Amazon acquires Black List script Holland, Michigan
David Farnor | On 17, Nov 2016
Amazon has acquired 2013’s top Black List script, Holland, Michigan.
The Black List, which is announced every year at list.blcklst.com, is a chart of the best unproduced screenplays in Hollywood, as chosen by a list of over 200 film executives. After they name up to 10 favourite scripts that haven’t been produced, the site tots up the total number of mentions and ranks them accordingly.
It’s styled as a “most liked” rather than a “best of” list, but it has nonetheless proven a goldmine for many producers. Previous scripts on the Black List have ranged from Slumdog Millionaire, Argo and The King’s Speech to Juno, The Social Network and The Descendants. Amazon turning its eyes to the list, then, is a significant sign of intent from the streaming service’s studio arm.
Back in 2013, the script at the top of the list was Holland, Michigan, by Andrew Sodroski. The official description on the Black List was: “When a traditional Midwestern woman suspects her husband of infidelity, an amateur investigation unravels.” Also on the list was Patrick Ness’ A Monster Calls.
Now, Deadline reports that Amazon has bought the screenplay, with Peter Dealbert on board to produce for Pacific View Management & Production. Deadline describes the script as “a Hitchock-ian style thriller with black humour”.
Sodroski, meanwhile, who is is repped by CAA, Pacific View and attorney David Fox of Myman Greenspan, has seen his career take off, following that Black List entry. He is now producing an eight-episode limited series for Discovery in the US, about Ted Kaczynski and the FBI profiler whose work helped catch the Unabomber. He has also produced Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 478 and is currently producing WWII thriller Silent Night.
Amazon is looking to start production on the project in spring 2017.