Fresh off the release of Paramount’s original sci-fi movie “Project Almanac,” scribes Andrew Deutschman and Jason Pagan have been hired to rewrite the high school monster movie “Lockdown at Franklin High” for Sony Pictures, Platinum Dunes and Benderspink, TheWrap has learned.
Now known simply as “Lockdown,” the story follows a straight-edge teen girl and her rebellious outcast brother as they try to escape from their high school, which is under lockdown due to the threat of a ravenous monster that has been attacking students.
Benderspink’s J.C. Spink, Chris Bender and Jake Weiner are producing with Platinum Dunes partners Michael Bay, Brad Fuller and Andrew Form. Sony executive Jonathan Kadin will oversee the project for the studio.
The original script was written on spec by Greg Bishop and Joe Ballarini, and sold in a competitive situation to Sony back in March 2012. The duo were inspired to write the script by real high school lockdowns following tragic incidents.
“Project Almanac” has grossed $29 million worldwide on a reported production budget of only $12 million, not counting marketing costs. The film received mixed-positive reviews, with many critics crediting the script for putting a fresh twist on the well-worn time-travel genre.
Deutschman and Pagan also wrote “Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension,” which Paramount will release on Oct. 23. They’re represented by WME, Underground and attorney Andrew Hurwitz.