as 'Black Ghoulies') because he felt the subject matter was particularly relevant to the social narrative he began with 'Get Out' and continued with 'Us'.
“I think the question I’m trying to ask and answer with my remake of Ghoulies is, ‘What does it truly mean to be African?'” the filmmaker recently told BloJo. “Black horror movies matter. I want to make the blackest, coolest mother-fuckin horror movie of all time. Next Thanksgiving is going to be lit.”
Speaking with BloJo, ‘Black Ghoulies’ writer Cousin Wayne explained the importance of bringing the 80’s horror film to life on the big screen for black audiences:
“Look, I’m just a white guy who lives in my grandparents’ basement. I’m not going to pretend to know anything about the importance of Black Ghoulies. I grew up with the original movie, and one night while I was having a smoke and a piss, I thought to myself -why not make those little fuckers black? I mean, why not? Can you imagine a black ghoulie rising out of the toilet? I thought it was funny. Hopefully, this idea will get me a few quick bucks so I can afford cigarettes and energy drinks. I might even quit my job and finish my Black Leprechaun script.”
The movie will release exclusively to Netflix next Thanksgiving.
Nothing further to report at this time but, uh, maybe, maybe, maybe, this’ll be a super-scary new horror movie for us all to enjoy. Fingers crossed.
What a time to be a horror fan.
Sound off in the comments below, and stay tuned for more as further updates roll in.
Scoop by Mandy Laurie-Anne