New Line Cinema has secured the horror project Jealous People Are Ugly People from Greek/British filmmaker Theo James Krekis following a bidding war with at least 10 parties.
The deal centers on an adaptation of Krekis’ short film of the same name. The short was commissioned by the BBC, produced by The Fold, and premiered at Midnight Madness during SXSW in 2026. It centers on Vasilly, whose jealousy over his best friend’s career success unleashes a dark supernatural force.
Krekis will write and direct the feature. Producers include Jennifer Monks and Michelle Stein from The Fold, along with Isaac Klausner, John Fischer, Ben Levine and Ethan Cappello from Temple Hill Entertainment. Josh Mack and Lauren Botchan are overseeing the project for New Line.
The acquisition reflects ongoing studio interest in elevated horror from emerging digital-first creators.
