Spec Script Sale: “The Imitation Game”

Warner Bros. buys biopic drama spec script “The Imitation Game” from first-time screenwriter Graham Moore. From Deadline:

To anyone with an interest in those Enigma codebreakers who helped win WWII and the math geniuses whose work led to the creation of the earliest computers, then the name Alan Turing holds quite a lot of fascination. This British historical figure most prominent from 1940 through 1955 is also the subject of a big spec script sale today. First-time screenwriter Graham Moore’s “The Imitation Game” was snapped up by Warner Bros in a 7-figure deal.

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First-time producers Nora Grossman and Ido Ostrowsky owned the rights to Andrew Hodges’ definitive biography “Alan Turing: The Enigma” and worked with Moore for more than a year to get the script just right. Moore is also a first-time novelist and his crime fiction debut The Sherlockian, filled with Conan Doyle lore, received a rave review in The New York Times by Janet Maslin.

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The life story of this English mathematician, logician, cryptanalyst, computer scientist, criminally prosecuted homosexual, and tortured soul who committed suicide by eating a cyanide-laced apple has it all. (Reportedly, Steve Jobs named his company “Apple” as a tribute to Turing.)

Okay, movie lovers. Why would Warner Bros. plunk down $1M+ for this project? See you in Comments for your thoughts on that.

And did you note this: “…worked with Moore for more than a year to get the script just right.” For anyone who planst to write a spec in 21 days and sell it for millions… it could happen. More than likely, you need just a bit more time than that to write a great script.

CAA and The Safran Company brokered the deal.

By my count, 75 spec scripts have sold this year.

Only 55 sold in 2010.

Spec script sales are up 74% year-to-date over last year.

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