Columbia Pictures has bought the disaster spec "Animals" from first-time writer and former criminal lawyer Mike Sobel.
Neal Moritz is producing through his Sony-based Original Film shingle.
Contemporary-set story chronicles what happens when all the world's animals turn on humans and take back the planet.
Sobel, who was practicing law in New York, moved to Los Angeles a year ago to pursue a writing career and penned "Animals," his first screenplay. Deal is pegged at mid-six figures.
Trevor Engelson and Nick Osbourne are executive producing.
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