John David Washington enters the horror world with supernatural thriller 'Mime'

John David Washington is set to lead the upcoming supernatural horror thriller Mime, a new feature project that has been acquired by Sony’s Screen Gems following a competitive bidding battle with major studios including Amazon and Searchlight.

The film will be directed by Nikyatu Jusu, whose acclaimed debut feature Nanny won the Sundance Grand Jury Prize. Stephen Herman wrote the screenplay based on his original concept, though plot details for Mime are currently being kept under wraps.

The supernatural horror movie will be produced by Matt Tolmach, who helped package the project, alongside Scott Derrickson and his Crooked Highway production banner. Washington will also serve as a producer on the film with Camila Grove, Tolmach’s producing partner.

Washington has established himself as one of Hollywood’s leading actors through a series of major film roles. He gained widespread recognition for Spike Lee’s Oscar-winning drama BlacKkKlansman before starring in Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi action film Tenet and Gareth Edwards’ The Creator. His most recent appearance was in the 2024 drama The Piano Lesson.

Director Nikyatu Jusu previously impressed audiences with Nanny, a psychological horror film starring Anna Diop as an immigrant nanny whose life begins to unravel after experiencing disturbing visions. The movie was acquired by Amazon and Blumhouse after its Sundance premiere.

With Washington’s growing reputation and Jusu’s experience creating atmospheric horror stories, Mime is expected to become one of the notable upcoming supernatural horror films. The project adds another high-profile title to Sony’s Screen Gems slate as the studio continues expanding its genre offerings.