Hollywood Studios Buy Unpublished Short Stories
Authors are increasingly bypassing magazines to sell manuscripts directly for television and film adaptation.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Television
Live Poll
Do you prefer stories written for traditional books over those written specifically for film adaptations?
Hollywood studios are aggressively purchasing unpublished short stories to develop into film and television projects. This shift arrives as traditional publishers show hesitance toward short fiction collections.
Why it matters
Authors are turning to studios to avoid the high rejection rates found in traditional publishing markets. This trend allows creators to secure significant upfront capital for their work outside of standard literary channels.
Netflix paid $1 million for the short story Understudy by Nicholas Binge. Similar seven-figure sums were paid by Universal Studios for Long Lost and Amazon MGM Studios for Code Black.
The players
Nicholas Binge
The author sold his unpublished short story Understudy to Netflix for $1 million.
Colin Bannon
He authored the short story Long Lost which was acquired by Universal Studios in 2024.
Steven Spielberg
The filmmaker was tapped to produce the film adaptation of the short story Long Lost.
Harrison Query
He sold his short story Code Black to Amazon MGM Studios in 2025.
The details
Writers are choosing to ship unpublished manuscripts directly to Hollywood producers rather than submitting them to established magazines. Studios then use these stories as the foundation for new television and film development.
Timeline
In 2024, Universal Studios purchased the short story Long Lost.
In 2025, Harrison Query sold his short story Code Black to Amazon MGM Studios.
Industry Dynamics
This shift marks a departure from the historical reliance on established literary magazines by bypassing them in favor of direct studio acquisition. Studios are capitalizing on this trend to secure original intellectual property before it reaches the traditional publishing market.
Readers may see fewer original short fiction collections hitting bookshelves as authors prioritize studio deals. Conversely, audiences can expect a wider variety of unique stories to reach the screen via streaming platforms and film studios.
The takeaway
Authors should consider aligning their creative output with current studio demand for filmable content to maximize financial returns. Emerging writers can leverage this shift to gain professional momentum outside of traditional, competitive literary venues.
Further reading
For more on industry shifts, visit the Television section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The New York Times.
Live Poll
Do you prefer stories written for traditional books over those written specifically for film adaptations?
