Screenwriter’s Weekly News Wrap-up for Monday, February 24, 2025

I skim the trades, so you don’t have to.

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◊BAFTA FILM AWARDS

Screenplay Nominees and Winners

Original Screenplay

A Real Pain, Written by Jesse Eisenberg; Searchlight Pictures

Anora, Written by Sean Baker; Neon (WINNER)

Challengers, Written by Justin Kuritzkes; Amazon MGM Studios

Civil War, Written by Alex Garland; A24

My Old Ass, Written by Megan Park; Amazon MGM Studios

Adapted Screenplay

A Complete Unknown, Screenplay by James Mangold and Jay Cocks, based on the book Dylan Goes Electric! by Elijah Wald; Searchlight Pictures

Dune: Part Two, Screenplay by Denis Villeneuve and Jon Spaihts, based on the novel Dune by Frank Herbert; Warner Bros. Pictures

Hit Man, Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Glen Powell, based on the Texas Monthly article by Skip Hollandsworth; Netflix

Nickel Boys, Screenplay by RaMell Ross & Joslyn Barnes, based on the book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead; Orion Pictures/Amazon MGM Studios (WINNER)

Wicked, Screenplay by Winnie Holzman and Winnie Holzman & Dana Fox, Based on the musical stage play with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Winnie Holzman, from the novel by Gregory Maguire; Universal Pictures

Television and Streaming

Drama Series

The Boys, Written by Geoff Aull, Jessica Chou, Paul Grellong, Eric Kripke, Ellie Monahan, Judalina Neira, David Reed, Anslem Richardson; Prime Video

The Diplomat, Written by Peter Ackerman, Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Anna Hagen, Julianna Dudley Meagher, Peter Noah; Netflix

Fallout, Written by Jake Bender, Karey Dornetto, Zach Dunn, Kieran Fitzgerald, Chaz Hawkins, Lisa Joy, Carson Mell, Jonathan Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Gursimran Sandhu, Graham Wagner; Prime Video

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Written by Carla Ching, Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Schuyler Pappas, Francesca Sloane, Yvonne Hana Yi; Prime Video

Shogun, Written by Shannon Goss, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert, Justin Marks, Caillin Puente, Nigel Williams, Emily Yoshida; FX/Hulu (WINNER)

Comedy Series

Abbott Elementary, Written by Quinta Brunson, Ava Coleman, Riley Dufurrena, Justin Halpern, Joya McCrory, Chad Morton, Morgan Murphy, Brittani Nichols, Rebekka Pesqueira, Kate Peterman, Brian Rubenstein, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Tan, Jordan Temple, Garrett Werner; ABC

The Bear, Written by Karen Joseph Adcock, Joanna Calo, Rene Gube, Will Guidara, Matty Matheson, Alex Russell, Catherine Schetina, Christopher Storer, Courtney Storer; FX/Hulu

Curb Your Enthusiasm, Written by Larry David, Jon Hayman, Justin Hurwitz, Carol Leifer, Stephen Leff, Jeff Schaffer, Nathaniel Stein; HBO | Max

Hacks, Written by Genevieve Aniello, Lucia Aniello, Guy Branum, Jessica Chaffin, Paul W. Downs, Jess Dweck, Ariel Karlin, Andrew Law, Carol Leifer, Carolyn Lipka, Joe Mande, Aisha Muharrar, Pat Regan, Samantha Riley, Jen Statsky; HBO | Max (WINNER)

What We Do in the Shadows, Written by Jake Bender, Max Brockman, Zach Dunn, Shana Gohd, Amelia Haller, Sam Johnson, Jeremy Levick, Chris Marcil, William Meny, Sarah Naftalis, Marika Sawyer, Paul Simms, Rajat Suresh, Lauren Wells; FX/Hulu

New Series

English Teacher, Written by Brian Jordan Alvarez, Wally Baram, Jake Bender, Emmy Blotnick, Zach Dunn, Dave King, Stephanie Koenig, Jonathan Krisel, Paul Simms, Samantha Shier; FX/Hulu

Fallout, Written by Jake Bender, Karey Dornetto, Zach Dunn, Kieran Fitzgerald, Chaz Hawkins, Lisa Joy, Carson Mell, Jonathan Nolan, Geneva Robertson-Dworet, Gursimran Sandhu, Graham Wagner; Prime Video

Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Written by Carla Ching, Adamma Ebo, Adanne Ebo, Donald Glover, Stephen Glover, Schuyler Pappas, Francesca Sloane, Yvonne Hana Yi; Prime Video

