Sony’s Screen Gems has enlisted Spanish screenwriter Javier Gullón to pen Final Boarding, a horror film based on a short story by Clarence Hammond. While the plot remains under wraps, the project was optioned by Screen Gems President Ashley Brucks, who previously worked with Hammond at Paramount Players. Hammond will also serve as a producer on the film.

This marks Gullón’s second major studio horror project in recent months. He previously sold his pitch for Two Truths and a Lie, an adaptation of Sarah Pinsker’s novella, to Walter Hamada’s 18hz and Paramount. His thriller spec, The Bet, was also acquired by Warner Bros.

Recognised as one of the industry’s most in-demand writers of elevated horror, Gullón is best known for scripting Enemy, Denis Villeneuve’s psychological thriller starring Jake Gyllenhaal, which was released by A24. While plot details for both Final Boarding and The Bet remain undisclosed, Two Truths and a Lie centres on Stella, a woman whose reality is thrown into question when she recalls a disturbing childhood television show she once believed to be imaginary. As her mother and a former friend confirm its existence, she is drawn into uncovering a dark secret buried in her town’s history. Meanwhile, The Bet has been described as a darkly humorous, female-driven thriller set in an exclusive retreat for the ultra-wealthy.

A nominee for Spain’s prestigious Goya Award, Gullón has a strong track record of adapting short stories into successful film and television projects. Gullón’s other notable credits include Aritz Moreno’s Moscas and Advantages of Travelling by Train, along with Netflix’s 2022 feature Rainbow.