Spec Script Deal: “Darkest Hour”

Working Title has acquired historical drama spec script “Darkest Hour” written by Anthony McCarten. From Deadline:

Days into his new job as Prime Minister as Britain was getting pounded and on the verge of losing to Germany, Churchill was under pressure to make a deal with Hitler that would have established Britain as a puppet state of the Third Reich. His army stranded in Dunkirk, Churchill instead summoned the courage to fight on. The film is about his decisions, and the actions and immortal speeches in those critical days that defined his place in history and changed the destiny of the world.

Another example of a ‘snapshot biopic,’ using a narrow period of time in an historical character’s experience as a lens through which to tell their life story (see Lincoln, Selma).

McCarten is repped by ICM Partners.

By my count, this is the 6th spec script deal in 2015.

There were 7 spec script deals year-to-date in 2014.