Script Sales

A number of novel adaptations, a handful of specs, and some low-to-mid budget projects dot the May script sales landscape. Disney will remake a live-action version of Cinderella, in addition to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Cameron Crowe dips back into directing and will helm the family-drama project We Bought a Zoo. And since it's been so long since we've seen the beginnings of the Spider-Man series, the franchise will get a re-boot (it has been almost eight years since the "original" awesome version came out. . .). Other selected sales include: --New Line's MacGyver will see a reload for the big screen. Jason Richman will pen the adaptation. --JJ Abram's Bad Robot and writer Phil Alden Robinson (Field of Dreams) will team up on a heist action/thriller revolving around the true story of thieves that robbed a jewelry facility in Belgium. --A film adaptation of the TV series Gidget.…

Every genre you can think of makes up April script sales, from horrors and legal thrillers, to teen comedy franchises (see: American Pie 4) and an animated religious drama. I Dream of Jeannie is in yet another stage of rewrites, as is Stretch Armstrong--yes, the Hasbro toy. Sascha Baron Cohen will star in and produce a new project (comedy, of course), and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, based on the short story, has found new life at 20th Century Fox. And for those of you who can't get enough of a solid "stoner Western," Johnny Knoxville will take the lead in Mustache Riders. Hilarity will undoubtedly ensure. . . . On the other end of the spectrum, Khalil Gibran's The Prophet will be adapted as an animated feature. Other selected sales include: --Think The Ring part 1 and 2 were scary? No? Well, brace yourself: Ring 3D is on…

Pretty huge month for script sales. . . . Anyone want to see another Godzilla movie? Warner Bros. will tackle (or rather re-tackle) one of the world’s most well-known franchises, perhaps to atone for the sins of the previous nineties big-budget spin. Buck Rodgers will get a modern-day telling (in 3D of course), as will Popeye, at least an animated rendition. Laverne and Shirley—perhaps not in 3D—written by Jamie Foxx, may star Jessica Biel and Jennifer Garner as two street-tough friends. And, in this writer’s opinion, finally a film version of the classic children’s book A Wrinkle in Time. Other notable sales: --30-somethings who want to relive 1999 rejoice: American Pie 4 is on the slate. --Speaking of part 4s, Scream plans on expanding beyond the trilogy with another installment. --22 years later, DeNiro will reprise his role in Midnight Run with a sequel. --Anna Faris will star in a…

Novel adaptations, a few remakes, and some frankly off-beat concepts fill the first part of March. In addition, a former Script Pimp Writers Workshop “Recommend” found success with one of his scripts, “Smashed,” a suspense/thriller. Best of all, though: “Gilligan’s Island.” The movie. Believe it. And a little astounding (and humbling for those of you want to retire at 40), 94-year-old Sherwood Schwartz will co-produce with his son. Other selected script sales include: --New Line will helm a remake of the classic 1980s comedy “Police Academy.” --A feature film version of the hit HBO series “Rome,” with (possibly) the original leads. --Deepak Chopra’s comic “Beyond” will be adapted for the big screen. --Biopic of the erratic and controversial figure Herbert Hoover. --Tim Burton will co-produce an Abraham Lincoln vampire hunter script. . . . Somehow that sounds pretty awesome.

Star vehicles push January’s script sales—both old stars and rising actors—as well franchise sequels. “G.I. Joe” was apparently worthy of a second installment, as was “Paranormal Activity” (of course) and “Four Brothers,” with the sequel “Five.” A handful of scripts, three dramas and a thriller, are also headed into development with Philip Seymour Hoffman’s production company. Other selected script sales include: --Tom Hanks and Julia Robert set to star in “Larry Crowne,” revolving around a change of careers for a middle-aged man (surely it’ll be more interesting than that). Hanks will also direct. --Comedian Demetri Martin’s script “Will” is set to star Zach Galifianakis and Paul Rudd. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay to produce. --A biopic of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Steven Spielberg will co-produce. --An as-of-yet untitled George Lucas CGI project

A relatively quiet December and early January for script sales, in comparison to previous months—as expected. Script Pimp partner Sean McKittrick and Darko entertainment will co-produce the horror/romance “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” with Lionsgate and Natalie Portman’s company. The comic adaptation bug bites again, as the franchise “Deadpool” will see a film version, and other comedies and action/thriller scripts found their way in the winter sales. Few dramas marked the landscape of genres, at least for this period ending 2009. Selected scripts include: --An as-of-yet untitled Ron Howard / Vince Vaughn romantic comedy project. --The comedy “Mail Order Groom,” which may star Tiny Fey and Steve Carell, who are producing. --A new Mel Gibson-helmed film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and centering on the Vikings. Scripted by William Monahan. --“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” a remake of the popular Swedish film of a different name.

