Spec Script Deal: “The Black Belt”

Monarch Media is producing comedy spec script “The Black Belt” written by Randall Green. Via The Wrap:

The coming-of-age film will star [Chris] Pratt as an eccentric uncle who trains his shy teenage nephew in the ways of karate.

You know how I talk about Hollywood’s operating business ethos when it comes developing content: Similar But Different? Put on your studio executive hat for a minute. You know The Karate Kid is a popular movie franchise spawning sequels and a remake. You know Cobra Kai is a hugely popular TV series. You know that Miyagi is a beloved Mentor figure.

Here comes this project The Black Belt with a comedy spin on similar material.

Precedent and analogy. This mindset runs deep with Hollywood decision- makers.

Congrats to Randall Green! He is repped by UTA and Brillstein Entertainment Partners.

By my count, this is the 24th spec script deal in 2020.

There were 31 spec script deals year-to-date in 2021.

Check out over 2,000 spec script deals since 1991: The Definitive Spec Script Deals List [1991–2019].