Nobody Wants This, Written by Barbie Adler, Jane Becker, Jack Burditt, Vali Chandrasekaran, Craig DiGregorio, Erin Foster, Lindsay Golder, Steven Levitan, Pat Regan, Niki Schwartz-Wright, Neel Shah, Noelle Valdivia, Ron Weiner, Ryann Werner; Netflix

Shogun, Written by Shannon Goss, Maegan Houang, Rachel Kondo, Matt Lambert, Justin Marks, Caillin Puente, Nigel Williams, Emily Yoshida; FX/Hulu (WINNER)

Limited Series

The Penguin, Written by Vladimir Cvetko, Breannah Gibson, Erika L. Johnson, Lauren LeFranc, Corina Maritescu, Megan Martin, John McCutcheon, Shaye Ogbonna, Nick Towne, Noelle Valdivia, Kira Snyder; HBO | Max (WINNER)

Presumed Innocent, Written by Miki Johnson, David E. Kelley, Sharr White; Apple TV+

Ripley, Written by Steven Zaillian; Netflix

Say Nothing, Written by Clare Barron, Joe Murtagh, Kirsten Sheridan, Joshua Zetumer; FX/Hulu

True Detective: Night Country, Written by Katrina Albright, Alan Page Arriaga, Namsi Khan, Issa López, Chris Mundy, Wenonah Wilms; HBO | Max

TV & Streaming Motion Pictures

The Great Lillian Hall, Written by Elisabeth Seldes Annacone; HBO | Max (WINNER)

Prom Dates, Written by D.J. Mausner; Hulu

Rebel Ridge, Written by Jeremy Saulnier; Netflix

Terry McMillan Presents Forever, Written by Bart Baker; Lifetime

Animation

“Bottle Episode” (The Simpsons), Written by Rob LaZebnik & Johnny LaZebnik; Fox

“Cremains of the Day” (The Simpsons), Written by John Frink; Fox

“Night of the Living Wage” (The Simpsons), Written by Cesar Mazariegos; Fox

“Saving Favorite Drive-In” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Katie Crown; Fox (WINNER)

“The Tina Table: The Tables Have Tina-ed” (Bob’s Burgers), Written by Greg Thompson; Fox

“Winter Is Born” (Blood of Zeus), Written by Charles Parlapanides & Vlas Parlapanides; Netflix

Episodic Drama

“Anjin” (Shogun), Written for Television by Rachel Kondo & Justin Marks; FX/Hulu (WINNER)

“The Beginning” (Fallout), Written by Gursimran Sandhu; Prime Video

“Fear of the End” (Evil), Written by Rockne S. O’Bannon & Nialla LeBouef; Paramount+

“First Date” (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Written by Francesca Sloane & Donald Glover; Prime Video

“Olivia” (Sugar), Written by Mark Protosevich; Apple TV+

“Pilot” (Elsbeth), Written by Robert King & Michelle King; CBS

Episodic Comedy

“AGG” (Somebody Somewhere), Written by Hannah Bos & Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett; HBO | Max

“Bulletproof” (Hacks), Written by Lucia Aniello & Paul W. Downs & Jen Statsky; HBO | Max (WINNER)

“Linda” (English Teacher), Written by Jake Bender & Zach Dunn; FX/Hulu

“Napkins” (The Bear), Written by Catherine Schetina; FX/Hulu

“Once Upon a Time in the West” (Only Murders in the Building), Written by John Hoffman & Joshua Allen Griffith; Hulu

“Petiole” (The Sticky), Written by Brian Donovan & Ed Herro; Prime Video

Daytime Drama

Days of Our Lives, Head Writer Ron Carlivati Writers Sonja Alarr, Kirk Doering, Christopher Dunn, Jamey Giddens, David Kreizman, Henry Newman, Ryan Quan, Dave Ryan, Katherine D. Schock; Peacock

General Hospital, Head Writers Elizabeth Korte, Chris Van Etten Writers Nigel Campbell, Ashley Cook, Emily Culliton, Suzanne Flynn, Charlotte Gibson, Lucky Gold, Kate Hall, Catherine LePard, Patrick Mulcahey, Dan O’Connor, Shannon Peace, Stacey Pulwer, Anne Schoettle, Scott Sickles, Micah Steinberg; ABC

The Young and the Restless, Head Writer Amanda L. Beall Writers Susan Banks, Jeff Beldner, Marin Gazzaniga, Lindsay Harrison, Marla Kanelos, Rebecca McCarty, Madeleine Phillips, Dave Ryan; CBS/Paramount+ (WINNER)

Children’s Episodic, Long Form and Specials

“A God Buys Us Cheeseburgers” (Percy Jackson and the Olympians), Written by Rick Riordan & Jonathan E. Steinberg; Disney+

“I’m Pogey” (Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock), Written by Charley Feldman; Apple TV+

