2022 Spec Script Deal List

Every year since I launched the blog in 2008, I do a week-long analysis of the recent year in terms of spec script deals. This week, we look back at 2022.

First, my usual caveat: Tracking spec script deals is not an exact science. To make the blog’s list, there almost always has to be some sort of article in the press verifying a deal, but even then that can get dicey because the term “spec script” is itself rather amorphous in meaning.

In the broadest terms, it applies to any deal made for a script written “speculatively,” that is for no fees, just the writer’s own sweat equity with the hope of making a sale. Seems simple enough, but there is a lot of gray area:

• Some deals get announced that are in effect handshake, no money arrangements.
• Some deals are by professional writers with a preexisting relationship with a production group or studio, so that a tacit agreement was in place for the project from the get-go, even if nothing official until the script comes in.
• Some deals are scripts that have been circulating for many months, even years in the process of being packaged, then finally get announced when the project receives a green light.
• Some deals are option arrangements for as little as $5–10K, not what we typically associate with spec script sales (i.e., six figures).

There is no way to determine by any objective standard the precise number of spec script deals in any given year. However, since I have been using the same sources of information and standards in tracking deals, it is possible to track trends as well as have at least some idea of what projects got set up in a twelve-month period.

Each day this week, I will provide analysis of the 2022 spec script deals:

Tuesday: Genres

Wednesday: Studios, Production Companies, and Financiers

Thursday: Agents and Managers

Friday: Top Sales

Saturday: First Timers

Here is the entire list of 16 spec script deals from 2022 including links to my blog posts covering each acquisition:

1.Title: Homecoming Logline: Ten years after graduation, one of New York’s most eligible bachelors and his eccentric wanderlust wingman try to pull their recently divorced friend out of his rut by taking him back to Howard University’s legendary Homecoming for the best weekend of their lives. Writers: Brandon Broussard, Hudson Obayuwana, Jana Savage (aka Murder Ink) Genre: Comedy Drama Agency: APA Buyer: Lionsgate Date: 1/7/2022. Notes: The script appeared on the 2021 Black List.

2. Title: No Flying in the House Logline: Bright-eyed 6-year-old Annabel Tippens and her guardian, a 3-inch-tall talking dog appear on Mrs. Vancourt’s veranda and change each of their lives. Annabel brings with her a mystery and soon discovers a magical secret — she is half-fairy, who will be forced to choose between being fully human or fully fairy. Unbeknownst to her, this monumental choice carries with it the fate of two worlds. Writer: Frederick Seton Genre: Family Fantasy Agency: Verve Management: Lit Entertainment Group Buyer: Sony Pictures Entertainment Date: 1/13/2022. Notes: Script is an adaptation of a 1970 young reader book. It will be made into a live-action/hybrid movie.

3. Title: Cut and Run Logline: A heist thriller about a group of thieves using high-powered speedboats to rob superyachts, who steal the wrong thing from the wrong group of people. Writer: John Glenn Genre: Action Thriller Agency: CAA Management: Management 360 Buyer: New Republic Pictures Date: 1/25/2022. Notes: Part of a bidding war.

4. Title: Blood Count Logline: A film noir social thriller set in 1950s L.A. with supernatural elements. Writer: Peter Ramsey Genre: Supernatural Thriller Agency: Verve Buyer: Paramount Pictures Date: 2/4/2022. Notes: Story loosely inspired by the life of Ramsey’s father, a jazz musician.

5. Title: The Girl with a Thousand Names Logline: A fantastically real story of a child from another world, trapped in our broken reality… without documents, in a detention center for unaccompanied minors and children separated from their families at the U.S. border. Writer: Issa Lopez Genre: Drama Management: M88 / Rand Holston Management Buyer: New Line Date: 2/11/2022. Notes: Lopez will direct and produce the movie for HBO Max.

6. Title: Galahad Logline: A badass ex-American special forces soldier goes on a berserker, come-hell-or-high-water mission to avenge the death of an innocent woman. Writer: Nick Schenk Genre: Action Management: Management 360 Production Company: Stampede Ventures Date: 2/17/2022.

