Spec Script Deal: “Phantom”

Universal Pictures acquires drama mystery romance “Phantom” written by John Fusco. Via Deadline:

Pic will be an adaptation of the 1910 Gaston Leroux novel Phantom of the Opera, set in contemporary New Orleans.

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Fusco, whose script work includes Crossroads and Hidalgo, came up with the idea after becoming reacquainted with the French Quarter music scene where he began, while shooting the Bonnie and Clyde pic The Highwaymen.

“I was in New Orleans with Costner, Woody and John Lee Hancock and found myself reconnecting with my old musical haunts, and the next generation of my music cronies,” he told Deadline. “I began playing with them again, writing music and recorded two albums and during the pandemic I reflected on that journey and wanted to bring the screenwriting together with the songwriting and that music with a full out movie musical.” That led him to the LeRoux novel, which is public domain and has been made several times and served as the basis for the smash Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

“This is set it in the sultry nightlife scene of modern day New Orleans, the world of jazz, R&B, neo-Soul, and funk,” Fusco said. “The French Quarter, where New Orleans is not only known as America’s most haunted city, but the music, French Creole culture, the voodoo mystique, masquerade pageantry of Mardi Gras, just lent itself to a natural adaptation of the Paris setting, and a story that has revenge, unrequited love and mystery.”

Public domain. Two key words for such a project, if you’re the writer deciding to take it on. No rights issues.

Fusco is repped by UTA and The Syndicate.

By my count, this is the 34th spec script deal in 2021.

There were 23 spec script deals year-to-date in 2020.