Jordan Peele has a reputation for flipping horror on its head, and his latest project, ‘HIM,’ is already stirring up conversation. ‘HIM’ is a 2025 sports thriller and horror film produced by Peele and directed by Justin Tipping. This movie dives into the cost of greatness in sports, mixing suspense with psychological layers, and the first teaser trailer has folks buzzing. ‘HIM’ is set to be released in theaters on September 19, 2025. The film is being produced by Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions in collaboration with Universal Pictures.
Peele’s movies always spark debate, so it’s no surprise fans are curious about how ‘HIM’ will stack up against his past, genre-bending hits. There’s a lot of hype online, especially around what Peele and Tipping might create together. More info on the cast and story should drop as the release gets closer.
What Is HIM About?
HIM follows the chilling story of Cameron Cade, a rising football star whose life takes a sinister turn after a career-threatening brain injury. When he’s offered a second chance to train under his idol—eight-time championship quarterback Isaiah White—he heads to an isolated training compound. But what begins as a dream opportunity spirals into a psychological and supernatural nightmare. As Cameron uncovers dark rituals and manipulations behind Isaiah’s seemingly perfect facade, he’s forced to confront the cost of greatness—and what he’s truly willing to sacrifice.
This film blends psychological horror with sports drama, challenging the ideals of masculinity, mentorship, and ambition in a way only a Jordan Peele-produced project could.
Release Date and Distribution
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Official Title | HIM |
| Original Working Title | Goat |
| Release Date | September 19, 2025 |
| Distributor | Universal Pictures |
| Production Company | Monkeypaw Productions |
| Filming Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
The September 2025 release slots HIM into prime horror season, and expectations are high given Peele’s track record of genre-defining work.
Cast Breakdown
The casting for HIM mixes dramatic heavyweights with rising talent, which is fitting for a film that explores generational tension and psychological unraveling.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Marlon Wayans | Isaiah White (mentor) |
| Tyriq Withers | Cameron Cade (protagonist) |
| Julia Fox | Elsie White |
| Tim Heidecker | Undisclosed |
| Jim Jefferies | Undisclosed |
| Akeem Hayes | Undisclosed |
| Tierra Whack | Undisclosed |
Wayans is expected to deliver a career-defining performance, shifting from comedic roots to a deeply unsettling portrayal of a man whose greatness may come at an unspeakable cost.
The Creative Team Behind the Film
While Peele isn’t directing HIM, his influence looms large through his production company, Monkeypaw Productions. The film is directed by Justin Tipping, best known for Kicks and episodes of Twenties and Joe vs Carole. The script is penned by Zack Akers and Skip Bronkie, whose screenplay earned a spot on the 2022 Black List for best unproduced scripts.
Music will be composed by Bobby Krlic (aka The Haxan Cloak), whose haunting work in Midsommar and Beef suggests HIM will have a nerve-shredding soundscape to match its disturbing visuals.
Trailer and Themes
The first teaser trailer is already generating buzz online for its cryptic and eerie visuals. It features ritualistic imagery, intense psychological confrontation, and surreal training montages. In one of the trailer’s most gripping moments, Isaiah asks Cameron, “What are you willing to sacrifice?” The answer—“Everything.”—sets the tone for a story that’s as much about identity and pressure as it is about horror.
Expected Themes
- Obsession with Success
- Toxic Mentorship
- Ritual and Sacrifice
- The Psychological Toll of Sports
Peele has a known affinity for embedding social commentary in horror, and HIM looks to extend that formula by tackling the costs of fame, masculinity, and indoctrination through a sports-horror hybrid.
How It Compares to Other Peele Projects
| Film | Genre | Director | Peele’s Role | Central Theme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get Out | Psychological | Jordan Peele | Writer, Director | Racism, identity |
| Us | Horror/Thriller | Jordan Peele | Writer, Director | Duality, class |
| Nope | Sci-fi/Horror | Jordan Peele | Writer, Director | Spectacle, exploitation |
| HIM (2025) | Sports/Horror | Justin Tipping | Producer | Ambition, mentorship, sacrifice |
While Peele isn’t directing HIM, the DNA of his storytelling—ambiguous dread, layered metaphors, and social critique—remains deeply embedded in this project. The difference here is the fusion of horror with the hypermasculine world of American football, a new arena for psychological storytelling.
Key Takeaways
- ‘HIM’ is a 2025 sports thriller and horror film from Jordan Peele and Justin Tipping.
