HBO Wins Bidding War for Assistant's Spec Script 'Imposter'
Kalos Chu, an assistant at DreamWorks Animation, sold his spec drama 'Imposter' after a bidding war that initially drew ten offers, with HBO ultimately securing the project. Lauren LeFranc, known for creating 'The Penguin', will executive produce through her Acid and Tender Productions banner under her existing HBO deal. The project is now in development at the premium network.
The spec script drew an initial wave of ten competing offers before the field narrowed to a three-way contest among HBO, Netflix, and Amazon, with HBO ultimately prevailing. Chu, who works as an assistant at DreamWorks Animation, now sees his project enter development at the premium network—a notable outcome for a first-time seller in a competitive marketplace.
Lauren LeFranc, who created and ran HBO's "The Penguin," will executive produce through her Acid and Tender Productions banner under her existing overall deal with the network. Her head of television, Rachel Jacobs, joins as an additional executive producer, bringing established industry experience to shepherd Chu's project through development.
This sale may signal that premium networks remain willing to take creative risks on unproven writers, particularly when paired with established showrunners. For aspiring assistants and emerging talent, it could reinforce the value of spec scripts as a pathway into the industry. The involvement of LeFranc may also strengthen HBO's drama slate with fresh voices, potentially influencing what kinds of stories get told on television and how newcomers navigate the competitive development landscape.