‘Entourage’ Movie Screenplay Near Completion

The screenplay for the upcoming Entourage film is almost complete, Deadline reports. The HBO series ended its eight year run exactly one year ago, and the film picks up six months after the events of the finale.

Creator Doug Ellin said he needed time off after spending 10 years on the hit series, which debuted in 2004. He is still under an overall deal with the cable network and worked on a comedy pilot starring Ed Burns and Michael Rapaport that wasn’t picked up. Ellin and producing partner Jim Lefkowitz also developed another project for the network, a boxing drama called Da Brick, with the help of Spike Lee, John Ridley and Mike Tyson. The 44-year-old said he felt “renewed momentum” when he finally got around to working on the Entourage screenplay.

Ellin told Deadline:

“There are interesting developments about Ari as a studio head, and that’s still the first page for me. But foremost is the friendship between the guys who are still hanging out and going to fun parties, and it continues with the same characters.”

Ellin also said Mark Wahlberg, who was one of the show’s executive producers, promised to kill him if he didn’t write faster. “Every time I see him, Mark says, ‘I’ve made 5 movies this year. Get going!'” he said. Ellin is on page 110 of the screenplay and said he hopes to finish by Sunday.

HBO president and co-president Michael Lombardo and Richard Plepler said they have only heard “a very general pitch” and need to read the finished script and talk to the cast before deciding whether or not to move forward with the movie. But Ellin is optimistic and said the film will retain the snark and Hollywood satire that made the show famous.

Are you excited for an Entourage film?