On The Rise 2012: 5 Screenwriters To Keep An Eye On In The Next Few Years

Features

by Oliver Lyttelton
April 10, 2012 11:59 AM
13 Comments

Honorable Mentions: In terms of more established names who've had a good last few months, there's Michael Bacall, who co-wrote "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World," and had two massive hits within weeks of each other, "Project X" and "21 Jump Street." He's now writing a "Tropic Thunder" spin-off for Tom Cruise. Craig Mazin's been around forever, but he's one of the hottest comedy writers around after the one-two punch of "The Hangover Part II" and the upcoming Melissa McCarthy vehicle "Identity Theft" -- he's writing the third 'Hangover' at the moment.

"Underworld: Awakening" scribe John Hlavin has a bunch of projects in developments, including "Risk" for Will Smith and the Robert Ludlum adaptation "The Janson Directive" for Universal. Matthew Aldrich placed in the top five of the Black List for his comedy-drama "Father Daughter Time," which Matt Damon is eying. From the comedy world, Lauryn Kahn and Kate Angelo both sold hot comedy specs: Fox bought the former's "He's Fucking Perfect," and are trying to get Zooey Deschanel to star, while the latter has "Sex Tape," which reteams "Bad Teacher" director and star Jake Kasdan and Jason Segel. "Parks and Recreation" scene-stealer Ben Schwartz (Jean-Ralphio!) isn't just an increasingly in-demand actor, he's also a screenwriter, who penned the Black-Listed "El Fuego Caliente," a telenovela-themed remake of "Soapdish," and also has "Would You Rather" set up with Brian Grazer and Ron Howard.

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13 Comments

| Reply
Yes | April 12, 2012 8:39 PMReply

Chillax my friends
charlie | April 11, 2012 3:59 PMReply

No matter what they look like, they seem like a group of quality up-and-coming writers. Chill out a bit guys
scissor | April 11, 2012 12:09 PMReply

You got a problem with white, educated, talents writers who work their asses off? Stop spending all your time on these social web sites and get to work you HEATHEN.
Yod | April 11, 2012 12:15 AMReply

No midgets from Greenland on this list? Prejudiced!
Costofgavras | April 10, 2012 7:22 PMReply

Valerio is with James Marsh not Kevin MacDonald fyi
Tom | April 10, 2012 3:00 PMReply

OMG they're all white! OMG only one woman! Who gives a shit? I hate diversity for diversity's sake. Despite the unfortunate prejudices that remain, feminist women and non-whites can and will be recognized for quality work. They just need to do it.
vdigital | April 10, 2012 5:23 PM

wow. you are so out of touch you might actually be comatose. in which case, i guess congrats on being able to read/write while in a coma?
Zack | April 10, 2012 3:20 PM

Hear that, ungrateful negroes and ladies? A man thinks you're being silly. I guess that settles it.
Kob | April 10, 2012 1:27 PMReply

At least there's a woman on the list...that's progress, right?
Julian Walker | April 10, 2012 12:47 PMReply

I kinda expected them to be all white...damn, I was right
easy company | April 10, 2012 12:39 PMReply

no mention of dante harper??
he wrote hancel and gretel,all you need is kill and is now writing foundation
DavidK | April 10, 2012 12:35 PMReply

Hottest screenwriters, all white -- absolutely shocking.
Ronnie D. | April 15, 2012 7:01 PM

Get over yourself.