Jason Reitman Producing Real-Time Thriller 71 Minutes for Sony
Sony Pictures has secured the rights to 71 Minutes, a high-concept thriller that quickly became one of the most sought-after spec scripts in recent months. Written by Ian Shorr, the project sparked a bidding war involving more than 20 production companies and studios before Sony ultimately came out on top.
Accorsing to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be produced by Jason Reitman through his Ghost Corps banner alongside Erica Mills. At this stage, Reitman is not attached to direct, but his involvement as a producer brings significant weight to the project, particularly given his track record across both mainstream and genre filmmaking.
Plot details are being kept largely under wraps, but 71 Minutes is described as a real-time thriller centred on a man being pursued, with only 71 minutes to evade capture before sunrise. The ticking-clock structure suggests a tightly wound narrative, where every second counts and tension is sustained throughout. While it has been labelled a supernatural thriller in some early reports, the exact nature of the threat remains undisclosed, adding an extra layer of intrigue.
Writer Ian Shorr has built a reputation for large-scale genre storytelling. He previously penned Infinite (2021), directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Mark Wahlberg and Chiwetel Ejiofor. Shorr is currently enjoying a particularly busy period, with another of his scripts now in production at Warner Bros., starring Keanu Reeves and directed by Tim Miller. The strong demand for 71 Minutes highlights his growing profile within the industry, especially for high-concept, action-driven material.
Jason Reitman’s involvement is especially notable given his diverse career behind the camera. He first rose to prominence with Thank You for Smoking (2005), a sharp satire that established his voice as a filmmaker. He followed this with Juno (2007), which became a critical and commercial success, earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director and winning Best Original Screenplay for Diablo Cody. Reitman continued to explore character-driven stories with films like Up in the Air (2009), another Oscar-nominated project, and Young Adult (2011).
In more recent years, Reitman has balanced original work with franchise filmmaking. He directed Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021), continuing the legacy of the iconic series created by his father, Ivan Reitman, and has remained closely involved in developing the Ghostbusters universe through Ghost Corps. His most recent directorial effort, Saturday Night (2024), took a different approach, chronicling the chaotic lead-up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live. Notably, that film also employed a ticking-clock structure, making his connection to 71 Minutes feel particularly fitting.
While Reitman is not directing 71 Minutes at this stage, his experience with character-focused storytelling and tension-driven narratives could influence the project’s development. His work often blends human drama with larger concepts, something that could align well with the film’s real-time premise.
71 Minutes Bringing Real Time Thrills To The Big Screen
The appeal of 71 Minutes lies in its simplicity and urgency. Real-time thrillers have long been a compelling format, placing audiences directly alongside the protagonist as events unfold without interruption. The added constraint of a strict 71-minute window raises the stakes even further, suggesting a film that will rely heavily on pacing, atmosphere, and sustained tension.
Sony’s acquisition of the script signals strong confidence in the project’s potential, especially given the level of competition it attracted. With a high-concept premise, an in-demand writer, and a seasoned producer attached, 71 Minutes is already shaping up to be a project worth watching closely as it moves through development.
More details, including casting and potential directorial involvement, are expected to emerge in the coming months.