- The film combines sports drama with psychological horror elements.
- Fans are eagerly waiting to see how ‘HIM’ will fit into Peele’s genre legacy.
Jordan Peele and the Creation of ‘HIM’
Jordan Peele and his Monkeypaw Productions team set out to make a different kind of horror film. ‘HIM’ blends psychological suspense with the gritty world of football. Peele’s role as producer has caught the eye of horror fans and sports drama enthusiasts alike.
Inspiration Behind the Story
‘HIM’ looks at what happens when pressure and fear collide in high school football. The story digs into the darker side of competition, especially when expectations spiral out of control.
Instead of sticking to sports movie tropes, ‘HIM’ uses horror to highlight the mental and emotional toll on young athletes. The film touches on themes Peele often explores: fear, identity, and how people react under stress. It’s a sports thriller, but also a pretty raw look at human nature under pressure.
Collaboration with Monkeypaw Productions
Monkeypaw Productions is at the helm, known for pushing unique, story-driven horror. The company likes to back projects that tackle big themes through suspense. For ‘HIM’, Ian Cooper and Win Rosenfeld join as producers—both have worked with Peele before. Universal Pictures is on board too, so the team brought in folks who know both horror and drama. Details about the process are available from Monkeypaw Productions and Universal.
Casting and Key Collaborators
The cast is a mix of familiar faces and newer talent. Marlon Wayans, who’s done both comedy and drama, takes on a major role. Tyriq Withers leads as a troubled athlete. Julia Fox, Tim Heidecker, and Jim Jefferies round out the main cast with key supporting parts.
There’s a musical and cultural edge too, with Guapdad 4000 and Tierra Whack involved. This diverse group gives the film its own vibe. For more on casting, check the film’s official cast announcement.
‘HIM’ in the Context of Modern Horror and Science Fiction
With ‘HIM’, Peele is taking horror and sci-fi somewhere new by mixing sports and psychological tension. The movie uses familiar genre tricks, but goes further by digging into the darker side of athletic fame.
Genre Influences and Innovations
‘HIM’ borrows from classic horror—slow-burn suspense, big twists—but sets it all in the world of pro football, which is pretty rare for horror or sci-fi. The Monkeypaw Productions team blends horror with sports drama, so you get tense, violent moments on the field that feel as unsettling as anything supernatural. The trailer flashes some gruesome visuals and plenty of psychological threats. By making the sports world scary, ‘HIM’ stands apart from other recent genre films. Bloody Disgusting has a good write-up on the gruesome gridiron nightmare.
Thematic Exploration of Sacrifice and Fame
At its heart, ‘HIM’ is about the personal cost of chasing success. Ambition, sacrifice, and the pressure of fame—all of it can twist a person’s life. The horror isn’t just for scares; it asks what athletes really give up, mentally and emotionally, to be great.
Peele’s style brings out the dark side of striving for perfection. Characters deal with outside threats and their own doubts. The movie pokes at the dangers of idolizing athletes and the relentless grind of pro sports. It kind of dares you to think about what “excellence” really costs. The Playlist digs into how the film explores fame, idolatry, and excellence.
Production, Release, and Cultural Impact
HIM, produced by Jordan Peele at Monkeypaw Productions, has drawn lots of attention for its mix of sports drama and psychological horror. The football angle, cast, and directorial approach all help it stand out.
Development and Filming Process
The script for HIM got noticed after landing on the annual Black List—Hollywood’s survey of favorite unproduced scripts. Universal snapped it up.
Justin Tipping, who’s known for character-driven stories, directs. Tyriq Withers, Marlon Wayans, and Julia Fox star—with Withers as the high school quarterback at the film’s core. Peele’s name brought even more attention, helping the project build a strong team and move from announcement to filming pretty quickly.
They worked with football consultants to make the sports scenes feel real, shooting in stadiums and local schools for authenticity. The goal was to root the horror in a world audiences recognize, making it hit a little closer to home.
Marketing, Trailer, and Anticipation
Universal kicked off the marketing with a teaser trailer in early 2025. It teases the movie’s blend of psychological tension and intense football, showing the main character’s rise and some weird, unsettling events around him.
The trailer caught on fast online, and outlets like IndieWire and Vibe helped build even more buzz. Social media chatter and special events kept anticipation high—people are already comparing HIM to Peele’s earlier films.
With Peele’s take on horror and the unusual sports angle, there’s a lot of curiosity about how the film will mix athletic drama with psychological suspense. Fans and critics both seem eager to see what kind of mark HIM leaves on the genre.
Release Date and Theatrical Distribution
HIM is slated for a wide theatrical release on September 19, 2025. Universal is handling distribution, rolling it out across the U.S. and other major markets.
The release date is interesting—just ahead of Halloween, when horror movies tend to do well. The studio is counting on strong turnout from sports fans and Peele’s usual audience.
Besides the main theatrical release, there’ll likely be special screenings at select events, which should add to the conversation about where sports and horror cinema are headed. More info on international releases and streaming will probably come later. For official details, check The Hollywood Reporter.
Connections to Jordan Peele’s Filmography and Genre Legacy
Peele’s films always blend horror, social commentary, and sharp writing. “HIM” fits right in with his earlier work, but also pushes his style forward—there are echoes of his past movies, but it’s not just a repeat.
Comparisons to ‘Get Out’, ‘Us’, and ‘Nope’
“HIM” keeps the psychological tension and social themes of Get Out, but wraps them around more everyday experiences. Like Us, it messes with doubles and reality, making you question what’s real. There’s that sense of something lurking, just out of sight.
Nope went big on spectacle, and “HIM” seems to do the same with its sports-thriller energy. Peele’s signature blend—horror, thriller, satire—runs through all these films. He likes to use horror to shine a light on society’s issues, and “HIM” is no different.
Expect the usual sharp dialogue and a few left turns. The characters in “HIM” face both personal and social fears, just like Peele’s past leads.
Intertextual References and Inspirations
Peele loves to nod to old horror and thriller classics, pulling in genre tropes and pop culture references. “HIM” has visual and story cues that horror fans might spot—think Candyman (which Peele produced), or even newer genre mashups like Freaky.
A table of notable connections:
| Film | Shared Element in “HIM” | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Get Out | Social commentary | Focus on racial identity |
| Us | Doppelgängers/Self-doubt | Double lives and paranoia |
| Nope | Spectacle and the unknown | Sudden threats in daily life |
| Candyman | Urban legend/horror history | Revisiting mythos |
| Freaky | Genre mixing | Horror with humor |
These references show how Peele honors horror traditions but gives them a fresh spin. He layers in meaning, sometimes with pop culture nods or by reinventing old legends.
Influence on Contemporary Horror
Peele’s movies, including “HIM,” have changed what people expect from horror. His mix of social themes and genre-blending is now a sort of benchmark. Other filmmakers are picking up his style—using scares to talk about bigger issues.
As some have pointed out, Peele’s approach encourages more diverse voices and breaks old storytelling molds. Films like Candyman and Nope keep this trend going, bringing in new ideas and perspectives.
These days, critics and audiences want horror that says something, not just shocks. Peele’s way—mixing real-world issues with suspense—continues to shape the genre.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jordan Peele’s ‘HIM’ is a psychological horror film set in the world of football. The movie has a big cast, explores some unusual themes, and people are already talking about its reception and potential awards.
Who is starring in ‘HIM’, and what roles do they play?
Marlon Wayans and Tyriq Withers headline the cast. Wayans plays a seasoned, older quarterback, while Withers is the up-and-coming young player. Their dynamic is central to the film’s tension.
What is the storyline of ‘HIM’ directed by Jordan Peele?
‘HIM’ follows a young athlete who heads to a remote compound to train under a legendary quarterback. The story mixes sports drama with psychological horror as training takes a dark turn. Ambition, pressure, and mind games all come into play. More on the plot can be found in this overview of HIM.
When was ‘HIM’ officially released in theaters?
‘HIM’ hit theaters in 2025. Its debut added another chapter to Peele’s growing horror catalog.
How does ‘HIM’ differ from Jordan Peele’s previous films?
Unlike Peele’s earlier movies, which focus on social themes and supernatural twists, ‘HIM’ is set in the high-stakes world of football. The tension comes from sports culture and psychological stress, not traditional horror or allegory. The genre mashup makes it stand out from films like ‘Get Out’ or ‘Us’.
What are some of the critical reactions to ‘HIM’?
Early reviews mention the suspenseful mood and strong acting. Critics have pointed out the unusual mix of a sports setting with psychological horror. Marlon Wayans, in particular, has gotten praise for his role.
Has ‘HIM’ won any awards or received any notable nominations?
So far, there aren’t any major awards or nominations for ‘HIM’. Still, the film’s original concept and high-profile cast have gotten it plenty of attention.
