HBO Secures Bidding War Winner for Spec Script 'Imposter' Written by DreamWorks Assistant
HBO has acquired the rights to the drama spec 'Imposter' after a competitive bidding process involving Netflix and Amazon. The project is being developed with an option for a writers room, executive produced by Lauren LeFranc. The script was written by Kalos Chu, a 2023 Harvard graduate who previously worked as a development assistant at DreamWorks Animation.
Key points
- HBO won a three-way bidding war against Netflix and Amazon for the drama spec 'Imposter', which initially attracted ten offers.
- The deal includes an option for a writers room, with Lauren LeFranc executive producing through her banner Acid and Tender Productions.
- Writer Kalos Chu, a 2023 Harvard English graduate, wrote the script while working as a feature development assistant at DreamWorks Animation.
- Chu is leaving his current position at DreamWorks to pursue screenwriting full-time and is currently without an agent.
- The series is a dark mystery following an outsider entering their freshman year at an elite university.
Background
This development follows recent expansions in HBO's drama slate, including the upcoming fourth season of 'The Gilded Age' and the third season of 'The Pitt.' The acquisition highlights a trend of premium networks securing high-profile spec scripts to bolster their original programming pipelines.
Why it matters
The acquisition of a spec script by a writer without prior professional credits or agency representation signals a shift in how premium networks identify talent, potentially bypassing traditional gatekeepers to find fresh voices in the industry.
What to watch
HBO is expected to move forward with the development of 'Imposter,' potentially leading to a writers room and eventual production, while Chu transitions from his role at DreamWorks Animation to focus on his new writing career.
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