Ann Peacock, the award-winning screenwriter especially known, among her 11 screenwriting credits, for her films "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," and "A Lesson Before Dying," has signed with OneDoor Studios, (https://www.onedoorstudios.com), to write the screenplay for the major motion picture adaptation of "Calculated," the first book in the young adult novel series by debut author Nova McBee.
The Santa Barbara-based company recently raised "Calculated's" complete $2 million development costs, with its production budget of $45 million to be provided through bank financing. Producing for studio release, attaching a studio-level screenwriter was this picture's first major creative achievement.
Globally respected for her film adaptations, Peacock won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or a Movie with her script for "A Lesson Before Dying" in 1999. Peacock, who was born in South Africa and now resides in Los Angeles, also received industry attention for her screenplay adaptation of "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Her recent screenwriting credits include adaptations of "Cinderella," a Universal Studios feature in development, and "Fall of Giants," a Sony Pictures Television mini-series that is also in development. Peacock also recently completed an adaptation of "The Choice" based on the bestselling novel by Edith Eger, and is currently in development with a TV series for Ebony Life and Sony Pictures, and another for BBC TV. Peacock is represented by CAA, Artists First, and attorney Don Steele.
"Calculated" is the first book in a best-selling young adult action-adventure thriller series published by Wolfpack, a leading independent publisher. Recently shortlisted as a finalist for the International Thriller Writers (ITW) Award for Best Young Adult Novel 2022, "Calculated" focuses on the harrowing, yet inspiring journey of Josephine Rivers, a teen prodigy with a nearly supernatural ability to see the world through a purely mathematical lens, even at times predicting the future. Recognizing the potential to profit from this gift, a notorious underground smuggler kidnaps Jo and uses her gift to grow their empire. Josephine must escape before a great economic collapse-which only she can stop-that would send catastrophic shockwaves around the globe.
OneDoor Studios' CEO Jay Brents says it was Peacock's writing on the first film of the Narnia series, and her deep connection with "Calculated's" story and characters that convinced their team that she was the ideal writer for the project.
"I have immense respect for the craft exhibited by Ann Peacock in bringing C.S. Lewis' first novel in the Narnia series to the silver screen. Adapting a novel for film takes not only talent, but a special kind of intuition, and I believe Ann is among the best in the industry to deliver this for 'Calculated.' We could not be more pleased," Brents said.
John Lee, One Door Studios' executive chairman, said, "Our first producer meeting with Ann was a powerful experience. It was obvious to us after listening to her describe the heart of 'Calculated's' story, characters, and world that she had the same vision as this series' reader fanbase. We were electrified."
Stephen Wollwerth, OneDoor Studios' president, said he was also impressed with Peacock's vision and passion for the "Calculated" story and her industry background.
"Ann's writing on 'The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,' which is one of my favorite films, is impeccable. To have such a quality writer adapt 'Calculated' is beyond what I can express," Wollwerth said. "When Ann spoke to us about her vision for 'Calculated,' it was clear she should be the screenwriter to adapt this extraordinary series. She carries a passion for this project to be what she termed a tentpole film. Her perspective for this story truly coalesces with ours as producers. We couldn't be more confident that we have the person who will take this project to perfection."
Peacock said it was the unique character of the book's protagonist, Josephine Rivers, and the Shanghai setting that drew her to the project.
"I love the novel's concept - a young girl ripped from her family and trafficked for her superpowers who must use her ingenuity to escape and get home," Peacock said. "I love the overall message - use your gift for good. I love that our girl is up against a delicious arch-villain, the head of a global trafficking empire - who is also a woman. I love that it is set in the most exotic - architecturally and culturally - of locations, Shanghai. And I love that all of this is packaged into an exciting, action-packed thriller. Oh, and let's not forget the beautiful love story..."
Peacock also received praise from the novel's author.
"I was excited to meet Ann Peacock because I really admire her work on 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' but her understanding of 'Calculated' and the character of Jo Rivers blew me out of the water. Ann understood exactly what I was trying to do with this book. She expressed her commitment to translating the tension and thrills of Jo's story, (kidnapped, imprisoned, rescued, and empowered to stop the bad guys), without losing any of the book's deeper messages of identity, hope, redemption, and the power of love. She has embraced this story on all levels, and I can't wait to see how she adapts it for the big screen," McBee said.
OneDoor Studios' estimated timeline for completion of the film's shooting script is September 2023. Production on the film is set to begin January 2024, with "Calculated's" premiere release forecast for April 2025.
Lee added, "Of course, every production company wants to attract writers with major credits, but to find one who is captivated by the story and is driven to translate it into a studio-caliber screenplay is the ultimate match. Ann understands 'Calculated' from the inside out, speaks of it in the most respectful and majestic manner, saying it must be a major studio motion picture, and she wanted to write it to become one, and now she is doing it. The wedding of Ann Peacock with 'Calculated' and its searing sequels is history in the making."
Paul Scanlan, CEO of Legion M, co-production partner in the Calculated franchise said, "We were inspired by Ann Peacock's stellar adaptation of the true story, 'The First Grader,' for which Ann visited its distant South African location, went to the school, and walked the streets of that film's protagonist. As 'Calculated's' author, Nova McBee, and two of the film's three producers lived in China and speak Chinese, the producers included in Ann's writing relationship, her full accommodations to visit 'Calculated's' Shanghai story locations, to be able to draw on her personal impressions, as well as those of the author and producers, in writing her script."
On the heels of its recent pre-production funding success, OneDoor Studios is weeks away from launching a $7 million Reg A offering to fund the film development of the other novels in the "Calculated" series. Book two in the series, "Simulated," was published in 2021, and the third novel, "Activated," will be released in April.
OneDoor Studios' talented team has extensive experience in the film industry, having worked on 23 studio-released movies and series released by entities including Sony, Universal, Warner Media, Disney, Viacom/CBS/Paramount, and Lionsgate, earning more than $4 billion in revenue.
OneDoor Studios is seeking to transform film financing through pioneering a unique film investment opportunity and business model, where investors provide the crucial development capital for screenwriting, engaging North American distribution, and attaching director and lead cast; so its investors can recoup their full investment from their projects' bank production funding before the cameras roll, and share in all global profits after their films' release. OneDoor Studios' investment process is unique in that the investor is investing in the development of the film -- not the production.
For more information and to sign up to receive updates about the company's Reg A launch, visit https://www.onedoorstudios.com/waitlist.
