Julius Avery To Direct Python Thriller ‘Crush’ For 20th
20th Century Studios has hired Australian director Julius Avery to helm "Crush," a snake-themed survival thriller, marking the first major step forward for the project since the studio won a competitive multi-studio bidding war for the spec script last autumn. Avery, known for genre fare including "Overlord" and "The Pope's Exorcist," takes on a story reportedly inspired by true events and told largely in real time, following a woman hiking alone in the Everglades who becomes trapped in the coils of a giant python.
The script was written on spec by Temple Hill executive John Fischer, who posted it to the Black List under the pseudonym J.W. Archer before its provenance emerged and sparked studio interest. Temple Hill is backing Fischer as a producer alongside Scott Glassgold of 12:01 Films, with J.R. Young overseeing the project for 20th Century Studios. Avery previously directed "Son of a Gun," "Overlord," "Samaritan" and "The Pope's Exorcist," and is represented by WME, Brillstein Entertainment Partners, and Gang, Tyre, Ramer.
In short
- Julius Avery to direct python survival thriller "Crush" for 20th Century Studios
- Script by Temple Hill's John Fischer won a multi-studio bidding war
- Story follows a woman trapped by a giant snake in the Everglades
Explained simply
"Crush" is a survival thriller set in the Florida Everglades about a woman hiking alone who becomes trapped by a giant python. The story unfolds in real time and is reportedly inspired by true events, combining survival drama with creature-feature elements. It is the kind of high-concept premise that attracts studio interest.
The script was written on spec by John Fischer, an executive at production company Temple Hill, who initially posted it anonymously on the Black List, an industry platform where unpublished scripts circulate among professionals. When Fischer's authorship became known, multiple studios engaged in competitive bidding for the rights, with 20th Century Studios ultimately acquiring the project. This competitive interest signals confidence in both the concept and the writing quality.
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