How One Response to a Reddit Query Became a Big-Budget Flick

Jason Fagone, writing for Wired:

It took him just 10 minutes to write 350 words about the marines’ first day in ancient Rome. He clicked save. A few moments later, he refreshed his browser and saw that he had gotten a couple of upvotes. Then he thought about what to write next.

Erwin needed to invent a good reason for the two armies to fight. Unsurprisingly, he happened to have read a lot of Roman history, and he knew that around 23 BC, some senators had attempted a coup on emperor Augustus. What if, just as the senators were plotting, a small army appeared out of nowhere “with a vast array of what appears to be bizarre siege machinery”?

I remember reading this story when James Erwin originally posted it to Reddit and getting completely hooked. James has a real talent. I can’t wait to see what comes of it!

(via boing boing)