Universal to shoot MI6 origin thriller, Hugh Jackman interested

Universal Pictures has won a spirited auction for Aaron Berg’s spec script “Section 6,” which created a frenzy amongst Hollywood executives this week, an individual familiar with the project told TheWrap.

The historical spy thriller follows the World War I-era formation of British intelligence agency MI6 and its first director, Sir George Mansfield Cummings, who served as the inspiration for M in the “James Bond” series.

It’s the first sale for Berg, an up-and-coming writer who wanted a million dollar payday and got his wish, with Universal paying $1.2 million in a deal that dated back to the good old days when spec scripts routinely sold for seven figures.

According to the site, the bidding came down to Sony and Universal, which offered progress-to-production language in its offer, separating itself from the rest of the herd.

Australian actor Hugh Jackman is among the A-list actors who read the script and responded to the material, though he is not attached to star at this time. Several top filmmakers have also expressed interest in the material, including Justin Lin and Brett Ratner.

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