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BuzzFeed Turns “Dear David” Into a Movie, But the Creator Gets Nothing!
Remember the viral Twitter horror story “Dear David” from 2017? Writer and illustrator Adam Ellis claimed it was based on a real haunting. Well, it got turned into a movie this year called “Dead David,” even starring Justin Long! But here’s the crazy part: Adam Ellis didn’t make a dime off of it.
Apparently, since he created “Dear David” while working at BuzzFeed, they own the rights. Ellis explained on Twitter that BuzzFeed initially sold the project to New Line, but it fell through. He assumed that was it, but years later, they sold it to Lionsgate without even telling him! Totally legal, but definitely a bummer for the creator.
Ellis says he’s moved on to other projects, like his illustrated anthology “Bad Dreams In The Night.” He even tried to sell “Dear David” to Ryan Murphy himself, but BuzzFeed wouldn’t let him. This highlights the challenges creators face when working for companies that retain ownership of their work.
I'm Annelise, a film lover and pop culture obsessive sharing my thoughts on movies, fashion, and lifestyle on Instagram. Follow along for film reviews, book recommendations, and a healthy dose of geeking out over all things pop culture.
