Spec Script Deal: “Widow: The Way Of The Raven”

Perfect Village Entertainment acquires Western spec script “Widow: The Way Of The Raven” written by Joanne Reay. Via Deadline:

Set in California in the late 1800s, the project is a Western inspired by the law of ‘widow’s succession’, which allowed for the wife of a deceased sheriff to inherit his badge. In the screenplay, a young Chinese wife takes over from her assassinated husband and is determined to see through the execution of a man who murdered a Chinese girl in a racist attack.

This is interesting. Given the continuing growth of the Chinese film market — and their willingness to invest in movie projects — a project featuring a Chinese lead makes a certain amount of sense, even in a genre (Western) which has definitely seen better days. Female lead to boot.

The deal is for a reported mid-six figures. Deal date: October 14, 2019.

Reay is repped by Larry Robinson (U.S.) and Avatar Entertainment (U.K.).

By my count, this is the 30th spec script deal of 2019.

There were 35 spec script deals year-to-date in 2018.