THE APEX TIMES
Paramount Primal acquires rights to Nick Cutter’s horror novel “The Troop,” with screenwriter Chris Basler set to adapt
Deadline reports Paramount’s genre label Paramount Primal has acquired film rights to Nick Cutter’s 2014 horror novel “The Troop,” enlisting Chris Basler to write the feature adaptation.
Paramount Primal, Paramount’s newly formed genre label led by J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, has acquired rights to Nick Cutter’s 2014 horror novel “The Troop,” according to an exclusive report by Deadline published Aug. 27, 2026. The project is being developed as a feature film, with Chris Basler attached to pen the adaptation.
The novel’s premise, as described in the report, centers on a troop of boys on their annual scout camping trip. During the outing, the group encounters an intruder, who allegedly unleashes something that escalates far beyond the boys’ ability to manage the situation.
Deadline’s report frames the development as part of Paramount Primal’s effort to build a slate of genre projects under the studio’s new banner. While the article identifies the label’s leadership and the screenwriter attached to the script, it does not, in the provided information, name casting, a director, or a production schedule.
Chris Basler is the only writing attachment identified in the report. No additional creative or production roles are specified beyond the acquisition of rights and the assignment for him to draft the screenplay for the film adaptation.
The acquisition adds to the ongoing pattern of horror studios and labels seeking built-in audiences through existing bestselling or cult genre books. In this case, the source material is a specific 2014 novel by Nick Cutter, with “The Troop” positioned as the basis for a new feature film under Paramount Primal’s branding.
As the adaptation moves through development, the next steps would typically include finalizing the script, making decisions on producers and creative leadership beyond the screenwriter, and determining the film’s timeline. The report provided does not include further details on release targets, financing, or distribution plans.
For readers familiar with the book, the announcement means the studio is targeting the story’s core scenario, including the scout-camping setting and the intruder-triggered escalation. For Paramount Primal, it is also another entry point into the label’s genre slate, with development now underway following the rights acquisition and Basler’s script assignment.
Why It Matters
- Development of a feature adaptation can shift the commercial trajectory of a genre property by expanding it into a new audience and revenue stream beyond book sales.
- For families and communities, scout-camping settings in media can also influence how younger audiences and guardians perceive representations of safety and leadership in outdoor activities, especially in horror narratives.
- The creation and use of dedicated genre labels like Paramount Primal can affect how studios package and market projects, potentially changing the studio’s approach to creative development pipelines.
- Rights acquisitions are early-stage decisions that may determine what elements of the novel can be adapted on screen, including tone, characters, and core plot mechanics.
Key Facts
- Paramount Primal acquired film rights to Nick Cutter’s 2014 horror novel “The Troop,” Deadline reported Aug. 27, 2026.
- Paramount Primal is led by J.D. Lifshitz and Raphael Margules, according to the report.
- Chris Basler has been enlisted to write the feature adaptation.
- The story premise described in the report follows a troop of boys on an annual scout camping trip.
- During the trip, the boys encounter an intruder who unleashes something that escalates the danger.
- Deadline’s report identifies rights acquisition and Basler’s involvement but does not list casting, director, or release date details in the provided information.