EXCLUSIVE: A supernatural drama spec script by Say Nothing creator Joshua Zetumer triggered a bidding frenzy of a scope and intensity we have not seen in quite awhile. Ultimately, Netflix has emerged as the winner in the two-week process, taking the project off the table by ordering it straight to series.
Some 15-18 studios, platforms and producers took part in the heated auction done in an unusual format that gave it a sense of urgency and exclusivity, sources said. Zetumer’s team from UTA and Entertainment 360 sent the script to designated potential buyers on a special app that allowed them to read it within a 24-hour window, with no option for the link to be copied or shared.
That triggered an immediate reaction — bids started coming in right away, with multiple studios making seven-figure offers right off the bat, I hear.
Within days, Pagans was the talk of the town, with the hot project becoming a topic du jour at the industry parties during Emmy weekend. The field was subsequently narrowed down, with Netflix eventually walking away with the spec that has Zetumer attached as writer, executive producer and showrunner.
Pagans follows a man who becomes the sole caretaker of his two children after the tragic loss of his wife. While his son is typical, his daughter, Alice, is anything but. What starts as a strained father-daughter relationship soon evolves into something far more sinister. Equal parts emotional, horrifying and humorous, Pagans uses genre to unearth all the dark thoughts that parents have, the kind of thoughts mom and dad are never supposed to talk about…
Zetumer is coming off the acclaimed FX limited series Say Nothing about The Troubles in Northern Ireland, which he created and executive produced. He spent five years on the series, which earned him a Peabody and nominations for an Emmy and WGA Award. His feature writing credits include Patriots Day and RoboCop.