  OSCAR-WINNING ACTRESS BRIE LARSON |  |
In one of the biggest deals at this year’s European Film Market, Sony Pictures is close to a roughly $25 million worldwide acquisition of Skeletons (film title), starring Oscar winner Brie Larson. The studio beat out multiple bidders seeking domestic rights, according to Deadline.
J. J. Abrams is producing, with FilmNation Entertainment, William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency handling sales ahead of a planned summer shoot. JT Mollner will direct the creature feature about a boy who discovers his parents are hiding a dark secret about his mother.
The script by Brian Duffield, adapted from a short story by Philip Fracassi titled Fail-Safe (book collection titled "Behold The Void") and has emerged as one of the market’s hottest pre-sale titles. The film is produced by FilmNation’s Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Assemble Media.
Here's an exclusive, Novelpro Junkie statement from author Philip Fracassi about the announcement:
“I couldn’t be more excited to have this incredible wealth of talent creating a vision for my story. It’s a dream team for any project, so I feel very fortunate in that respect.”
Here’s an exclusive mini-interview from Novelpro Junkie with Mr. Fracassi following the announcement:
1. With J.T. Mollner directing and J.J. Abrams producing, how does it feel to see filmmakers of that caliber shaping something that began as your short fiction?
It’s surreal, to be honest. I’ve been a huge fan of J.J. and Bad Robot for years, and absolutely loved the huge creative swings J.T. took on Strange Darling, not to mention his incredible script for The Long Walk. I’d also have to mention Brian Duffield, who wrote the original screenplay and was originally attached as director before pivoting to another project. Hoping he and I find something else to work on together at some point.
2. What was your reaction when you learned Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson would star?
One thing about this industry is you often have to take a lot of things with a grain of salt, because Hollywood is a fickle beast. So, when I first heard Brie was attached, I think a big part of me was holding tight to that grain of salt, if you will, not really believing it could happen. Now that it’s more official, and the fact she’s attached as a producer, allows me to really buy in on the reality of it, so to realize that an Oscar winner with her resume of films is involved with something I created in a dark office so many years ago is mind-bending, for sure, but also incredibly exciting. I’m a huge fan of her work, and I know she’ll knock it out of the park.
3. Do you think this kind of deal changes how publishers and studios view horror short fiction?
It’s a great feeling, of course, and it’s interesting that my short fiction has received, at least to date, a stronger reaction from the film and tv industry than my novels have. I do think short fiction is more easily digestible for studio execs or creatives, and there’s more room for a fresh perspective or vision, and I believe that’s why it’s a format with a lot of momentum. Two years ago, for example, I was able to see another short story of mine, “Altar”, reimagined by studio A24, along with writer Will Soodik and director Egor Abramenko. That one is scheduled to be released in the next year, give or take. So it’s always an exciting feeling to have something picked up for adaptation, and hopefully my stories—both short and long formats—continue to find homes.
4. What advice would you give writers who hope their short stories might one day make a similar leap?
I think everyone’s journey is so unique that it’s hard to offer advice on how to get attention for your material, as I’ve seen it happen for other writers in so many different ways. That said, thee only thing I would tell writers is to get your work out there in any way you can. I’ve seen stories picked up from obscure websites, or Reddit threads, or magazines and anthologies you have likely never heard of. So keep making the donuts, as I like to say, and do whatever you can to get your stuff in print. No market is too small; it’s the idea and the writing that matter.
J. J. Abrams is producing, with FilmNation Entertainment, William Morris Endeavor and Creative Artists Agency handling sales ahead of a planned summer shoot. JT Mollner will direct the creature feature about a boy who discovers his parents are hiding a dark secret about his mother.
The script by Brian Duffield, adapted from a short story by Philip Fracassi titled Fail-Safe (book collection titled "Behold The Void") and has emerged as one of the market’s hottest pre-sale titles. The film is produced by FilmNation’s Infrared, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Assemble Media.
Here's an exclusive, Novelpro Junkie statement from author Philip Fracassi about the announcement:
“I couldn’t be more excited to have this incredible wealth of talent creating a vision for my story. It’s a dream team for any project, so I feel very fortunate in that respect.”
Here’s an exclusive mini-interview from Novelpro Junkie with Mr. Fracassi following the announcement:
1. With J.T. Mollner directing and J.J. Abrams producing, how does it feel to see filmmakers of that caliber shaping something that began as your short fiction?
It’s surreal, to be honest. I’ve been a huge fan of J.J. and Bad Robot for years, and absolutely loved the huge creative swings J.T. took on Strange Darling, not to mention his incredible script for The Long Walk. I’d also have to mention Brian Duffield, who wrote the original screenplay and was originally attached as director before pivoting to another project. Hoping he and I find something else to work on together at some point.
2. What was your reaction when you learned Oscar-winning actress Brie Larson would star?
One thing about this industry is you often have to take a lot of things with a grain of salt, because Hollywood is a fickle beast. So, when I first heard Brie was attached, I think a big part of me was holding tight to that grain of salt, if you will, not really believing it could happen. Now that it’s more official, and the fact she’s attached as a producer, allows me to really buy in on the reality of it, so to realize that an Oscar winner with her resume of films is involved with something I created in a dark office so many years ago is mind-bending, for sure, but also incredibly exciting. I’m a huge fan of her work, and I know she’ll knock it out of the park.
3. Do you think this kind of deal changes how publishers and studios view horror short fiction?
It’s a great feeling, of course, and it’s interesting that my short fiction has received, at least to date, a stronger reaction from the film and tv industry than my novels have. I do think short fiction is more easily digestible for studio execs or creatives, and there’s more room for a fresh perspective or vision, and I believe that’s why it’s a format with a lot of momentum. Two years ago, for example, I was able to see another short story of mine, “Altar”, reimagined by studio A24, along with writer Will Soodik and director Egor Abramenko. That one is scheduled to be released in the next year, give or take. So it’s always an exciting feeling to have something picked up for adaptation, and hopefully my stories—both short and long formats—continue to find homes.
4. What advice would you give writers who hope their short stories might one day make a similar leap?
I think everyone’s journey is so unique that it’s hard to offer advice on how to get attention for your material, as I’ve seen it happen for other writers in so many different ways. That said, thee only thing I would tell writers is to get your work out there in any way you can. I’ve seen stories picked up from obscure websites, or Reddit threads, or magazines and anthologies you have likely never heard of. So keep making the donuts, as I like to say, and do whatever you can to get your stuff in print. No market is too small; it’s the idea and the writing that matter.
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