Christina Hodson is breaking into the big leagues. The screenwriter will pen the “Suicide Squad” Harley Quinn/ “Birds of Prey” spinoff for Warner Bros. and DC Films, and the “Transformers” spinoff “Bumblebee” for Paramount Pictures.
“Suicide Squad” failed to impress critics — and that’s putting it mildly— but many reviews singled out Margot Robbie’s performance as Harley Quinn as the highlight of the film. The upcoming spinoff will shift the spotlight to Harley and some of DC’s other female heroes and villains. TheWrap broke the news that Hodson is scripting the project.
Hodson has another high-profile gig on her plate. Deadline reports that Paramount is “sweet on” her script for “Bumblebee.” Last year, Paramount assembled a group of writers to generate ideas for “Transformers” prequels, sequels, and spinoffs. The group functioned similarly to a writers’ room in TV. Hodson was one of three female scribes in the group. Deadline writes that she “cracked the spinoff and turned in a script that will make it possible for Paramount to mount the film for 2018.” “Bumblebee” is scheduled to hit theaters June 8, 2018.
It’s only been four years since Hodson transitioned from working as a development executive to a screenwriter, but she’s clearly in-demand right now. Hodson’s busy outside of her work on big-budget franchise spinoffs as well: She wrote the script for the Naomi Watts’ thriller “Shut In,” in theaters now. Hodson also penned Denise DiNovi’s upcoming erotic thriller “Unforgettable,” starring Rosario Dawson and Katherine Heigl.
Deadline writes that Hodson “has hit the Black List with scripts three different times,” including the spec “‘The Eden Project,’ sold in a splashy deal to Sony and Material Pictures.” She’s also “scripted a reboot of ‘The Fugitive’ for Warner Bros” and is “writing a female-centric action epic for Nina Jacobson at Fox 2000.” She’s making moves on the small screen, too: Hodson has a potential series in the works at AMC based on “Out,” a Japanese crime novel.