Comedies, anyone? A slate of comedies—some traditional, some off-beat— make up the script sales for December. A handful revolve around (surprise) vampires, some concerning astronauts, and others two “classic” characters once appearing on “In Living Color” and “Martin.” Other scripts include an adaptation of the civil rights march in Selma, a Greenpeace dramatic project, a remake of “The Black Hole,” and three—yes, three—Aziz Ansari (“Parks and Recreation”) projects. Selected script sales: --Mindy Kaling (“The Office”) will be co-writing the romcom “The Low Self Esteem of Lizzie Gillespie.” --And the vampire craze wears on. Amy Heckerling will direct “Vamps,” which will center on two female vampires who find love in New York. . . no, really. But veteran Heckerling should pull it off brilliantly. --Martin Lawrence and Jamie Foxx team up as Shenaheh and Wanda, their female characters from the bygone nineties, playing two rather hideous bank robbers. --Remake of the…

Biopics and stories revolving around real-life stories and figures, as well as higher-profile comedies, are littered among dramas, horrors, and thrillers across October’s script sales. The hit Japanese manga comic “Ghost in the Shell” will see a big-screen adaptation, as will “Warcraft,” based on the popular game. The “Spider-man” sequel, “Venom,” is currently in the process of rewrites. “Vacation,” a sequel to the 1983 Chevy Chase comedy, sees a grown up Rusty Griswold take his own family on vacation—a writer is currently being sought. Selected/notable sales include: --A $150 million budgeted project centered on the Prophet Mohammed --“Men in Black 3,” with Ethan Cohen penning the script and Barry Sonnenfeld directing --An untitled George Gershwin biopic --The romantic comedy “Jack and Jill.” Adam Sandler will star as both Jack and Jill (not a typo) Lastly, TV comedy fans rejoice: “Arrested Development” is coming to theaters. And yes, everyone who’s awesome…

As always, sequels and remakes are scattered throughout September’s script sales, as well as a biopic on the post-presidential life of Teddy Roosevelt (“River of Doubt”), a mid-nineties Wall Street crime/drama, a fantasy basketball camp comedy featuring NBA star LeBron James, the comedy “Super” starring Ellen Page and Rainn Wilson, and an as-of-yet untitled Barry Manilow project focusing on his fans. Other selected/notable sales include: --Building upon the successful franchise, a new edition of “Spy Kids” in 3-D --A fresh look at the classic “A Star is Born” --Nicholas Cage will reprise his role in “Ghost Rider 2” --A remake of “The Fly,” with David Cronenberg possibly writing and directing --Live-action “Barbie” film—no writer attached as of yet --Another re-imagining of “The Three Musketeers”

Popular movie franchises will see further episodes, with “Hancock 2,” “Spider-man” (5 and 6), “Mission: Impossible,” “X-men: Origins,” and a new Jason Bourne film in the works. Beatles-related projects are also planned, including a biopic of manager Brian Epstein. Rounding out August were a number of urban/street stories, “Q School” (a golf comedy), a questionable sequel to “White Chicks,” and a remake/adaptation of “Brewster’s Millions.” Other selected/notable sales include: --Rob Zombie will continue his streak of gritty horror remakes with his rendition of “The Blob." --A adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “Great Expectations.” --The (possibly) Steven Spielberg-directed project “Pirate Latitudes,” based on the Michael Crichton novel. David Koepp pens the Spielberg-produced script. --The life of music biz icon Brian Epstein, who discovered and managed The Beatles, in “A Life in the Day.” --Walt Disney’s almost sure-to-be poignant film, “The Diary of Anne Frank.” --Bryan Singer may take the helms of the…

