# Crowdsourced Film Scripts Reddit User James Irwin Turns an Online Comment into a Hollywood Flick By Omar Yusuf | Published 2011-10-16 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/james-irwin References: [gizmodo](http://gizmodo.com/5849799/a-real-studio-movie-is-being-made-from-a-reddit-comment) & [boingboing.net](http://boingboing.net/2011/10/13/warner-brothers-to-film-rome-sweet-rome-movie.html) If James Irwin's [Hollywood](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hollywoodthemed-games) success story doesn't prove the magic and power of the Internet, then I don't know what does or will. It all started when Reddit user 'The_Quiet Earth' haphazardly wondered whether a modern Marine Expeditionary Unit (approximately 2,200 men) could successfully confront the famed Roman Legion under the reign of Augustus. Immediately, a wealth of funny, imaginative, yet ultimately directionless comments came spilling in. Then James Irwin joined the online conversation and summarized the eight days of imaginary battle between U.S. and ancient Roman forces in gripping, vivid detail. The support behind Irwin's story was so overwhelming it grew to form a new sub-Reddit and a [Facebook](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rival-peak) fan page. Eventually, Irwin's stunning narrative caught the attention of Adam Kolbrenner at Madhouse Entertainment, who helped the aspiring e-author develop his idea and sell it to [Warner Brothers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ram-truck). Talk about a Cinderella story! With a media storm quickly forming around the film, now called 'Rome, Sweet Rome,' more big brand studios are hoping to explore unconventional locales to find their next big script. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 1.9/10 - Popularity: 7% | Activity: 42% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) > [New Ventures](https://www.trendhunter.com/newventures) ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Aggregated Social Insights](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indiepulse.md) - [Creative Hollywood-Themed Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hollywoodthemed-games.md) - [Legendary Arena Events](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultimate-gladiator-experience.md) - [Fan-Inspired Mini-Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/battle-for-heinz.md) - [Cinematic GenAI Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-knowit-alls.md) - [Branded AI-Generated Short Films](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aigenerated-short-films.md) - [Fan-Powered Reality Competitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/pretzel-crust-island.md) - [Audio Discussion Platforms](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/rodcast.md) - [Hollywood-Themed Metaverse Spaces](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meta-hollywood.md)