Paramount Primal Sets Chris Basler to Write 'The Troop' Adaptation
Paramount Primal, the studio's genre-focused label, has secured the rights to Nick Cutter's 2014 horror novel 'The Troop.' The story follows a scout troop whose camping trip is disrupted by an intruder, leading to a fight for survival. Screenwriter Chris Basler will pen the adaptation.
Paramount Primal, the recently launched genre-focused division overseen by J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, continues to build its slate with this latest acquisition. The label has been actively securing horror and thriller properties, including the earlier pickup of the high-concept spec script "Sweet Spot." This new project marks another step in establishing the banner's identity within Paramount's broader operations.
The source material carries notable pedigree within horror circles. "The Troop" earned the James Herbert Award for Horror Writing, and its author, Craig Davidson, writes under the pseudonym Nick Cutter. The novel's premise centers on a scout troop's wilderness trip disrupted by a mysterious intruder, forcing the boys into a desperate survival scenario against both an infection and each other.
This adaptation could strengthen the horror genre's ongoing presence in theatrical releases, potentially drawing both existing fans of the novel and newcomers to Cutter's work. The film may also signal how studios are leveraging established literary properties to feed genre-focused labels, which could influence what types of horror stories get greenlit. Audiences seeking elevated, character-driven terror may find this a notable title to watch.