Netflix seems to be on the lookout for promising material in the most unlikely of places.
The streaming company made a seven-figure commitment to turn a Reddit horror story into a film.
The undisclosed sum, which is at least $1 million (Dh3.7m), includes the rights to the short story My Wife and I Bought a Ranch by Matt Query, as well as scripting fees for the author's brother, Harrison Query, who will adapt the story into a screenplay, Deadline reported.
This guy's Reddit short story sold to Netflix for "low" 7-figures.
— Philip Fracassi (@PhilipFracassi) July 25, 2020
SEVEN figures.
That includes paying his brother to write the screenplay.
I find all this unfathomable.
Anyway - story is pretty creepy. But still... wow.https://t.co/NFGMKq9ueJ
The story, which was originally posted on the r/NoSleep Reddit page in February, in six parts, is about a couple who buy their dream home, a ranch in Idaho, for a steal.
However, soon after they move in, they realise they are not alone on the ranch. Their neighbours warn them of an evil spirit in the valley that comes into the house at the start of each season, telling them that certain rituals need to be carried out to ensure the spirit is kept at bay.
Needless to say things get creepier.
Netflix seizes the right to adapt a Reddit's short story titled '‘My Wife And I Bought A Ranch’ - NovelPro Junkie https://t.co/GxT5OHr6eL #netflix #shortstory #reddit #mywifeandiborughtaranch #novelprojunkie #adaptation #breakingnews #HorrorMovies #harrisonquery #mattquery pic.twitter.com/c5zSh7mPQs
— Mike (@Mauthor) July 25, 2020
The story was put out for a bid on Thursday, July 23, with Netflix clearing it off the table by the next day. Ground Control Entertainment is set to produce and talks are under way for 21 Laps – the production company behind Stranger Things – to take part in the project as well.
The interest perhaps shows the power of Reddit, which has more than 300 million active monthly users. The original My Wife and I Bought a Ranch post has been "upvoted" 2,900 times, showing its popularity with the r/NoSleep Reddit community, which itself has 14.2 million subscribers.
This is the second project that Ground Control Entertainment has sold to Netflix. It is also working on a modern interpretation of The Three Musketeers for the streaming company.