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Universal Pictures has acquired an untitled pitch for a contemporary drama to be directed by Neil Burger. Project becomes a possible follow-up to Burger's "The Illusionist."

Scott Stuber and Mary Parent will produce through their U-based Stuber/Parent shingle. Burger will pen the screenplay with Dirk Wittenborn ("Fierce People").

New York-set story concerns an imminent terror threat that's caused a law-enforcement crackdown, bringing all crime to a standstill. The criminals get organized, pooling their resources to search for the terrorists. While their motivation is to get back to their nefarious business, the exercise forces them to re-examine their morality and place in society.

Burger said he and Wittenborn have already done research into contemporary criminal enterprises work in New York, and they will begin writing the project right away.

Burger's script for "The Illusionist" was recently nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and the USC Scripter Award.