Reader Question: Should I write a science fiction script on spec or not?
I get this question occasionally, something like this:
I get this question occasionally, something like this:
I hear science fiction is hot, but it’s hard to sell a spec script in that genre. Should I write a science fiction script on spec or not?
This came up the other day in a discussion. The conventional wisdom is that it’s hard to sell a science fiction spec script, but my response is more nuanced than offering a flat-out No as advice.
Yes, it’s true that if you write a big spectacle science fiction spec script with elaborate world-building and a budget of $100M+, there are only 6 buyers who can finance these type of movies, so you have limited players which obviously reduces your chances of a deal. Plus, if you are a Hollywood neophyte, there is an attitude in acquisition and development circles that the only type of writers they feel comfortable with handling these kinds of big budget projects and in this specific type of genre are established sci-fi writers.
However, if you have a science fiction story like Moon, which if I recall correctly had a production budget of about $5M, that’s a different story.
A small story with a big idea, those kind of sci-fi projects I have no problem saying, “Go for it.” You can show those to any buyer, literally dozens of them. Even if you don’t sell it, your reps can use it to expose you to prod cos and financiers who, if you hit it off, may bring you in on another project. Plus, you always have this script in your personal library, an asset which may someday get produced.
I went back through the last several years of spec script deals and discovered these science fiction projects:
Title: Level Up Logline: A man wakes up bound and blindfolded in a top-secret facility deep beneath Area 51, soon discovering that he has amazing but inexplicable new abilities. His only hope to escape is the alien he’s imprisoned with… and she hates humans. But as they navigate their way out, their unconventional alliance becomes the key to saving the world from an impending global catastrophe. Writers: Matthew Altman, David Matalon Genre: Science Fiction Action Comedy Agency: Paradigm Management: Parallax Talent Management Buyer: The Hideaway Entertainment Date: 11/30/2023.
Title: Time Zone Logline: A covert squad of first responders equipped with technology that allows them to manipulate time. Writers: Bill Marsilii, Terry Rossio Genre: Science Fiction Action Thriller Agency: WME Management: Activist Artists Management Buyer: Amazon Studios Date: 8/4/2021.
Title: Relay Logline: Kept under wraps. Big science fiction tentpole project. Writer: MacMillan Hedges Genre: Science Fiction Agency: Gersh Management: Management 360. Buyer: Original Film Date: 6/29/2021. Notes: Acquired in a “competitive situation.”
Title: Parallel Logline: A man and woman who traffic in high-end crimes in parallel universes suddenly meet, a development that threatens their boss. Determined to outrun their fates, they fight across these different realities to find one where they can both survive and be together. Writer: Ben Ripley Genre: Science Fiction Agency: Gersh Management: Brillstein Entertainment Buyer: Netflix Date: 2/26/2021.
Title: Void Logline: A group of space crew members who begin to turn up dead while attempting to escape from a distant moon where their memories are erased by a magnetic burst every eight hours. Writer: Chris Borrelli Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: Verve Management: All Day Everyday Buyer: Netflix Date: 2/5/2021. Notes: This is Borrelli’s 8th spec script deal.
Title: Back Home Logline: “if Hitchcock made a modern sci-fi thriller where the audience delights in the created tension… unique mashup of sci-fi and whodunit.” Writer: Anne Vithayathil Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Management: Plain Text Buyer: Artists Film Group Date: 8/4/2020.
Title: The Blue Afternoon That Lasted Forever Logline: A single dad and NASA physicist discovers a black hole that will strike earth in a matter of days. The problem is that no one, including his colleagues at NASA, believes him. The one person that trusts him is his 10-year-old daughter, but that bond is now being threatened by a different force. Eric finds himself trying to save both his relationship with Marie and a populace unwilling to heed his warnings of the impending disaster. Writer: Daniel H. Wilson Genre: Science Fiction Management: Circle of Confusion Buyer: Paramount Pictures Date: 5/27/2020. Notes: Several bidders were chasing the spec, including Amblin, J.J. Abrams, Sony and MGM, before Paramount eventually landed it.
Title: 2084 Logline: Described as being a spiritual sister to ‘1984’ Writer: Mattson Tomlin Genre: Science Fiction Drama Management: Grandview Buyer: Paramount Pictures Date: 5/5/2020. Notes: Deal was made in a “competitive situation.”
Title: Untitled Beck & Woods Logline: N/A Writers: Scott Beck and Bryan Woods, Genre: Science Fiction Agency: ICM Partners Management: Anonymous Content Buyer: Sony Pictures. Date: 5/3/2020. Notes: Deal was made in a “competitive situation.” Beck and Woods will also direct the movie.
Title: Rubble Logline: A contained thriller with a big sci-fi twist. Writer: Patrick Pittis Genre: Science Fiction Agency: Verve Buyer: Universal Pictures Date: 4/21/2019. Notes: Purchased in a competitive situation. Pittis was working as a movie usher while he wrote the spec script.
Title: Out There Logline: A mysterious event changes the course of the world and one family struggles to survive. Writer: Ian Levy Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: Verve Management: Lit Entertainment Group Buyers: Entertainment One (eOne), The Picture Co. Date: 3/25/2019
Title: Distant Logline: After crash-landing on an alien planet, an asteroid miner must make his way across the harsh terrain, running out of oxygen, hunted by strange creatures, to the only other survivor: a woman who is trapped in her escape pod. Writer: Spenser Cohen Genre: Science Fiction Agency: Verve Management: Anonymous Content Buyer: Amblin Partners Date: 2/1/2019 Notes: Pre-emptive purchase. Mid-six figures. Fast track.
Title: Genesis Logline: A mother fights her way across the post-apocalyptic remains of the country to reach the daughter she hasn’t seen since the start of the chaos. Writer: Brian Michael Scully Genre: Science Fiction Action Thriller Management: The Muraviov Company Buyer: Bad Idea Date: 11/2/2018. Note: Kate Bosworth attached to star.
Title: Sucide 21 Logline: Assisted suicide is legal for adults over 21. A young man and woman meet at a death clinic and decide to spend their last hours together. Writer: Greg Wayne Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Management: REALM Buyer: Catapult Entertainment Group, Needle’s Eye Productions Date: 7/26/2018. Notes: Writer conceived, developed, and wrote the script in the 24 week The Quest master class with Scott Myers. Option deal.
Title: Charlie 3D Logline: About the first fully, 3D-printed man and his search for identity and love. Writer: Scott Speer Genre: Science Fiction Drama Agency: UTA Management: Artists First Buyer: Mandalay Pictures Date: 6/12/2018 Notes: Option deal.
Title: Aporia Logline: Grounded sci-fi drama with time travel elements. Writer: Jared Moshe Genre: Science Fiction Drama Agency: ICM Partners Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Buyer: Paramount Pictures Date: 6/4/2018. Notes: Pre-emptive pickup.
Title: Intruders Logline: A family has to survive an all-night alien home-invasion. Writer: James V. Simpson Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: Verve Buyer: Paramount Pictures Date: 3/27/2018. Notes: Second ‘home invasion meets aliens’ spec script to sell within 3 weeks.
Title: Michael Zero Logline: Michael Redmayne is forced to hunt down and kill his clones after they desert the war they were created to fight, in order to wage one of their own against the Corporate State that made them. Writer: Adam Alleca Genre: Science Fiction Action Agency: N/A Management: N/A Buyer: Millennium Films Date: 3/14/2018.
Title: Invasion Logline: A home invasion that happens during an alien invasion Writers: John Swetnam, Harris Wilkinson Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: Verve Management: Industry Entertainment (Swetnam) Buyer: Blumhouse Productions Date: 3/11/2018 Notes: The deal includes progress to production language.
Title: Naked is the Best Disguise Logline: Disguise, which takes place over the course of one night, is set in a near future in which new technology allows one person’s memories to be extracted and inserted into someone else. It centers on an illegal memory dealer who is accused of murdering a man who she does not believe she even knows. Writer: Graham Moore Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: CAA Buyer: Studio 8 Date: 2/28/2018 Notes: Moore to direct. Pre-emptive acquisition.
Title: Infinitum Logline: A high-concept sci-fi action love story, intersected with some theoretical physics. Writer: Marc Guggenheim Genre: Science Fiction Agency: WME Management: Syndicate Entertainment Buyer: Sony Pictures Date: 2/7/2018.
Title: Varietal Logline: The logline is being kept under wraps, but it is known to be a sci-fi-based psychological thriller centered on a married couple. Writer: Adam Bloom Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: APA Management: Kersey Management Buyer: Universal Pictures Date: 2/1/2018 Notes: First-timer.
As you can see, quite a bit of action in this space during a rather soft spec script market.
So what to do if your science fiction story is a big budget project? I’d still suggest you come up with a low-budget story concept and write that, however, if you feel super passionate about the big ticket item — like if you don’t write it, you feel like you will have missed out on giving expression to something important to you — better to write it than not. Maybe you don’t sell it now, perhaps it’s something you bring out after you’ve established yourself, but at least you will have responded to your creativity.
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