The Black List, Onyx Collective Partner on Book-to-Film/TV Option Deal

The Black List and Onyx Collective Join Forces to Bring Unpublished Manuscripts to Screen

The Black List has recently announced a groundbreaking partnership with Onyx Collective to bring unpublished manuscripts to the forefront of the entertainment industry. This initiative offers a unique opportunity for fiction writers to have their work considered for a film or TV adaptation through an 18-month option deal.

Known for its annual list of the most-liked unproduced screenplays, The Black List has teamed up with Onyx Collective, a content brand behind successful projects like “How to Die Alone” and “The 1619 Project,” to identify exceptional fiction manuscripts that explore themes and perspectives of the Black experience. Selected manuscripts will have the chance to be optioned for a film or TV adaptation for a minimum of 18 months.

Franklin Leonard, founder and CEO of The Black List, expressed his excitement for the partnership, stating, “Tara Duncan is one of my favorite people on Earth, much less in Hollywood, so it’s an utter joy to partner with Onyx Collective under her leadership to help find a novel that they will option for film or television adaptation.” He also emphasized the importance of finding stories that will be in good hands with Onyx Collective.

Onyx Collective president Tara Duncan echoed Leonard’s sentiments, highlighting the mission of amplifying underrepresented artists at the core of their collaboration. She shared, “The Black List has been an important resource for identifying a new generation of storytelling, for Onyx to support The Black List expansion is a no brainer. I am personally excited to collaborate with Franklin and showcase great stories on a global scale.”

This initiative marks a significant milestone in The Black List’s evolution as it approaches its 20th anniversary. The organization expanded into fiction in September, allowing fiction writers to showcase their completed novels on blcklst.com, receive professional feedback, and submit their manuscripts to various programs.

Unpublished fiction manuscripts that have undergone at least one evaluation are eligible for consideration in the Onyx Collective initiative. Writers can opt-in for free, and The Black List will use submission data to create a shortlist for Onyx Collective. The submission period is open on blcklst.com until August 6, 2025.

Established in 2005, The Black List has become a leading resource for the entertainment industry, with over 400 produced scripts grossing billions at the box office and winning numerous awards. The online platform has hosted thousands of scripts and provided valuable script evaluations to aspiring writers.

Overall, the partnership between The Black List and Onyx Collective represents a significant opportunity for fiction writers to see their work brought to life on screen. With a focus on elevating diverse voices and storytelling, this initiative is set to make a lasting impact on the entertainment landscape.