Jordan Peele’s company, Monkeypaw Productions, has made three staff members redundant within its development department, per deadline.com.
The layoffs, confirmed on May 5, primarily affect the firm’s feature film division. This latest round of restructuring comes as the Oscar-winning filmmaker’s next directorial project faces ongoing scheduling delays at Universal Pictures.
The reduction leaves the development team with approximately four remaining staff members. Despite the smaller headcount, the department reportedly continues to accept and review new material. While the identities of those affected have not been disclosed, the cuts mark a second consecutive year of downsizing at the Los Angeles-based studio.
In 2022, Monkeypaw underwent a more extensive reorganisation within its television division. That round of redundancies saw the departure of three production vice presidents and five junior employees. Sources indicate that while the previous restructuring focused on small-screen output, the current phase specifically targets the motion picture arm.
Monkeypaw has operated under an exclusive five-year deal with Universal since 2019. However, the company has struggled to maintain momentum following the release of *Nope* in 2022, which earned $171 million at the global box office. A planned fourth feature film from Peele has been delayed, leaving the studio without a confirmed directorial project in its immediate production pipeline.
The layoffs reflect broader volatility within the Hollywood production landscape, where even established “shingle” deals are facing scrutiny. As studios become more selective with greenlighting high-budget features, mid-sized production houses like Monkeypaw are increasingly pressured to maintain lean operations between major releases.
