Question Screenwriter Screenwriting for the U.S. market in 2026 – what do they really expect?

[Lucas]

Screenwriting for the U.S. market in 2026 – what do they really expect?

A lot of people still think screenwriting is purely an artistic process. In reality, on the U.S. market in 2026 a screenplay is both a creative work and a business document. It’s not just about how good the story is, but how clear, sellable, and producible it is.

One of the biggest mistakes I see, especially from European writers, is leaving too much up to interpretation. In the U.S. system, there’s no time for that. Decisions are often made after the first 5–10 pages. If the protagonist, their goal, and the core conflict aren’t clear by then, the script usually gets passed over.

What a market-ready script needs today:

• a clear genre (don’t try to be everything at once),
• an active protagonist making real choices,
• a strong logline that sells the concept in one sentence,
• and at least some budget awareness while writing.

Spec scripts still matter, but they’re more of an entry ticket than the final destination. A lot of writers get their first real work through rewrites, development jobs, or adaptations, not their passion project. It’s less romantic, but far more realistic.

If you’re writing for the U.S. market, you have to accept one thing: the script is not sacred. It’s a working document that will change. Writers who stay flexible tend to last much longer.

Curious to hear:
Do you believe more in spec scripts or in pitching?
How much do you think about budget while you’re writing?