Out of My Mind, Written by Daniel Stiepleman; Disney+

“The Sign Language ABCs” (Sesame Street), Written by Jessica Carleton; HBO | Max

“Welcome to Spiderwick” (The Spiderwick Chronicles), Written by Aron Eli Coleite; Roku Channel (WINNER)

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◊"Goonies Never Say Die": The Goonies Sequel Moves Forward With a New Screenwriter

Warner Bros. has officially greenlit a sequel to The Goonies, nearly 40 years after the original, with Potsy Ponciroli (Old Henry) set to write the screenplay. The project will be produced by Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus, who wrote the 1985 script based on Spielberg's story, alongside Kristie Macosko Krieger and Holly Bario for Amblin Entertainment. Lauren Shuler Donner will serve as executive producer. No director has been attached yet.

A follow-up to The Goonies is officially in development, with Potsy Ponciroli assigned to write the script. While plot and casting details remain under wraps, the original film's legacy remains strong, having become a cultural touchstone since its 1985 release. The original starred Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, Corey Feldman, Ke Huy Quan, and Martha Plimpton. Quan has expressed interest in reprising his role if the opportunity arises, although he previously cast doubt on a sequel after the 2021 passing of director Richard Donner. After years of speculation and denials, this announcement marks a significant step forward for The Goonies 2.

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◊Kate Winslet to Direct Goodbye June, Written by Her Son Joe Anders

Joe Anders, the son of Kate Winslet and Sam Mendes, has written the screenplay for Goodbye June, a Netflix family drama that marks Winslet's directorial debut. The story follows a fractured group of siblings navigating sudden and challenging circumstances. Winslet will also star in and produce the film alongside Kate Solomon, who previously produced Lee. The cast includes Toni Collette, Johnny Flynn, Andrea Riseborough, Timothy Spall, and Helen Mirren.

Winslet, who has long resisted directing, now feels a responsibility to contribute to Hollywood's evolving culture. She recently received a Golden Globe nomination for Lee and starred in The Regime for HBO. Production on Goodbye June will begin soon in the U.K.

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◊Zach Baylin Pens UFO Conspiracy Thriller for Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer

Zach Baylin, the Oscar-nominated screenwriter of King Richard and writer of Creed III and The Order, has written a UFO conspiracy thriller that is currently at the center of a major bidding war. The film, described as All the President's Men with UFOs, reunites director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the team behind Top Gun: Maverick. Major studios, including Amazon, Apple, Lionsgate, Paramount, and Warner Bros., are aggressively pursuing the project, though no cast is currently attached. Former U.S. Air Force officer and UFO whistleblower David Grusch is consulting on the film, adding to its intrigue. Kosinski's next film, F1, starring Brad Pitt, is set for release this summer.

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◊Mindy Kaling's New Comedy' Not Suitable for Work’ Gets Hulu Series Order

Mindy Kaling has secured a series order at Hulu for " Not Suitable for Work, " a comedy about five young professionals navigating their careers and personal lives in Manhattan's upscale Murray Hill neighborhood. Originally developed under the title " Murray Hill " with a script-to-series commitment in April 2024, the show is written and executive produced by Kaling and longtime collaborator Charlie Grandy (The Mindy Project, The Sex Lives of College Girls), who will serve as showrunner. Warner Bros. Television, where Kaling has an overall deal, is producing the series. This comes as Kaling's " Running Point " prepares to debut on Netflix, while The Sex Lives of College Girls awaits renewal news for a fourth season.

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◊CBS Expands the' Blue Bloods' Universe with Spinoff 'Boston Blue'

Screenwriters Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis (The Blacklist, Alert: Missing Persons Unit) will serve as showrunners for Boston Blue, the newly announced Blue Bloods spinoff at CBS. The series, set to premiere in the 2025-26 season, follows Donnie Wahlberg's Danny Reagan as he transfers to Boston and partners with a detective from a prominent law enforcement family. Executive producers include Jerry Bruckheimer, Kristie Anne Reed, and Wahlberg. The spinoff comes two months after Blue Bloods wrapped its 14-season run.

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◊New' Lonesome Dove' Adaptation in Development at Teton Ridge

Screenwriter Diana Ossana, who co-wrote the original Lonesome Dove adaptation and won an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain, will be involved in the newly announced adaptation of Larry McMurtry's Lonesome Dove series. Teton Ridge has acquired the film and television rights to the Pulitzer Prize-winning books, which follow retired Texas Rangers on a cattle drive from Texas to Montana. Ossana will produce alongside McMurtry's grandson, Curtis McMurtry, Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, and Jillian Share. It's not yet confirmed whether the new project will be a film or a television series.

