John David Washington to Lead Sony Screen Gems’ Supernatural Horror Film **Mime**

Sony Screen Gems has emerged as the winning bidder in a competitive acquisition battle that also involved Amazon and Searchlight. The studio will produce Mime, a supernatural-horror feature that will star John David Washington and be directed by Nikyatu Jusu. The project is now in active development under Sony’s genre-focused banner.

Express Tribune

• Director: Nikyatu Jusu – the Sundance Grand Jury-Prize winner of *Nanny*.

Deadline Hollywood

• Screenwriter: Stephen Herman – the author of the spec screenplay, based on his original concept.

Express Tribune

• Producers: Matt Tolmach (who packaged the project), Scott Derrickson (working through his Crooked Highway banner), and Camila Grove (Tolmach’s producing partner). Washington is also attached as a producer.

Hollywood Reporter

• Production Arrangement: Screen Gems holds a first-look deal with Derrickson’s Crooked Highway, linking the director-producer duo directly to the studio’s horror slate.

Express Tribune

While the official logline remains undisclosed, sources indicate that *Mime* is set in a New York City apartment complex during a heat-wave blackout. The premise positions the story within a confined, climate-stressed environment, promising a tense, atmospheric horror experience.

Sony Screen Gems Lands Supernatural Horror ‘Mime’ from ‘Nanny’ Filmmaker

• John David Washington – known for his breakout role in Spike Lee’s *BlacKkKlansman*, followed by leads in Christopher Nolan’s *Tenet* and Gareth Edwards’ *The Creator*. His most recent screen credit is the 2024 drama *The Piano Lesson*. Washington will both star and co-produce.

Hollywood Reporter

• Nikyatu Jusu – earned critical acclaim for *Nanny*, a psychological horror that won the 2022 Sundance Grand Jury Prize, marking the first horror film to receive that honor. The film was later acquired by Amazon and Blumhouse for $7 million.

John David Washington to Star in Supernatural Horror Mime From Nikyatu Jusu and Stephan Herman

• Stephen Herman – previously wrote *Blank* (2022) and the Prime Video title *Black Box* (2020). He is also adapting his short story *They’re Still Here* for New Regency and sold the spec *The Culling* to Lionsgate.

Deadline Hollywood

The film is currently in active development, with principal photography slated for the upcoming spring. No specific day-level dates have been disclosed.

John David Washington to Star in Supernatural Horror Mime From Nikyatu Jusu and Stephan Herman

*Mime* adds a high-profile horror title to Sony Screen Gems’ expanding genre portfolio. The collaboration pairs Washington’s rising star power with Jusu’s proven ability to craft atmospheric horror, potentially positioning the film as a marquee release for the studio’s spring slate. The project also underscores Screen Gems’ strategy of leveraging first-look deals with established genre creators like Derrickson.

Express Tribune

• Producer’s Name: Deadline lists the producer as “Camilla Grove,” whereas The Hollywood Reporter, Dread Central, Tribune, and Blexmedia refer to her as “Camila Grove.” The discrepancy highlights a minor inconsistency in reporting.

Sony Screen Gems Lands Supernatural Horror ‘Mime’ from ‘Nanny’ Filmmaker

• Plot Details: All sources agree that plot specifics are being kept “under wraps,” leaving the narrative core undisclosed.

Express Tribune

• Release Schedule: No release window or distribution plan has been announced, and no exact filming start date beyond “spring” is provided.

Deadline Hollywood

These gaps leave the full scope of *Mime*—including its eventual release strategy and detailed storyline—unconfirmed at this stage.

Express Tribune