Screenwriter’s Weekly News Wrap-up for Monday, February 10, 2025
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◊Laura Kittrell to Write Legally Blonde Prequel Series Elle for Prime Video
Elle, the upcoming Legally Blonde prequel series for Prime Video, is written and created by Laura Kittrell, best known for her work on Insecure. The series will explore Elle Woods’ life in high school, focusing on who she was before her journey to Harvard Law School. Kittrell brings her experience in character-driven storytelling and sharp humor from Insecure to this new project, which aims to reveal the origins of Elle’s iconic personality. Principal photography is set to begin in March 2025, with Reese Witherspoon closely involved in casting. Kittrell’s fresh take is part of the continued expansion of the Legally Blonde universe, which also includes Legally Blonde 3, written by Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor.
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◊Nicholas Stoller Pens and Directs Untitled Comedy Starring Will Ferrell and Zac Efron
Nicholas Stoller, known for his work on Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Neighbors, will write and direct an untitled comedy for Amazon MGM, with Will Ferrell and Zac Efron in the lead roles. Stoller, who recently directed You’re Cordially Invited for Amazon, is producing through his Stoller Global Solutions banner. The comedy follows a young convict (played by Efron) who takes a reality TV courtroom hostage, blaming the show’s judge (Ferrell) for a past ruling that ruined his life.
Stoller’s comedic expertise is well established, with a track record of blending heartfelt moments with outrageous humor. His previous work on Amazon, combined with Ferrell’s and Efron’s comedic talents, makes this project highly anticipated. Ferrell is producing under his Gloria Sanchez Productions alongside Jessica Elbaum and Alex Brown.
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◊Title: Netflix Unveils 2025 Korean Slate: Squid Games Season 3 and a Diverse Mix of Dramas, Thrillers, and Romantic Comedies
Netflix Korea has announced an ambitious 2025 slate, featuring 21 scripted series, eight unscripted shows, and eight original films, reflecting the growing global demand for Korean content. The centerpiece of the lineup is the highly anticipated third The final season of Squid Game is set to premiere on June 27, 2025, written and directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk. Other notable releases include the period drama Dear Hongrang (written by Kim Jin-a), the medical thriller The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (written by Choi Tae-gang), and the action-packed Trigger (written by Kwon Oh-seung). Netflix’s film offerings feature Mantis, a spinoff of Kill Boksoon, co-written by Byun Sung-hyun, and The Great Flood, a sci-fi disaster blockbuster directed by Kim Byung-woo. Reality shows like Culinary Class Wars and Single's Inferno also return, alongside new unscripted series such as Crime Scene Zero. This diverse lineup promises various genres, from romantic comedies to high-tension crime thrillers, reinforcing Netflix Korea’s status as a leader in K-content.
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◊How Many Humans Do You Need to Make An AI Movie Script Copyrightable?
In the 2023 writers' strike, the Writers Guild of America rejected the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers' (AMPTP) offer to allow AI-generated material to be included in screenplays while maintaining writers' compensation. According to current U.S. Copyright Office guidelines, works using AI can only be copyrighted if a human contributor adds sufficient creativity. A recent report reaffirms that AI-generated elements can be protected if a human "selects and arranges" them creatively, but the lack of clarity regarding what qualifies as adequate creativity leaves studios in a difficult position. Examples like The Brutalist (where AI was used to tweak dialogue and inspire architectural designs) highlight the blurred lines in this debate. Showrunner Mark Goffman (The West Wing, Bull) confirmed that some studios now require writers to certify their scripts as AI-free. As the industry grapples with AI's growing influence, questions remain about how copyright laws will evolve to address these innovations.
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◊’Magic: The Gathering’ Universe in Development: Terry Matalas to Lead TV Adaptation
Hasbro and Legendary Entertainment are launching a film and TV universe,
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