Universal Pre-Empts Colin Bannon Short Story ‘Don’t Look’ For Janelle Monáe To Star & Produce; Akela Cooper Scripting

EXCLUSIVE: Universal has pre-emptively purchased the short story thriller package Don’t Look, with Janelle Monáe (Glass Onion, Moonlight, Hidden Figures) in talks to star.

Akela Cooper (M3GAN, Malignant, The Nun 2) is set to adapt the screenplay based on the short story by Colin Bannon (Ultra, First Ascent).

More from Deadline

• Veteran Execs Barry Chamberlain, Philip Groves & Joanna Miles Join John C. Hall On Advisory Board Of Blockchain Streamer Vabble

• 'Dog Man' Movie Based On Books From 'Captain Underpants' Creator Set For 2025 Release From Universal And DWA

• Anthony Kiedis Biopic In Works At Universal; Brian Grazer Producing Based On Red Hot Chili Peppers Frontman's Memoir 'Scar Tissue'

Monáe is in talks to produce through her Wondaland Pictures’ first-look deal with Universal Pictures, along with Scott Glassgold’s Ground Control. They are keeping the logline under wraps, based on Bannon’s unpublished short story.

Bannon is fresh from making a Universal deal for his horror short story Long Lost, produced by Steven Spielberg, Simon Kinberg and Glassgold. Glassgold and Cooper teamed on the short story sale It’s Over to Sony Pictures, with Glassgold and Roy Lee producing.

The short story deal brokering was led by Verve, its second of the day in a turbulent week after the Sony deal for Cola Wars.

Monáe is repped by WME, Mikael Moore and Kelli Andrews at Wondaland Management, Ben Rubinfeld at Ziffren Brittenham, and Matthew Johnson at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.

While she has been busy on the big screen, Cooper’s TV credits include the Netflix series Luke Cage, American Horror Story and Paramount+’s Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Cooper is repped by CAA, Dan McManus at Rise Management, and Gregg Gellman at Morris Yorn.

Bannon holds the Black List record for having landed seven scripts on the annual list; he has sold the specs Ultra to Tri-Star Pictures and First Ascent to Netflix. Bannon and Ground Control are repped by Verve.

Universal’s SVP Production Development Ryan Jones and Director of Development Tony Ducret will oversee Don’t Look on behalf of the studio.

Best of Deadline

• 'A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight': Everything We Know About The 'Game Of Thrones' Prequel, Including Plot, Premiere Date & Whether George R.R. Martin Is Involved

• Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2024: Photo Gallery & Obituaries

• 2024 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.