OVERLORD Director Julius Avery Takes on Giant Python Survival Thriller CRUSH
If giant snakes, survival stories, and real-time tension sound like your kind of movie, 20th Century Studios has something worth keeping an eye on.
Julius Avery, the filmmaker behind Overlord and The Pope's Exorcist, has signed on to direct Crush, a survival thriller that pits one woman against a nightmare scenario in the Florida Everglades.
The project has been gaining attention ever since 20th Century Studios landed the screenplay in a competitive multi-studio bidding war last year, and now it has found the filmmaker who'll bring the terrifying concept to life.
While the studio is keeping the official logline under wraps, sources have revealed that Crush follows a woman hiking alone through the Everglades who suddenly finds herself trapped inside the crushing coils of an enormous python.
Unable to escape, she has to fight for survival as every breath becomes harder to take. The film is reportedly inspired by true events and unfolds primarily in real time, which sounds like it'll make every minute feel even more intense.
The screenplay comes from John Fischer, who currently serves as Executive Vice President of Development and Production at Temple Hill Entertainment. Fischer didn't write Crush as part of his day job. He wrote it on spec during his free time without any expectations that it would actually become a movie.
To avoid any preconceived opinions, he uploaded the script to The Black List under the pseudonym J.W. Archer. It didn't take long before representatives came calling, eager to sign him and shop the project around Hollywood.
Fischer has previously shared that he initially felt a little uneasy about telling his bosses at Temple Hill that his side project was attracting so much attention, but the reaction couldn't have gone better.
The company fully supported the screenplay and ultimately joined the project as producers while Fischer continues balancing his executive responsibilities.
Production is being led by Scott Glassgold through 12:01 Films alongside Temple Hill Entertainment. Glassgold has been building an impressive slate of genre projects, including the recently sold horror packages Siren Head at Warner Bros. and Cartoon Cat at Sony. He's also preparing to begin production on Drew Hancock's horror film Seasons for Amazon MGM Studios.
Avery has built a career jumping between action, horror, and suspense. He made his feature directing debut with Son of a Gun, the crime thriller starring Ewan McGregor, which became one of A24's early releases.
From there he directed the alternate-history World War II horror film Overlord, the superhero movie Samaritan starring Sylvester Stallone, and the supernatural horror hit The Pope's Exorcist featuring Russell Crowe.
With Avery stepping into the director's chair and a premise that taps into one of nature's most terrifying predators, Crush has all the ingredients for a nerve-racking survival thriller.