Particle.news

Julius Avery Attached to Direct 20th Century’s Python Thriller Crush

The hire signals 20th Century is moving the Everglades-set, real-time survival story forward toward production.

Overview

  • Julius Avery agreed to direct Crush, a development first reported Thursday, marking the project’s biggest creative step since 20th Century acquired the script.
  • The film follows a woman hiking in the Florida Everglades who wakes trapped in the coils of a massive python in a story said to be inspired by true events and told mainly in real time.
  • Writer John Fischer, a Temple Hill executive who posted the script anonymously on The Black List under the name J.W. Archer, sparked a multi-studio bidding war that led 20th Century to buy the spec last year.
  • Producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey for Temple Hill and Scott Glassgold’s 12:01 Films are attached, J. R. Young is overseeing for 20th Century, and casting has not yet been announced as the studio prepares to advance production.
  • Avery’s recent work in suspense and horror positions the film toward the commercial action-horror market, and his attachment increases the likelihood of a near-term production push once casting and financing are finalized.