Well-known classic and recent video game franchises will see film adaptations, in addition to a spattering of biopics, sci-fi/adventures, and other remakes and prequels. The “Saw” series will also see another sure-to-be gruesome installment. Some selected/notable sales: --“Castlevania,” based on the mega-popular video game franchise. James Wan tapped to direct. --A prequel to “King Kong”: the adventure “Kong: King of Skull Island.” --The David Cronenberg project “Cosmopolis,” adapted from the Don DeLillo novel. Story revolves around a 28-year-old multimillionaire who is chauffeured across Manhattan for a haircut but the journey takes 24 hours due to a presidential visit, anti-globalization demonstrations, and a celebrity funeral. --Perhaps drawing inspiration from Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, a Calico Ghost Town screenplay is in the works to be based on the old Knott’s Berry Farm attraction. --Kids of the 1990s rejoice: World of Warcraft will finally get a film rendition. Sam Raimi set…

Comedies, actions, and thrillers (and alien-based scripts) dominate this past month—expected, since some of the biggest box office money-makers of the year have thus far fallen into one of those categories. Some selected/notable sales: --“I Am Number Four,” a science-fiction story based on an as-of-yet unpublished novel. With Steven Spielberg on board to possibly executive produce. Michael Bay will produce. --Tom Cruise returns for “Mission: Impossible IV.” J.J. Abrams will produce. --A remake of the 1981 classic “An American Werewolf in London.” No writer attached as of yet. John Landis producing. --“Go Mutants!”, where aliens assimilate with other high school kids. In development with Universal. --A modern adaptation of the hit film “Meatballs.” No writer attached as of yet. --The Warner Bros. project “Thieves of Baghdad,” set in the 10th century and will revolve around Ali Baba and other notable figures. --A remake of the 1980s cult classic “Short Cicuit.”…

As is the current norm, remakes of previously popular films and series comprise at least part of May’s script sales, including a screenplay based on the comic strip “Bazooka Joe.” An animated film, “Nick Ratchet,” based on an idea by Stan Lee and the latest Disney project in development, revolves around a police officer's online alter-ego, Nick Ratchet, who tries to usurp the life of his creator. “Looking for Norma Desmond,” presumably based on “Sunset Boulevard,” is also in the works, as is an adaptation of “Jekyll and Hyde” and the life of Frank Sinatra. Other selected sales include: --Remake of the 1980s classic (well, moderately classic) “Flight of the Navigator,” about a 12-year-old boy who discovers a spaceship that takes him to the future. --A comedy script based on The Blue Man Group. --“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”: a remake of the fan-favorite series. --A project from Dreamworks detailing the…

A somewhat quiet month in April, as lower-budget comedies and dramas, film adaptations from popular novels, and a handful of sci-fi thrillers and fantasy screenplays round out the script sales, joined by a few higher-profile projects from acclaimed writer/directors Robert Rodriguez and Sofia Coppola. Selected sales include: --“Born to be a Star,” co-written by Adam Sandler, about a Midwestern nerd who discovers his parents used to be porn stars. --The latest Robert Rodriguez projects: a crime/drama entitled “Machete” and a follow-up to the “Predator” series. --Another incarnation (presumably live-action) of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” --The Sofia Coppola project “Somewhere,” drama starring Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning.

A broad handful of biopics stand out in script sales through mid to late March, including films revolving around the lives of Houdini, Lou Rawls, Steve McQueen, and H.P. Lovecraft, as well as adaptations of popular novels and TV series. Selected sales include: --From the Image Comics graphics novel, “The Strange Adventures of H.P. Lovecraft” touches upon the struggles of the well-known horror fiction writer. Ron Howard will produce and is rumored to direct. --“Through the Eyes of a Son,” based on the career of musician Lou Rawls. --Arguably the world’s most popular magician, Harry Houdini will be featured in “The Secret Life of Houdini: The Making of America's First Superhero,” chronicling his experiences as a British spy and debunker of con artists. --Andy Garcia, and Anthony Hopkins thus far, set to star in “Hemingway and Fuentes,” centering on the friendship between Ernest Hemingway and Gregorio Fuentes. --The new Coen…