Script Sales

Here are some of the most notable script sales from April 2020: – Paramount Pictures and Gina Rodriguez’s I Can and I Will Productions have acquired Ryan Firpo’s sci-fi/comedy spec The Aliens Are Stealing Our Weed. Along with producing, Rodriguez is attached to star. – Anthony McCarten’s Whitney Houston spec I Wanna Dance With Somebody found a home with Primary Wave and Muse of Fire Productions. Stella Meghie is in talks to direct. – Lionsgate, along with Zaftig Films and Vertigo Entertainment, picked up John Fuqua and Glenn Ficarra’s zombie spec 16 States. – See-Saw Films, Anonymous Content, and Screen Australia are moving forward with Thomas Wright’s crime/thriller The Unknown Man. Wright will direct, and Joel Edgerton and Sean Harris are set to star. – David Callaham will write the live-action Hercules remake/adaptation for Disney. Anthony and Joe Russo will produce. – Paramount Animation, Hasbro Studios, and eOne have tapped…

Here are some of the most notable script sales from March 2020: – Paramount Pictures and Original Film have picked up Murder in the White House, a crime/mystery/thriller spec written by Jonathan Stokes. After the President is murdered during a private dinner, a female Secret Service agent has until morning to identify the killer to prevent a peace agreement from failing. – Over with Warner Bros. and J.J. Abrams’s Bad Robot, The Pinkerton found a home. Daniel Casey’s spec is described as a supernatural revenge-western hybrid. – The faith drama When We Pray is moving forward with Cinema Libre Studio, Fight to Fame Films, and Fast Mouse Films. The script was written by Jamie Foxx and Donald Ray Caldwell, and Foxx will also direct. – Loos Change Films has optioned Max Goodson’s drama script The Rescuer, which follows a young pastor torn between turning his church into a glitzy megachurch…

Here are some of the most notable script sales from February 2020: – Taika Waititi and Jennifer Kaytin Robinson will script the next installment in Marvel/Disney’s Thor franchise: Thor: Love and Thunder. Waititi will direct, and Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Tessa Thompson will also return, with Christian Bale potentially joining the cast. – And in more Marvel/Disney news, Michael Waldron will rewrite Jade Bartlett’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness script. Sam Raimi is in talks to direct, while Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, and Elizabeth Olsen are set to star. – Chris Thomas Devlin will script the Texas Chainsaw Massacre reboot/remake for Legendary Pictures and Bad Hombre. Fede Alvarez will produce; Ryan Tohill and Andy Tohill will direct. – Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, and Diane Keaton will star in a spiritual sequel to The First Wives Club entitled Family Jewels. The script, written by Peter Hoare,…

Here are some of the most notable script sales from January 2020: – Previous Script Pipeline winner Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman) will script the Anaconda remake for Columbia Pictures. The original movie was written by Hans Bauer, Jim Cash, and Jack Epps Jr. – …and previous Script Pipeline winner Tripper Clancy (Stuber) has an action/comedy series over at Quibi. Titled Die Hart, the series is written by Tripper and Derek Kolstad and directed by Eric Appel, and it stars John Travolta and Kevin Hart. – Rian Johnson’s sequel to Knives Out is in development. Johnson will write and direct, and Daniel Craig will possibly star again as well. – Jennifer Harrington’s sci-fi/action/comedy sped It’s the End of Liz as We Know It was picked up by The Detective Agency and Sony Pictures Entertainment. – Robert Sudduth’s ensemble Latina female-driven drama spec Tias found a home with Will Packer…

Some of the most notable script sales for December 2019: – Jimmy Warden’s untitled bear spec has found a home with Lord/Miller (Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s production company), Radio Silence, and Universal Pictures. The horror/comedy is described as a cross between Good Boys and The Revenant, and Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett will direct. – Sanjay Shah’s untitled script about an Indian boy band was acquired by Universal Pictures, Marc Platt Productions, and Lighthouse Management & Media. Nisha Ganatra is attached to direct. – Mark Fergus and Hawk Ostby were tapped to adapt the Skybound/Image comic book Stealth, written by Robert Kirkman and Marc Silvestri. Lee Daniels will produce/direct for Universal. – Anvil Pictures and Universal are moving forward with Storybook Ending. The fantasy ilm was written by Dean DeBlois and Bill Teitler, and DeBlois will also direct. – William Boyd will adapt John Treherne’s novel The Galapagos Affair…

