The $38 Million Script: 5 Shocking Details Behind Why Jordan Peele Fired His Longtime Managers

The entertainment industry was rocked by a quiet, yet seismic, shift when acclaimed filmmaker Jordan Peele parted ways with his longtime management team. As of December 15, 2025, the story behind this high-stakes split remains a fascinating case study in Hollywood power plays, centered on a single, record-breaking script. Peele, the Academy Award-winning director of *Get Out*, reportedly cut ties with his representatives after his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, lost a fierce bidding war for a highly-coveted horror project.

The core of the controversy lies with the script for the film *Weapons*, written by *Barbarian* director Zach Cregger. When the property went to auction, it became one of the most sought-after projects in recent memory, ultimately setting a new industry benchmark. Peele's subsequent decision to sever ties with his managers, Joel Zadak and Peter Principato, was widely seen as a direct consequence of this massive, multi-million dollar loss, highlighting the fierce competition at the top tier of Hollywood.

Jordan Peele: A Quick Profile and Career Biography

Jordan Haworth Peele is one of the most influential and successful writer-directors working in modern cinema, known for blending sharp social commentary with the horror genre. His career trajectory from sketch comedy to Oscar-winning filmmaker is one of Hollywood's most compelling stories.

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• Full Name: Jordan Haworth Peele
• Born: February 21, 1979
• Birthplace: New York City, New York
• Career Highlights: Actor, comedian, writer, producer, and director.
• Breakthrough (Comedy): Co-starred with Keegan-Michael Key in the sketch comedy series *Key & Peele* (2012–2015).
• Directorial Debut: *Get Out* (2017), which earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
• Major Films: *Get Out* (2017), *Us* (2019), and *Nope* (2022).
• Production Company: Monkeypaw Productions.
• Key Awards: Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Writers Guild of America Award.

The Anatomy of the $38 Million 'Weapons' Bidding War

The catalyst for the management shake-up was an unprecedented auction for the rights to *Weapons*, a horror script from writer-director Zach Cregger. Cregger had just come off the surprise success of his film *Barbarian*, making his next project a must-have for every major studio and producer, including Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw Productions.

The bidding war for the *Weapons* script was historic. The price tag soared to a staggering $38 million, an amount never before seen for a single script and directing deal. This massive figure was ultimately paid by New Line Cinema (a division of Warner Bros.), who successfully secured the project.

Peele and Monkeypaw Productions were among the top contenders, making a strong push to acquire the property. The loss of such a high-profile, high-value project was a significant blow, especially for a director who has built his brand on elevated horror. The failure to secure *Weapons* led directly to the end of Peele’s long-standing professional relationship with his management team.

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The sheer magnitude of the loss—both financially and creatively—is what made the subsequent firing of his representatives so impactful. In Hollywood, losing a project is common, but losing a project that sets a new industry record and is perfectly aligned with your brand is a different matter entirely.

Who Were the Managers and Why the Sudden Split?

Jordan Peele parted ways with two key members of his management team: Joel Zadak and Peter Principato. Both managers were part of the prominent management firm Artists First and had worked with Peele for a significant period of his career, guiding his transition from comedy star to A-list filmmaker.

The speculation surrounding the split was intense, but the consensus points to a profound level of disappointment and frustration over the handling of the *Weapons* deal. Reports indicated that Peele was "pissed" about the outcome.

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One particularly thorny detail added to the controversy: Peter Principato, one of the managers Peele fired, also happened to represent Zach Cregger, the writer of the *Weapons* script. This created a perceived conflict of interest or, at the very least, an expectation of preferential treatment that Peele may have felt was not delivered.

The narrative suggests that Peele expected his team to secure the property, potentially feeling that his stature and the resources of Monkeypaw Productions should have been enough, or that his managers should have better navigated the auction process. The failure to match the winning bid—or perhaps to even be in a position to win—was seen as a breakdown in the management’s ability to secure top-tier material.

The Aftermath: Jordan Peele's New Representation and Career Path

In the wake of the split from Artists First, Jordan Peele's professional representation shifted, a common move for a major talent looking to recalibrate their team. For a star of Peele's magnitude, representation is often split across multiple agencies and firms to handle different aspects of his career, from film deals to speaking engagements.

The primary result of the management change was a renewed focus on his production company, Monkeypaw Productions, which continues to be a powerhouse in the industry. Monkeypaw is responsible for producing not only Peele’s own directorial work but also other acclaimed projects like *Candyman* and *Lovecraft Country*, ensuring his influence remains dominant.

While the specifics of his day-to-day management post-split are kept private, Peele is known to be represented by major agencies for various bookings, including Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of the most powerful talent agencies in the world. This move signifies a consolidation of power under a major agency umbrella, often preferred by directors who also run large production companies.

Despite the drama surrounding the *Weapons* loss and the subsequent firings, Peele's career has shown no signs of slowing down. He continues to be a highly sought-after producer and director, with his next projects remaining some of the most anticipated in the entertainment calendar. The incident serves as a powerful reminder that even at the highest levels of Hollywood, a single, highly competitive deal can be enough to completely reshape a star’s professional team and relationships.

Key Takeaways: A Lesson in Hollywood Leverage and Loyalty

The story of Jordan Peele firing his managers over the *Weapons* script loss is more than just industry gossip; it’s a crucial lesson in the high-stakes world of Hollywood deal-making. It underscores several critical points about the industry’s dynamics.

Firstly, the incident highlights the exponential value of intellectual property (IP) in modern cinema. A single, well-written script, especially from a buzzed-about talent like Zach Cregger, can command a price that challenges major studio budgets. The $38 million price tag for *Weapons* was a clear signal that the bidding war had less to do with the script itself and more to do with securing a relationship with a major creative voice.

Secondly, the event demonstrates the thin line between success and failure in talent representation. For a figure like Jordan Peele, the expectation from his management team is nothing less than securing the best, most valuable properties. The failure to deliver on a project that was so perfectly aligned with the Monkeypaw brand was perceived as a failure of representation, leading to the immediate termination of the relationship with Joel Zadak and Peter Principato.

Finally, the split emphasizes that loyalty, even after years of successful collaboration, often takes a backseat to professional performance when millions of dollars and creative legacy are on the line. Peele's quick, decisive action to change his team after the *Weapons* loss demonstrates his commitment to maintaining his competitive edge and securing his position as a preeminent figure in the horror genre. His current, post-Artists First representation ensures he remains a central figure in the industry's biggest deals.