WIRE Buzz: Netflix nabs Reddit horror story; WB TV eyes late August for production restart; Dragon Prince

After a rather heated auction, Netflix will pay a "low-seven-figure" sum for the screen rights to Matt Query's short horror story "My Wife and I Bought a Ranch," Deadline confirmed Friday. The tale of terror is currently available to read in six parts on Reddit.

Query's brother, Harrison, will write the screenplay, with Scott Glassgold of Ground Control Entertainment producing alongside Shawn Levy's 21 Laps and James Wan's Atomic Monster.

The story follows Harry (a former soldier) and Sasha, a couple who buy a ranch in Idaho, unaware that a malicious spirit visits their dream home at the start of each season. "There are certain steps that must be followed to keep the spirit out of their house, and the tension and violence grows with each gory ritual as the duel between the spirits and the ex-Marine soldier becomes personal," writes Deadline, which compared the Query's style to Stephen King and M. Night Shyamalan.

Warner Bros. Television is hoping to resume production on its Vancouver-based shows in late August.

Deadline brings word that "the situation remains fluid" in the age of coronavirus, but actors have been given the required 30-day notice, "informing them that their services for the 2020-21 season will commence in August, subject to SAG approval." At this time, tentative start dates fall between August 20-27. Naturally, all actors are required to self-isolate for two weeks, according to British Columbia health mandates. Cameras would start rolling immediately after the quarantine period ends.

The Flash, Riverdale, and Superman and Lois are among the series that are planning a return to set. Earlier this month, Supernatural crew members began arriving in Canada; the long-running program still needs to finish shooting the last three episodes of its 15th and final season.

Many shows in 2020 were forced to end early due to the abrupt shutdown caused by virus in March.

The Dragon Prince has scored an additional four seasons at Netflix. The animated fantasy series will now end after seven epic installments, which was always the overall plan, writes IGN.

"Netflix has picked up the whole saga," co-creator Aaron Ehasz revealed during the show's Comic-Con@Home panel Friday. "We feel incredibly grateful to the fans and the community who have been so passionate. After Season 3, the swell of passion and love around the show; the amount of art and talk online; and people politely telling Netflix how badly they wanted this story to continue was so inspiring, and it worked. We have a lot of work to do."

The first three seasons are now available to stream on Netflix.