7. Title: Day Drinker Logline: Based around the bond between an enigmatic stranger and a bartender mourning the loss of her lover. Writer: Zach Dean Genre: Supernatural Thriller Agency: CAA Management: Lit Entertainment Group Buyer: 30West Date: 3/16/2022.

8. Title: Project Artemis Logline: Said to involve the “space race.” Writer: Rose Gilroy Genre: Drama Agency: UTA Management: Mosaic Buyer: Apple TV+ Date: 4/1/2022. Notes: Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans to star, Jason Bateman to direct. A reported $100M+ deal.

9. Title: Ending Things Logline: A hit-woman wants out of the assassin business along with her personal relationship with her “business” partner, but she then realizes she doesn’t want to break up, and they must join forces for one last night out. Writer: Kevin Sullivan Genre: Action Thriller Agency: Verve Management: Lit Entertainment Group Buyer: Amazon Studios Date: 4/7/2022. Notes: Anthony Mackie and Priyanka Chopra are attached to star.

10. Title: Batshit Logline: A new “bounty app” encourages reckless behavior, with the script being inspired by dangerous antics propagated and encouraged by social media across the globe. Writers: Ryan Belenzon, Jeff Gelber Genre: Action Thriller Agency: Verve Management: Range Media Partners Buyer: Universal Pictures Date: 4/8/2022.

11. Title: Streets of Rage Logline: Former police officers battle a crime syndicate. Writer: Derek Kolstadt Genre: Action Agency: APA Management: Circle of Confusion Buyer: DJ2 Entertainment Date: 4/18/2022. Notes: Kolstad wrote the script on spec adapting story from a 1991 Sega video game.

12. Title: Below Logline: Fresh out of a spell in prison a man attempts to set his life right by working a mysterious job that requires him to seek out life forms hidden amongst us. Writers: Gregory Weidman, Geoff Tock Genre: Thriller Agency: CAA Management: Grandview Buyer: Netflix Date: 4/25/2022. Notes: Multiple bidders. Low-seven figure deal.

13. Title: Shots! Shots! Shots! Logline: N/A Writers: Matt Mider, Kevin Burrows Genre: Action Comedy Agency: WME Management: Silver Lake Entertainment Buyer: Universal Pictures Date: 5/21/2022. Notes: Jason Momoa is attached to star.

14. Title: Enigma Logline: A British spy is suddenly tasked with hiding a mysterious and dangerous artifact that falls into her hands so the world never finds it again. Writer: Kat Wood Genre: Supernatural Spy Thriller Agency: Verve Production Company: Thunder Road Date: 8/19/2022. Notes: Reported to be an option deal.

15. Title: Fight Fast Logline: A high-concept take on underground fighting that has franchise potential. Writer: Chris Sparling Genre: Drama Action Agency: UTA Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Production Company: Legendary Pictures Date: 10/6/2022. Notes: Preemptive purchase.

16. Title: Honey Trapped Logline: A cabal of secret assassins who descend upon Las Vegas for 24 hours to force a rogue agent into fighting their way up every floor of a busy hotel. Writer: April Wolfe Genre: Action Agency: UTA Management: XYZ Films Buyer: StudioCanal / The Picture Company Date: 11/10/2022. Notes: Preemptive purchase.

If I got any information wrong or missed a deal, please email me.

Spec Script Deals By Year (1991–2021)

1991: 28
1992: 40
1993: 89
1994: 101
1995: 173
1996: 155
1997: 141
1998: 110
1999: 83
2000: 92
2001: 101
2002: 114
2003: 90
2004: 75
2005: 58
2006: 60
2007: 64
2008: 87
2009: 67
2010: 55
2011: 110
2012: 99
2013: 100
2014: 62
2015: 55
2016: 75
2017: 62
2018: 41
2019: 32
2020: 26
2021: 34

While you’re here, why not click on RESPONSE to give your general impression of the year in spec script deals, maybe noting which loglines interest you the most.

Previous annual analyses:

2008 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2009 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2010 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2011 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2012 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2013 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2014 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2015 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2016 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2017 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2018 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2019 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2020 Spec Script Deals Analysis
2021 Spec Script Deals Analysis

Tomorrow: A breakdown and analysis of spec script deals in 2022 by genre.