[{"title":"\u2018Die Hard\u2019 Screenwriter Steven de Souza Lands Deal for 3 Graphic Novels","cover":"da5aeff69bc988e2f41e48e6ab62438c.jpg","byLine":"Staff","homeText":"

According to The Hollywood Reporter,<\/em> de Souza will expand the 'Sheena: Queen of the Jungle.' Steven E. de Souza, is known for his screenwriting work on Die Hard<\/em> and 48 Hrs.<\/em>, and now will perhaps become known for his work on Sheena: Queen of the Jungle<\/em> franchise with a new graphic novel deal.<\/p>\n","articlePostDate":"June 12th, 2026","bodyText":"

According to The Hollywood Reporter,<\/em> de Souza will expand the 'Sheena: Queen of the Jungle.'<\/p>\n\n

Steven E. de Souza, is known for his screenwriting work on Die Hard<\/em> and 48 Hrs.<\/em>, and now will perhaps become known for his work on Sheena: Queen of the Jungle<\/em> franchise with a new graphic novel deal.<\/p>\n\n

The Hollywood Reporter <\/em>stated: "Gungnir Books has signed a deal with de Souza for three graphic novels, The Hollywood Reporter <\/em>has learned. This includes the new Sheena<\/em> title Frostlin<\/em>e, along with the two original graphic novels Earth Patrol Tonight!<\/em> and Gulliver<\/em>. De Souza previously rebooted the Sheena<\/em> franchise with Galaxy Publishing for Dynamite Entertainment to explore the character who dates back to the 1930s."<\/p>\n\n

De Souza is no stanger to medium, his work dates back to his adapting such projects as Judge Dredd<\/em> for Sylvester Stallone’s big-screen take in 1995. Truly a talented writer with a keen sense for action\/thriller themes and nuances.<\/p>\n","shortKey":"d77d2e90"},{"title":"North Road Television Studios has picked up Mac Smullen's TV Pilot for \"Sunken Meadows.\"","cover":"07ee1fd807f5f6d5f37a0dc9f530a403.jpg","byLine":"Staff","homeText":"

According to Deadline<\/em>, North Road Television Studios has picked up writer Mac Smullen TV Pilot for "Sunken Meadows." The company co-financed with A24, North Road.  Reportedly, they secured the project in an aggressive preemptive deal rumored to be in the seven figure range.<\/p>\n","articlePostDate":"May 28th, 2026","bodyText":"

According to Deadline<\/em>, North Road Television Studios has picked up writer Mac Smullen's TV Pilot for "Sunken Meadows." The company co-financed with A24.  Reportedly, they secured the project in an aggressive preemptive deal rumored to be in the seven figure range.<\/p>\n\n

North Road’s Josh Stern, Amy Israel, and Peter Chernin will executive produce the story which has been described as an  "elevated horror series that is rooted in a dynamic family drama."<\/p>\n\n

Smullen is best known for his 2020 documentary short Children of the Moon<\/em>, about second-generation members of religious cult The Unification Church. As a screenwriter, he got his one-hour TV project MK-ULTRA<\/em> into the Sundance Institute’s Episodic Story Lab and IFP’s Film Week.  His script "Souvenir Alaska," is set up at Netflix, other than that not a lot of produced credits which makes it astonishing that Smullen was able to land such a rumored seven figure deal when he had only one other sale in his career.<\/p>\n\n

* Side note the spec market seems to be picking up some.<\/p>\n\n

 <\/p>\n","shortKey":"40585a50"},{"title":"\u201cYour Instinct Is to Use AI\u201d to Write Scripts, \u201cYou Shouldn\u2019t Be a Writer\u201d","cover":"16dab287d771fd1d6217f6a7c7648a3c.jpg","byLine":"Staff","homeText":"

Recently Seth Rogan told The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> that writers who turn to A.I. basically are not not writers.  <\/p>\n","articlePostDate":"May 27th, 2026","bodyText":"

Recently Seth Rogan told The Hollywood Reporter<\/em> that writers who turn to A.I. basically are not not writers.  <\/p>\n\n

The producer, actor, writer was quoted as saying, “I don’t understand what it’s supposed to do. Every time I see a video on Instagram that’s like, ‘Hollywood is cooked,’ what follows is, like, the most stupid dog shit I’ve ever seen in my life."   And when it came to talking about screenwriters, he was blunt: “And if your instinct is to use AI and not go through that process, you shouldn’t be a writer, because then you’re not writing.”<\/p>\n\n

Can't agree more with him, I do worry if A.I. will impact what is already an extremely difficult business for writers.<\/p>\n","shortKey":"49a5d6ae"},{"title":"David Koepp needed 42 tries to please Spielberg","cover":"9aedac74e9299d07827662fe6ffc90c3.jpg","byLine":"Staff","homeText":"

Screenwriter David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, War of the Worlds, Men in Black<\/em>, and so many others) recenty revealed to Vanity Fair<\/em> that he needed 42 tries through the development process to get Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi feature Disclosure Day<\/em> to the level Spielberg wanted<\/p>\n","articlePostDate":"May 21st, 2026","bodyText":"

Screenwriter David Koepp (Mission: Impossible, War of the Worlds, Men in Black<\/em>, and so many others) recenty revealed to Vanity Fair<\/em> that he needed 42 tries through the development process to get Steven Spielberg's upcoming sci-fi feature Disclosure Day<\/em> to the level Spielberg wanted; a person best\/most for him.<\/p>\n\n

Koepp said that Spielberg was so demanding as we wanted the story to not be like his previous movies and to have a level authenticity.  The story is set at a time when the world first learns that it is not alone. The film stars Emily Blunt (plays the meterologist Margaret Fairchild), Josh O'Connor, Colin Firth, Eve Hewson, and Colman Domingo.<\/p>\n\n

So dear writer, think about that, 42 drafts!  One of the greatest screenwriters there ever was needed that many drafts is amazing.  That has to be a record if anyone knows of a professional who has admited doing more let us know.<\/p>\n","shortKey":"71537612"},{"title":"Director Christopher McQuarrie's long-awaited CONAN sequel begins shooting next year.","cover":"f22dba34fbcdc824f68b384d8ed56957.jpg","byLine":"Christopher Wehner","homeText":"

Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning as Conan the Barbarian. Announced earlier this year, King Conan<\/em> will bring him back to reprise his role. Speaking to the long-running Schwarzenegger fan site The ArnoldFans<\/em>, “Next year, we are going to do King Conan<\/em>.”<\/p>\n","articlePostDate":"May 20th, 2026","bodyText":"

Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning as Conan the Barbarian. Announced earlier this year, King Conan<\/em> will bring him back to reprise his role. Speaking to the long-running Schwarzenegger fan site The ArnoldFans<\/em>, “Next year, we are going to do King Conan<\/em>.” It was more than a decade-long journey to find “someone who really understands [Conan<\/em> author] Robert E. Howard that understands the artwork of Frank Frazetta and to continue on.” Schwarzenegger also wants to bring back Barbarian <\/em>director John Milius as a producer.  <\/p>\n\n

If you look at IMDB there are currently five writers associated with the production, how many will get official credit remains to be seen.  Current credits include:  Will Beal, Andrea Berloff, Robert E. Howard (based on his characters but also listed as a screenwriter), Christopher McQuarrie, and Chris Morgan.<\/p>\n\n

I have little doubt this will be a good if not great movie, McQuarrie as writer\/director will not allow it to be less in my opion.  <\/p>\n","shortKey":"c0074802"}]