EXCLUSIVE: Universal Pictures has preemptively acquired Crime of the Century, a pitch that marks the first sale for Fast 5 scribe Chris Morgan since he signed a two-year first look deal at the studio. Dan Kunka will write the script and Dan Trachtenberg is attached to direct, with Morgan producing under his Chris Morgan Productions banner.

Trachtenberg created a stir recently when his short film Portal: No Escape was posted on YouTube and got close to 7 million hits. The seven-minute film is inspired by the video game series. Crime of the Century is an original idea hatched by Kunka and Trachtenberg, which revolves around a high-octane heist with a science fiction twist. Kunka notches his second big sale this year after his spec Agent Ox sold to Sony and produce Neal Moritz.

As for Morgan, he’s writing Fast & Furious 6 and is a go to guy for Universal on big films, with credits that include Wanted and 47 Ronin, the latter of which is in post production with Keanu Reeves starring. ICM repped Morgan, Kunka and Trachtenberg, and Trachtenberg’s managed by Oasis Media Group and Kunka by Madhouse Entertainment. Below is Trachtenberg’s short film:

