Paramount and J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Acquire 'Wunderkind' Script

Paramount Pictures and J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot production banner have optioned the spec script Wunderkind from Patrick Aison, the studio announced Monday afternoon.

our editor recommends

J.J. Abrams Extends First-Look Deal With Paramount

Abrams and Bryan Burk of Bad Robot will produce. Chris Cowles and Chris Fenton of management and production firm H2F Entertainment will executive produce, with Brian McCurley serving as associate producer.

The action/thriller is set in the 1970s and follows two Nazi hunters; one is with the CIA and another works for Israel's Mossad intelligence organization. The two hunters' paths become intertwined -- but they only start working together reluctantly.

STORY: J.J. Abrams Extends First-Look Deal With Paramount

Aison, who is represented by H2F and attorney Peter Sample, recently co-wrote the sci-fi thriller spec Echo Station, which the Spierig Brothers (Daybreakers) will direct. The film starts production this fall in Australia with Circle of Confusion and H2F producing.

In February, Abrams and his Bad Robot production banner extended their first-look deal with Paramount through December 2015. 

Abrams' relationship with Paramount has been a fruitful one since 2006, when he first signed a deal with the studio. Since then, Bad Robot and Paramount have made Mission: Impossible III, Cloverfield, Star Trek, Morning Glory, and Super 8, with Abrams directing several of the titles in addition to Bad Robot producing.

Email: Daniel.Miller@THR.com

Twitter: @DanielNMiller