Spec Script Deal: Untitled Beck & Woods

Sony Pictures acquires an untitled science fiction project written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods. Via Variety:

In a competitive situation, Sony Pictures has landed an untitled sci-fi thriller with “A Quiet Place” scribes Scott Beck and Bryan Woods set to write, direct and produce their original script.

The duo will produce under their newly formed Beck/Woods banner along with Sam Raimi and Zainab Azizi, who will produce for Raimi Productions along with Debbie Liebling. The film marks a reunion for Beck and Woods with Raimi, as the two recently wrote and directed one episode of Raimi’s Quibi series “50 States of Fright.”

Plot details for the original story are being kept under wraps.

I contacted Bryan and Scott, and they confirmed the deal was based on a spec script they had written. I was especially gratified to read this quote from the guys in the Variety article:

“After ‘A Quiet Place’ we knew we had a responsibility to reinvest back into the ecosystem of original ideas.”

I’ve gotten to know Scott and Bryan fairly well over the last couple of years. In May 208, I conducted a Go Into The Story interview with them. I invited them to take part in that year’s DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts Courier 12 conference, so got to spend time with them as our guests here in Chicago. One of the very things we agreed upon was the need for original stories in Hollywood. We all know the studios, mini-majors, production companies, and financiers are obsessed with franchises and projects based upon preexisting content, but there are only so many sequels, prequels, shequels, reboots, and remakes audiences can take. Even if buyers look at original stories as “untested material,” there is something special about watching a story which has never been told before.

It makes me happy Bryan and Scott sold this project because they are super talented, great guys, and fellow Los Angeles Galaxy soccer fans. I’m also excited because this is an original story. I look forward to seeing what they do in partnership with Sam Raimi on this project.

Beck and Woods are repped by ICM Partners and Anonymous Content.

By my count, this is the 5th spec script deal in 2020.

There were 11 spec script deals year-to-date in 2019.