Spec Script "Crush" Sparks Fierce Bidding War Among Top Studios—What’s Behind the Buzz?

20th Century Studios acquires action spec script “Crush” written by John Fischer. Via Deadline:

Crush is a propulsive, ticking-clock survival thriller about a woman hiking alone in the Everglades who wakes to find herself trapped in the crushing coils of a massive python, fighting to stay alive as every breath brings her closer to death. Inspired by true events and told primarily in real time, the hot spec is said to be a real page-turner that has already begun attracting interest from major actresses for its juicy lead role.

Deal resulted from a “multi-studio bidding war.” Unconfirmed: Deal is said to be mid-to-high six figures. More from Deadline:

…there’s an interesting backstory to this project: Fischer, who serves as Executive Vice President of Development and Production at Temple Hill Entertainment, wrote it under the pseudonym J.W. Archer in his free time, unsure whether anyone would like it or if he’d ever do anything with it. It quickly gathered heat after he posted it on the Black List, leading to outreach from reps eager to sign him and take the project out. Fischer then had to sheepishly walk into the office of his Temple Hill bosses to confess that he’d written a script — and ask if they might want to produce it. Now, he’s in the enviable position of getting a movie he wrote off the ground while still juggling his day-to-day executive duties.

Fischer is repped by Verve.

Congrats, John!

By my count, this is the 22nd spec script deal in 2025.

There were 17 spec script deals year-to-date in 2024.