Viral internet short film Portrait of God is getting the Hollywood treatment, with Chase Infiniti set to star in a feature length adaptation of the YouTube-famous horror video.
If you’re an avid horror fan, chances are you’ve watched Dylan Clark’s viral horror short Portrait of God on YouTube at some point. The seven-and-a-half-minute video centers on college student Mia Reilly as she rehearses a presentation; her topic discusses a mysterious painting — or rather, a photograph of a painting — that, some say, shows a portrait of God.
The photo of said portrait is simply a black image, but testimonies from viewers tell a different story. Reilly says that “some insist they see a person in the darkness,” with subjects claiming in audio recordings that they see a “wrinkled, skinny” man — or at least, something that’s “close to a man.”
I won’t spoil the rest of the short for you, but I highly recommend checking it out if you haven’t seen it yet. Clark packed quite a punch in such a short amount of time, with his video racking up over 10 million views since being uploaded four years ago, and it seems like major studios took notice.
As shared by The Hollywood Reporter, the film has been greenlit by Lionsgate Studios, with Sam Raimi for Ghost House Pictures and Jordan Peele for Monkeypaw set to produce. This is the first time these two have collaborated on a project together.
They aren’t the first to get their hands on Clark’s IP, though; Portrait of God was previously snagged by Universal, but the project fell through in early 2026. Things seem substantially more stable now, given the producers attached, as well as a major actress set to star in the film: Chase Infiniti, who gained wide acclaim for her breakout role in One Battle After Another.
“We’re delighted to deepen our creative partnership with Dylan Clark, whose remarkable talent and distinctive perspective make him one of the most exciting emerging voices in horror,” Lionsgate film’s Adam Fogelson said in a statement. “With Sam and Jordan, two of the genre’s most influential producers, the extraordinary Chase Infiniti starring, and Dylan at the helm, this is an exceptional creative team. We believe they have all the ingredients for a film that is haunting, thought-provoking, and scary as hell.”
“With Blair Witch, I’m experiencing firsthand the trust Lionsgate places in its filmmakers, and I couldn’t be happier that Portrait of God has found a home there, as well,” Clark added. “I’m also thrilled to welcome Chase Infiniti to our team. She blew me away in One Battle After Another and is one of the most exciting young actors working today.”
It’s a big time for indie horror flicks, especially where YouTubers are concerned; Kane Parsons’ Backrooms and Curry Barker’s Obsession were smash hits at the box office, opening the way for adaptations of other popular internet creepypastas like Siren Head (to be produced by Zach Cregger), The Mandela Catalogue, and even The SCP Foundation.
Image Credits: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
Virginia (she/her) is IGN’s News Editor. With ten years of experience reporting on games and entertainment, she’s got a storied background in the fighting game community, influencer news, and viral online trends. Find her on Twitter at @TheeMissGlaze.
