Badlands positioning itself as the go-to home for bold, high-concept genre material with commercial appeal. The 'John Wick meets Bigfoot' pitch signals they're not afraid to get weird—and that appetite for risk could pay dividends with audiences hungry for something fresh in the horror space.
Sources close to Scriptshadow say Reiner's script generated serious buzz before Badlands ever saw it—one reader reportedly called it 'the most fun genre read of the year.' Whether that translates to box office gold or another development hell casualty remains to be seen, but Wildman has momentum.
Script by Jacob Reiner was highlighted on Scriptshadow website before Badlands acquisition. The logline reportedly pitches it as 'John Wick meets Bigfoot'—a Sasquatch revenge thriller with action-horror hybrid appeal. Published September 3, 2026 by Hollywood Reporter.
Badlands is clearly playing in the elevated genre space—and Wildman just became their most talked-about acquisition before cameras even roll. Whether Reiner's Sasquatch revenge fantasy can deliver on that 'John Wick' energy remains the million-dollar question.
Badlands has picked up the horror script "Wildman" by Jacob Reiner, and industry insiders are already buzzing about the project's wild logline: a high-octane Sasquatch thriller being pitched as "John Wick meets Bigfoot." The acquisition marks a notable move for the genre-focused banner, which has been building its slate with material that pushes beyond conventional horror territory. Sources tell Celebrity Bytes that Badlands executives moved quickly once Reiner's work started circulating—a sign of genuine enthusiasm rather than development deal box-checking.
The script gained traction after being highlighted on Scriptshadow, the popular screenwriting analysis site where industry readers often scout emerging talent. According to those familiar with the project's journey to acquisition, Reiner's take on Sasquatch mythology caught fire among genre fans before landing in the hands of decision-makers at Badlands. The "John Wick" comparison isn't just lip service either—early readers describe Wildman as a methodical, violent revenge narrative wrapped in creature feature trappings.
Think Keanu Reeves hunting something far more terrifying than assassins. What's notable here is Badlands' apparent strategy: lean into high-concept genre material with crossover potential rather than playing it safe with familiar franchise fare. Horror has proven massively profitable for studios willing to take risks on original concepts, and Wildman appears designed to ride that wave.
The question now becomes whether Reiner will be involved in production or if his script simply becomes IP the banner develops internally. Screenwriters often find themselves sidelined once a project gains traction—industry sources note that's been a recurring complaint among emerging talent whose work gets shopped around. For Badlands, Wildman represents either a bold bet on originality or a calculated grab at proven genre mechanics.
Either way, it's the kind of acquisition that makes other studios nervous—in a good way. Horror fans, meanwhile, should keep an eye on this one. When a Sasquatch revenge thriller gets compared to one of the most successful action franchises of the past decade, expectations are automatically sky-high. Reiner's next moves—and whether Badlands can deliver on that ambitious pitch—will determine if Wildman becomes legendary or just another script-that-got-away story.