Here are some of the most notable script sales from the month of November: Erin Cressida Wilson is attached to write The Invisible Woman for Universal, based on a pitch by Elizabeth Banks. Banks is set to produce, direct, and star as well. John Logan is set to write a currently untitled Michael Jackson biopic for GK Films. The life rights were acquired from the Jackson estate. J.T. Petty to write and direct Appetite for Productivity Media and David S. Goyer’s Phantom Four Films. The thriller follows a mother’s investigation into her daughter’s disappearance, which leads to terrible consequences. Ryan Ridley’s script Renfield found a home with Skybound Entertainment and Universal. The horror/drama follows the character R.M. Renfield from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Adam Hoff’s script Signing Day signed with Unanimous Media and Sony Pictures. The drama follows a sports agent who desperately tries to sign a coveted basketball star. Joe Epstein’s untitled horror/thriller found…

October was a lighter month for spec sales. New Line Cinema and A-Major Media picked up Elliott San’s untitled spec last month. Although details are being kept under wraps, it’s described as a mind-bending genre tale that centers on an Asian-American lead. Meanwhile, TriStar Pictures, Unique Features, and Arlook Group are moving forward with Cooper McMains’ spec The Tip. The thriller follows a waitress who finds herself in a dangerous situation after receiving a $10,000 tip. John Strickland will direct. Robert Zappia’s 2018 Blood List script The Devil’s Light found a home with Lionsgate and Gold Circle Films. The supernatural thriller follows a nun who performs exorcisms while combating a sexist church that believes only priests should be allowed to perform exorcisms. Other script sales: – Bret McKenzie has been tapped to write the script and music for the Jim Henson Company’s adaptation of Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas. – Evan…

A few interesting specs found their way to production companies last month. Todd Komarnicki’s action/thriller spec Savior found a home with Oakhurst Entertainment, Lightbridge Entertainment, and Guy Walks Into a Bar, Inc. The story follows a group of mercenaries who plan to set off World War III through a series of seemingly unrelated terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, Paul Feig’s Feigco and Universal Pictures have picked up Meredith Dawson’s romantic comedy spec When Michael Met Carrie… and Other People. Dawson is set to direct as well. New Line Cinema (along with Farah Films & Management, Vertigo Entertainment, and Cinestate) scooped up Shut In in an auction. Written by Melanie Toast, the thriller spec follows a single mother who must protect her children and herself after her violent ex takes her captive. Finally, AGC Studios picked up Jay Martel’s fantasy/dramedy spec The Present, which is about a young boy who finds himself in…

Legendary Pictures and Jon Shestack Productions picked up The Last Adventure of Constance Verity, a spec written by John Raffo and based on the novel by A. Lee Martinez. The story follows Constance Verity, the chosen one who has battled supernatural forces her entire life and now just wants to settle down with a boyfriend, a normal job, and best friends. Awkwafina will star. Chester Tam’s untitled romantic comedy spec found a home with Screen Gems and Underground Films. The story follows a Black woman and an Asian-American man who start a relationship, surprising family and friends since neither is typically the other’s type. Gabrielle Union is attached to produce and star. Tango Entertainment and Eat the Cat scooped up Joshua Giuliano’s horror/thriller script River about three siblings stalked by a masked killer after being stranded in a boat on a country river. Giuliano will also direct. Leon Chills’ action-drama…

The horror and thriller genres had a good month. Sony Entertainment and Sam Raimi’s Ghost House Pictures picked up Gavin Heffernan’s untitled supernatural thriller spec. Details about its plot are being kept under wraps, but Escape Room’s Adam Robitel is attached to direct. Another untitled supernatural thriller spec landed with Paramount Pictures and The Picture Co., this one written by Jacob Chase. The plot follows a man with a classified line of work who takes his family on a perilous trip while protecting them from the horror he has in tow. Chase is also set to direct. Finally, Michael and Shaun Rasmussen’s horror spec The Unheard found a home at Burn Later Productions. No details about plot, but Chris von Hoffmann is set to direct. Other script sales: – Taika Waititi is returning to write and direct Thor: Love and Thunder for Disney/Marvel. Natalie Portman will also return to the…