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◊A24 to Adapt Oprah's Book Club Pick' Dream State' for TV

Screenwriters Flora Birnbaum (Russian Doll, Impeachment: American Crime Story) and Sam Sackeroff will adapt Dream State, Eric Puchner's latest novel, into a television series for A24. The book, a PEN/Faulkner Award finalist, follows characters over 50 years in a rapidly warming Montana and explores themes of friendship, marriage, and impermanence. Gloria Sanchez Productions (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar) is producing, with Will Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, and Alix Taylor executive producing alongside Puchner. Birnbaum will serve as showrunner. The project does not yet have a network or streamer attached.

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◊Daniel Craig Exits DC's' Sgt. Rock'; Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes Remains Attached

Justin Kuritzkes (Challengers, Queer) wrote the screenplay for DC Studios' Sgt. Rock, a WWII action film that has now lost its lead, Daniel Craig. The project, set to be directed by Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name, Bones and All), would have reunited the duo after their work on Queer. Craig's exit reportedly stems from scheduling conflicts and the underwhelming performance of Queer during awards season. DC is still planning to shoot this summer in the UK and is seeking a replacement, with The Bear star Jeremy Allen White among the rumored contenders.

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◊Universal Adaptation of Tanya Smith's Heist Memoir Featuring Janelle Monáe

Universal Pictures has acquired the rights to Never Saw Me Coming, Tanya Smith’s memoir about a $40 million financial heist, with Janelle Monáe (Glass Onion, Hidden Figures) set to star and produce. The screenplay has yet to be assigned to a writer. Smith's book details her intricate banking scheme, her eventual arrest, and her advocacy for prison reform and racial justice after serving time. The project will be produced through Monáe's Wondaland Pictures, with Smith serving as an executive producer. Universal's latest literary adaptation joins a slate that includes The Woman in Me and Rules of Engagement.

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◊Dylan Meyer writes and directs' The Wrong Girls' with Kristen Stewart and Alia Shawkat

Screenwriter and director Dylan Meyer (Rock Bottom) is making her feature directorial debut with The Wrong Girls, a comedy she also penned. The film follows best friends Frankie (Kristen Stewart) and Molly (Alia Shawkat), who struggle to make ends meet when a case of mistaken identity sends their lives into turmoil. Meyer, who has previously collaborated with Stewart, is producing the project alongside her under Nevermind Pictures. The film is supported by Neon, with additional production assistance from Point Grey (Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg) and Savage Rose Productions. The Wrong Girls is currently filming in Los Angeles and features a supporting cast that includes Seth Rogen, Kumail Nanjiani, LaKeith Stanfield, Zack Fox, and Tony Hale.

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◊Legendary's' Street Fighter' Movie Moves Forward- Screenwriter Yet to Be Named

Legendary Entertainment and Capcom are co-developing a new Street Fighter film adaptation, but no screenwriter has been officially announced yet. The project will be directed by Kitao Sakurai, who is best known for co-writing and directing Bad Trip as well as working on The Eric Andre Show. Capcom, the developer of the long-running video game franchise, is actively involved in the film's production to ensure the authenticity of the source material. Previous attempts to bring Street Fighter to the big screen include the cult classic 1994 film starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. The new adaptation is slated for a March 20, 2026 release through Sony, with further details on the script and casting yet to be revealed.

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◊Winnie Holzman and Claire Danes Reunite for HBO’s “˜The Applebaum Curse”

Winnie Holzman, creator of My So-Called Life, is set to write and showrun The Applebaum Curse, a new HBO drama starring Claire Danes. The project, currently in early development, explores a dysfunctional family dynamic. Holzman, recently nominated for a Writers Guild Award for co-writing Wicked with Dana Fox, is also known for her work on Thirtysomething and Once and Again. Danes, who first gained fame in My So-Called Life, has since won Emmys for Homeland and appeared in Fleishman Is in Trouble and Full Circle. Both Holzman and Danes will executive produce.

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◊Darren Star to Adapt' Climbing in Heels' for Peacock

Darren Star (Sex and the City, Emily in Paris) is set to adapt Climbing in Heels, a novel by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, into a drama series for Peacock. Star and Goldsmith-Thomas will co-write and executive produce the show, which follows five secretaries navigating 1980s Hollywood and its male-dominated power structure. Goldsmith-Thomas, known for producing Hustlers, Maid in Manhattan, and Marry Me, is also a former senior VP at William Morris and ICM. The novel is set for release on April 29, 2025, through St. Martin’s Press. Darren Star Productions and EGTV Productions will produce the series.

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◊Nick Bilton pens Scorsese's Hawaii-set crime epic starring DiCaprio and Johnson

Martin Scorsese is set to direct a fact-based crime drama about mob boss vying for