Sony Pictures has acquired a new family film pitch titled Holiday Inn from screenwriters Ben Zazove and Evan Turner in a competitive situation, according to Deadline.
The project is described as a four-quadrant family movie, though specific plot details remain under wraps for now. No producers have been attached to the film at this stage, officials said.
Zazove and Turner previously worked on Officer Exchange, an action-comedy currently in development at Amazon MGM Studios. The Safran Company is producing that project, which has John Cena attached to star.
The writing duo also penned the Ferris Bueller spinoff Sam & Victor’s Day Off for Paramount Pictures. They were tapped to write a Space Invaders film based on the classic Taito arcade game for New Line Cinema and crafted a script for a Duke Nukem movie at Legendary.
Their earlier feature The Out-Laws, an action-comedy starring Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin, debuted at number one on Netflix upon release. Zazove additionally contributed to the Paramount animated feature Sherlock Gnomes.
Both writers are represented by Verve, Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, and McKuin, Frankel & Whitehead, according to the report.
The sale comes amid a busy period for family-oriented projects at major studios, with Sony looking to expand its slate of broad-appeal titles. Industry observers note that four-quadrant films, which target all age groups and genders, remain a priority for theatrical releases.
Turner and Zazove have built a reputation for blending comedy with high-concept premises across multiple studios. Their track record includes both original ideas and adaptations of popular intellectual properties.
While the exact tone and cast for Holiday Inn have not been disclosed, the competitive bidding process suggests strong studio interest in the concept. Further updates on the project are expected in the coming months.
Other recent entertainment news includes strong preview numbers for Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu, which reportedly pulled in $12 million in early screenings. Netflix has also acquired the starry project Sacrifice, while 193 Productions finalized several output deals.
Tom Hardy is reportedly stepping away from MobLand after its second season as Paramount+ considers renewal options for the drama series. Meanwhile, former President Trump commented on Sir Paul McCartney’s appearance wrapping up a late-night show segment.
The acquisition of Holiday Inn adds to Sony’s growing development slate, which continues to balance franchise extensions with original pitches from established writers.