Cursed ATUK Screenplay

Some believe the following story is about a real curse others think it is just an urban legend. I will leave it to the reader to decide.

ATUK screenplay

The ATUK screenplay is a lame comedy about an overweight Inuit Alaskan who stows away on an airplane. It is the classic fish out of water story.

The Inuit’s plane lands in New York City and this Alaskan finds himself having to deal with this large city and its’ people. The script has a happy ending for he ultimately finds love.

It is said many people who have read this script have met premature deaths. Six of its’ high profile victims are said to be: John Belushi, Sam Kinison, John Candy, Chris Farley, Phil Hartman and Michael O’Donoghue.

John Belushi

The screenwriter of ATUK, Tod Carroll wrote the story with John Belushi in mind for the title role. In the 1980s Belushi read the script and loved it. The story was about to start filming when Belushi died of a drug overdose.

For the next 10 years the script was set aside. Then the abrasive comedian Sam Kinison accepted the main role. However, he demanded the script be rewritten. He told studio executives that he would not promote the film unless this was done.

Sam Kinison

Kinison then quit or was fired—depending on who tells the story. This ruined his Hollywood career. In April of 1992 a drunk teen driver hit him.

Kinison was sober at the time. He died of injuries sustained from this head on collision.

John Candy

In 1994, the comedian John Candy read the script and also loved it. Just after expressing an interest in playing the lead role he died of a heart attack.

Chris Farley was 33 years old when he died of a drug overdose. John Belushi was the same age. These two men have something else in common. Chris Farley was just about to portray the overweight Inuit that finds himself in the unfamiliar New York City.

 

Chris Farley

Phil Hartman

Chris Farley had sent the ATUK script to his friend Phil Hartman. He suggested his friend play the supporting role. A few months after reading the script Hartman’s wife shot him several times at point blank range and then turned the gun on herself.

After John Candy’s death rumors flew around Hollywood that the ATUK script was cursed. It was believed that this script was also responsible for the death of Saturday Night Live writer Michael O’Donoghue.

O’Donoghue had read the script and discussed it with John Candy. A few months later he died of a sudden cerebral hemorrhage.

Michael O'Donoghue

So did ATUK script have something to do with these 6 men’s deaths or are they all just coincidences?

The studio that bought United Artists still retains the rights to this story. Some believe it is best to keep it tucked away in a dusty file cabinet.