Known for her soulful performance in Past Lives and her sharp edge in The Morning Show, Greta Lee is now stepping into an entirely new role: debut director. In an exciting turn, she will helm and write her feature directorial debut for Searchlight Pictures—a psychological horror adaptation of Monika Kim’s acclaimed novel The Eyes Are the Best Part.
The upcoming film is anything but conventional. Billed as a “terrifying tale of misogyny, Asian fetishization and cannibalism,” the story follows Ji-won, a lonely and struggling college freshman who spirals into obsession—specifically, with eating human eyes. Described by The New York Times as “a delightfully gory tale” that is “as emotional as it is brutal,” Kim’s novel has become something of a cult hit in horror literature circles, making it prime material for a bold cinematic vision.
Backing Lee’s haunting new chapter are top-tier producers: Matt Jackson and Joanne Lee of Jackson Pictures, Dani Melia, and The Farewell director Lulu Wang under her banner Local Time. Monika Kim herself joins as executive producer, giving the project added authenticity and creative heft. Searchlight’s Taylor Friedman and Daniel Yu will oversee the film, reporting to co-heads of production DanTram Nguyen and Katie Goodson-Thomas.
“Lee’s debut behind the camera promises a visually arresting and thematically bold horror tale rooted in body obsession and cultural trauma.”
Before stepping behind the lens, Lee will continue to light up screens with roles in Kathryn Bigelow’s A House of Dynamite, Tron: Ares, Kent Jones’ Late Fame alongside Willem Dafoe, and the anticipated fourth season of The Morning Show.
This announcement signals a thrilling career expansion for Lee, whose acting has always carried layers of vulnerability and fire. With The Eyes Are the Best Part, she’s diving headfirst into the horror genre—a space that continues to offer fertile ground for social commentary wrapped in shocking, visceral storytelling.
One thing’s for certain: Greta Lee isn’t just interested in breaking boundaries—she’s carving her own bloody path through them.
