Before heruntimely deathon Feb. 26,Michelle Trachtenbergwas primarily known for her work in front of the camera on such beloved hits asHarriet the Spy,Buffy the Vampire Slayer, andGossip Girl. However, according to producer Casey Tebo, she was so much more than just an accomplished actress. She was, in fact, “an incredible writer,” and now he’s making it his mission to bring a screenplay she wrote to life.
Speaking with People recently, Tebo said he was presented with Trachtenberg’s script,Toy Monster, by her boyfriend, Jay Cohen. “I don’t remember when, but my dear friend Jay Cohen sent me a script she had written calledToy Monster,” he told the outlet, adding:
“The only scripts I remember staying with me like that in recent memory were two. Here Comes the Flood by Simon Kinberg and Toy Monster around 2019. Because they were the two best, by a landslide.”
The script is an adaptation of Jerry Oppenheimer’s 2010 non-fiction bookToy Monster: The Big, Bad World of Mattel, which Tebo called a “sharp, biting dramedy about a maniac toy executive set in the 1950s.” It sounds like it could be right for these consumerist times we live in, and follow in a wave of other stories likeUnfrosted,Air, andFlamin' Hotthat all examined the behind-the-scenes drama and humor that went into creating some of the biggest brand names around.
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“The truth is - Michelle was an incredible writer,” Tebo added. But no one expects her to write like that. It’s about the struggle for credit, compensation and recognition for success. Something Hollywood knows nothing about I’m sure."
Casey Tebo Is Determined to Bring ‘Toy Monster’ to Life
Tebo first revealed that Trachtenberg wrote a script in a social media post he sent out on the day of her death. In it, he calledToy Monster"as good asWolf of Wall Street," the 2013 biographical filmby director Martin Scorsesethat went on to be nominated for five Academy Awards. “I’m doing everything I can to get this movie made, we just need to find the right director, and I promise we will get it made for her,” he added in his post.
Now, just a week later, it appears as if things are finally coming together to bringToy Monsterto life, as Tebo also told People that an “angel investor” has come forward to help with the project, which would bring a much-needed infusion of cash to help get it off the ground. “We’re putting the pieces together to get this film made for Michelle,” he said. “Maybe Michelle is looking out for us. I’ve never been a superstitious or spiritual person, but things like that are hard to deny.”
As we await more news onToy Monster, you’re able to relive some of Trachtenberg’s best roles by streamingBuffy the Vampire Slayeron Hulu and Tubi,Gossip Girlon either Max or Tubi, andHarriet the Spyon Pluto TV. One of her often overlooked films,Beautiful Ohio, is available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.
Source:People
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