Michael Lewen to Direct R-Rated Comedy White Knight for Screen Gems

Michael Lewen has signed to direct White Knight, a high-concept comedy set up at Sony's Screen Gems, according to Deadline. The project is based on a spec script — a screenplay written without a buyer attached — by Christopher William Young. The deal is done.

The plot is under wraps. The studio is describing the film as outrageous, R-rated fare, meaning audiences under 17 in the United States will need an accompanying adult.

The script reached the studio by an unusual route. Brandon Xie, a creative executive at the production company Unknown Quantity, found it on the Black List website, a platform where unproduced screenplays are shared and ranked. Writer-producer Chris Bremner then brought the spec into Screen Gems, where he holds a deal, Deadline reported.

Bremner will produce the film with Jeff Arkuss through Unknown Quantity. Screen Gems, Sony's label for genre and comedy titles, will oversee it for the studio.

Lewen is a young director with two features behind him. He made his feature directorial debut with Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between, which was acquired by Netflix and premiered in 2022. He then wrote and directed Tiny Fugitives, which opened in theatres across the United States through Inaugural Entertainment on 18 September.

Tiny Fugitives stars Johnny Knoxville and comes from producers Point Grey Pictures and Tango Entertainment, Deadline reported. That release arrived less than a week before the White Knight directing deal was announced.

What makes this stand out is the chain. A script spotted online now has a director, producers and a studio home. Casting and a start date have not been announced.