Umair Aleem is a Los Angeles-based scriptwriter. He is most recognized for writing Kate, the Netflix action-adventure film. Kate was the most streamed film for 12 consecutive days following its release.
Aleem also wrote the Danger Girl adaptation, which turned into a franchise. Stampede Ventures picked up one of his latest scripts, The Paladin. The company is considering the film for a new franchise.
Umair Aleem wrote Netflix film “Kate”
Kate featured on Hollywood’s 2017 annual Black List of top unproduced screenplays. Netflix bought the script that same year.
The Netflix action flick follows an ex-hitwoman who has 24 hours to locate her mysterious killer after being poisoned on a Tokyo assignment. Kate premiered on Netflix in September 2021.
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Mike Martineau, and Woody Harrelson starred in the film.
Umair Aleem adapted “Danger Girl” comic
Constantin Film teamed up with Bolt Pictures and Prime Universe Films to acquire the rights to Danger Girl in 2017. The scriptwriter signed on to write the movie adaptation in 2018. Aleem wrote the initial drafts and director Jeff Wadlow will contribute rewrites.
The 1996 comic book series by J. Scott Campbell and Andy Hartnell follows reluctant secret spy recruit Abbey Chase. Operative Chase teams up to locate and protect special objects from the mercenary organization The Hammer Syndicate.
Constantin Film planned to begin shooting the Danger Girl movie, with hopes for a TV show as well, in 2020.
In 2018, Aleem wrote the sequel to Mark Wahlberg’s Mile 22 for entertainment company STX. His script The Beast is also currently in development with Hollywood director Peter Berg. Aleem also co-wrote the 2015 film Extraction, where a son rescues his former-CIA-operative father from a kidnapping.
Aleem is represented by talent agency Verve and management company Lit Entertainment Group.
Umair Aleem sells “The Paladin” Script
Entertainment company Stampede Ventures bought the rights to The Paladin in September 2018. Like Danger Girl, the company is eyeing Aleem’s latest action-adventure script as the start of a new franchise.
The Paladin follows a warrior mage, the last of his kind, who dedicates himself to one final journey. He protects a child with the power to either save or obliterate the world. Stampede Ventures plans to begin production in 2022.
“The Paladin was born out of my adoration for spaghetti Westerns, samurai sagas, the glory days of Heavy Metal magazine and other cool genre sh*t,” Aleem told Deadline. “I’m so freakin’ stoked to rock ‘n’ roll with the supercool team at Stampede.”
Watch Kate on Netflix here.
