Viola Davis and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II will co-star and produce a reimagining of House of Games at Amazon MGM Studios, marking a high-profile revival of David Mamet’s 1987 psychological thriller, according to Deadline exclusive.
The new adaptation is currently in development and will see the powerhouse actors not only lead the project on screen, but also behind the scenes through their respective production banners — Davis for JuVee Productions alongside Julius Tennon and Melanie Clark, and Abdul-Mateen II for House Eleven10.
The original House of Games, written and directed by Mamet, followed psychiatrist Margaret Ford (played by Lindsay Crouse) as she became entangled in the shadowy world of gambling and deception while trying to help a patient, Mike Mancuso (Joe Mantegna). While plot details for the reimagining remain under wraps, the modern take is expected to bring new relevance and urgency to the noir themes of manipulation, identity, and psychological tension.
Viola Davis, an Academy Award winner, continues to build on her already extraordinary career. In 2017, she was named to Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2022, she received the William O. Douglas Award from Public Counsel for her dedication to social justice. Most recently, Davis was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2025 Golden Globes and is set to be inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame this summer. Davis, who is also a passionate advocate for eradicating childhood hunger in the U.S., recently launched the Davis-Tennon Foundation. A Juilliard graduate, she holds honorary doctorates from both her alma mater, Rhode Island College, and the Juilliard School.
JuVee Productions, Davis’s company with Tennon, has become a hub for character-driven, diverse storytelling. Their producing credits include The Woman King, Troop Zero, The First Lady, The Last Defense, and the upcoming political action thriller G20. The company aims to champion underrepresented voices across film, television, theater, and digital platforms.
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, an Emmy Award winner for his role in Watchmen, is also scaling new heights in his career. He will next be seen as the lead in Marvel’s Wonder Man series on Disney+, followed by his role as executive producer and star in Netflix’s Man on Fire, based on A.J. Quinnell’s novels. His expanding slate also includes By Any Means, By All, Emergency Contact, The Scent of Burnt Flowers, and I Helped Destroy People.
His production banner, House Eleven10, named after his childhood home in Oakland, California, is focused on creating entertaining and human-centered stories across genres. Led by executive Andrew Fischel, the company has a first-look deal with Sony Pictures Television and is developing titles including the thriller Ghostman, and I Helped Destroy People with Amazon MGM Studios, based on Janet Reitman’s New York Times article. FX’s The Scent of Burnt Flowers, directed by Blitz Bazawule, is also on the docket. With House of Games, Davis and Abdul-Mateen II are set to reinterpret a classic psychological thriller for a new generation, bringing their creative force, producing acumen, and commitment to layered storytelling to the project. The film underscores Amazon MGM Studios’ growing investment in prestige talent and character-driven reimaginings.
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