Lionsgate, Point Grey Pictures, and 3Pas Studios have picked up Jeff Bushell’s comedy/fantasy spec Bad Dog. The story follows Satan’s favorite dog after he is mistakenly booted from Hell and adopted by an unsuspecting family. Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg are set to produce. Jill Soloway will write and direct the Red Sonja movie for Millennium Films. Their film will be based on the character created by Robert E. Howard and comic writer Roy Thomas. Over at Screen Gems, Bert V. Royal is set to write and direct a spinoff for Easy A. Royal wrote the original screenplay. Finally, Quentin Tarantino and Jerrod Carmichael are teaming up to write the sequel/crossover Django/Zorro. The movie will be based on the comic book by Quentin Tarantino, Matt Wagner and Esteve Polls. Other script sales include: – Zack Andrews and Bobby Roe have been tapped to rewrite Dan Kay’s A Wicked Tale for…

For this month in script sales, we start off with Voicemails for Isabelle. The romantic comedy spec, written by Leah McKendrick, was picked up by Escape Artists and Sony and follows a woman dating in Los Angeles. Sharon Maguire is in talks to direct, and Hailee Steinfeld will star. Next we have the suspense/horror spec Don’t Go in the Water, which was written by Peter Gaffney and found a home with Universal Pictures, 21 Laps Entertainment, and Lit Entertainment Group. The story follows an alcoholic in an isolated cabin who contends with a massive tentacled creature in the nearby lake and fights to survive. Other script sales: – Miss Universe found a home with, appropriately, Universal Pictures. Abe Forsythe’s script is described as Miss Congeniality meets Men in Black. Forsythe will direct, Lupita Nyong’o is set to produce and star. – Jane Campion is adapting Thomas Savage’s novel The Power…

With most of the WGA having fired their agents, things slowed down a little in terms of script sales. Red Wagon Pictures and Sony Pictures have scooped Thomas O’Donnell’s spec I Heart Murder, a female-driven horror crime/thriller. Meanwhile, Lionsgate and Temple Hill Productions have picked up Matt Lieberman’s comedy spec Meet the MacHines. The story follows two robots who try to find a family for their recently deceased creator’s son as they to blend in modern suburbia. Good Fear, BRON Studios, and Kituufu Films have picked up Sabrina. The script, written by Kristen Buckley, tells the true story of Sabrina Greenlee, single mother to four children (including NFL wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins) who was attacked and left for dead but nevertheless persevered. Sam Bailey will direct. John Wikstrom’s 2018 Black List thriller AMA (Ask Me Anything) found a home with Assemble Media. Zelda Williams will direct. Other script sales: –…

Paramount Pictures and Temple Hill Productions won out in a bidding war for Kay Oyegun’s comedy spec Assisted Living. The story follows a thief who hides out from her old crew in a retirement home. Entertainment One and The Picture Co. picked up the sci-fi/thriller Out There. Ian Levy’s spec follows a family fighting to survive after a mysterious event changes the world. David Bruckner is attached to direct. Finally, Zach Baylin’s King Richard, a spec based on Richard Williams’ efforts to bring his daughters Venus and Serena to tennis superstardom, found a home with Star Thrower Entertainment and Overbrook Entertainment. Will Smith is attached to star and produce. Other script sales: – Sony picked up Derek Kolstad and Gerard McMurray’s pitch Booker, described as a John Wick-esque thriller with an African American lead. – Ian Nelms and Eshom Nelms are set to adapt Carol Burnett’s memoir Carrie And Me…

Spenser Cohen’s spec Distant found a home with Amblin Partners, Automatik Entertainment, and Six Foot Turkey Productions. The sci-fi/romance follows a miner who has crash-landed on a hostile alien planet and must rescue the only other survivor, a woman trapped in an escape pod, as they run out of oxygen. We’re sure the movie will leave us breathless. Universal Pictures picked up Chris Borrelli’s action/thriller spec, which will be directed by Simon Crane. Although details are being kept under wraps, this marks Crane’s directorial debut after an impressive career as a stunt coordinator (credits include Salt, World War Z, and Edge of Tomorrow). Finally, Paramount Pictures and LuckyChap Entertainment are moving forward with Big Gay Jamboree, written by Jonathan Parks-Ramage and Maria Mindelle. The musical follows a raunchy woman who finds herself stuck in a 1940’s musical, sort of like Isn’t It Romantic? meets Judy Garland. Margot Robbie is set…