We’re thrilled to announce that on Friday, November 6th, we will be releasing the 2015 Young & Hungry List, comprised of the 100 best up-and-coming writers in the business, as voted on by industry professionals. This week, we’re taking time to highlight a few of our favorite Young & Hungry success stories from each of the past four years. We’re proud to track the careers of these writers, who have carried their early momentum into remarkable achievements.
Yesterday we took a look back at some of the 2012 Young & Hungry List writers, who have made tremendous strides in the industry over the past three years. Today, we proudly present the latest updates from some of the writers who made the 2013 Young & Hungry List. And don’t forget to check back on Friday for the release of the 2015 Young & Hungry List!
HERE ARE A FEW STAND-OUT HONOREES FROM THE 2013 YOUNG & HUNGRY LIST
Andrew Sodroski made the list with his brilliant spec Holland, Michigan, which is actively in development with Errol Morris directing and Naomi Watts and Bryan Cranston attached to star. He also has two different crime thrillers in the works with Warner Bros: Vor V Zakone and American Blood.
Bradley and Kevin Marcus hit the market with two specs in 2013, the second of which, the period werewolf film The Wolf’s Hour, sold to Universal in 2014. They were also tapped to write Once Upon a Time… for Epidemic Pictures and Davis Entertainment.
Chris Galletta made it onto the list with his heartfelt drama spec The Kings of Summer. The script was made into a critically acclaimed film by Big Beach Films with Jordan Vogt-Roberts directing and starring Nick Robinson, Alison Brie, and Nick Offerman.
Elijah Bynum also hit the market with two specs in 2013, and sold both of them: Hot Summer Nights to Flashlight Films, and Mississippi Mud to Darko Entertainment. Both scripts landed on the Hit List that year, the former of which took top honors.
Erica Oyama, along with her husband, Ken Marino, were recruited to write Fox 2000’s adaptation of the adult-oriented nursery rhyme Go the F*ck to Sleep, along with 20th Century Fox’s sports comedy Return of the Jocks. They also recently sold their road trip comedy pitch Me Time to Universal. As if she didn’t have enough to do, Erica will be writing Schooled for Amy Poehler’s Paperkite Productions. Oyama was a writer on Children’s Hospital and The Eric Andre Show, as well as writing and executive producing the Yahoo series Burning Love from Red Hour Films. It was recently announced that Oyama is adapting The Life Changing Magic Of Tidying Up into a comedy for NBC and The Jackal Group.
Hernany Perla made a name for himself in the development world prior to landing on the Young & Hungry List, after which he soon found his scripts Blink and Revelation moving into development as well. Perla continues to build his resume as a producer, on films like The Last Stand with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nightingale with David Oyelowo. Perla’s script Torture Man, which he adapted from the book by Warren Adler, is currently in development with Grey Eagle Films.
Jesse Andrews adapted his own novel into the script for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, and also penned the script Crazy U. Earl was directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, and became a breakout hit at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Crazy U was picked up by Gary Sanchez Productions with Adam McKay and Will Ferrell producing, as a starring vehicle for Ferrell.
John Scott 3 made the list when his trio of scripts Maggie, Otherland, and Loveland Monster turned heads in town. He went on to executive produce Maggie starring Abigail Breslin, Joely Richardson, and Arnold Schwarzenegger–providing the former Governor with one of the best reviewed performances of his career. Both Otherland and Loveland Monster are in development, while his script Parable X was optioned with Scott 3 set to direct.
Leah Rachel made it on the Young & Hungry List when her The Young, The Hot, and the Bothered garnered serious attention around town. That script is now in development with Anonymous Content, while her Untitled Threesome Comedy is in the works at Gary Sanchez. Recently, Rachel was hired to rewrite the film adaptation of Me Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus.
Matt Lieberman sold his hot spec 12/24 to 1492 Pictures immediately before he was recognized by the Young & Hungry List. He was the first writer on the latest Scooby-Doo reboot, his script for the big
screen version of The Jetstons was optioned, and next he’ll pen Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, the feature adaptation of the classic children’s book, The Wind in the Willows.
Nathaniel Halpern landed on the list with the script Rose, which is in development with Robert Zemeckis producing. Halpern has been a staff writer on the hit TV series Resurrection, Manhattan, and The Killing.
Olivia Milch was tapped by Fox to pen the Ellen Page-starring Queen and Country, produced by Chernin. She was previously set up to adapt Little Women for Sony last year and she was recently reported that she had turned in a draft to producers of an all-female Ocean’s Eleven installment with Sandra Bullock set to star. Also newly announced, her 2013 comedy spec, Dude, will begin shooting later this month with Milch directing and starring Lucy Hale.
Phillip Gellatt arrived on the Young & Hungry List with Dead Space and Europa Report getting him some well-deserved attention. The latter was made in 2013 starring Daniel Wu, Sharlto Copley, and Dan Fogler, and was produced by Wayfare Entertainment. The former is being produced by Original Films. His script Man at War is in development, while the thriller 30 is in pre-production with Gellatt set to take on directing duties as well.
Nic Pizzolatto created one of the most talked about new series of the last few years, HBO’s True Detective, which just finished its second season. Pizzolatto was also tapped by Universal to pen an update of the classic television series The Rockford Files, and will adapt his own novel Galveston for the big screen. He was also brought on board to write a draft of The Magnificent Seven remake, which has Training Day’s Antoine Fuqua set to direct.
Terrance Mulloy burst onto the scene with his take-no-prisoners spec Priority Run, which was set up at Arclight Films and has Northmen director Claudio Faeh set to helm in 2016. He signed with Madhouse Entertainment and shortly after was tapped to pen the English remake of the infamous French zombie film, The Horde, for Infinite Studios Singapore and Pictures in Paradise. He also took on sequel duties for Arclight Films, with Deep Water, the follow-up to the 2012 killer shark thriller, Bait 3D, which was a break-out hit in China. He is currently set to adapt Matthew Reilly’s sci-fi novel, Contest, for Animal Logic, with Wolf Creek helmer Greg McLean attached to direct.
These are just a few of the remarkable success stories from the 2013 Young & Hungry List writers. We’re consistently amazed by the stunning showcase of talent that makes up our list year after year. Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at the 2014 Young & Hungry List writers–where they’ve been and where they are now. And be sure to check back this Friday when we present the 2015 Young & Hungry List!
Missed the 2011 or 2012 recap? Check the links below to read up on some of the highlights from previous years.
YOUNG & HUNGRY NO MORE – A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE 2011 YOUNG & HUNGRY ALUMS
YOUNG & HUNGRY NO MORE – A LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE 2012 YOUNG & HUNGRY ALUMS
