TFS Screenwriting Student Adam G. Levine’s “The Neglected” Script Gets the Hollywood Treatment, Starring Josh Duhamel

Adam G. Levine’s “wildest dreams” came true last month, when he travelled to Clinton, Mississippi to witness his second-ever feature film script brought to life for the big screen – and with an all-star cast including Josh Duhamel and Dylan Sprouse, no less.
The sixth-term Writing for Film & Television student wrote his first draft of The Neglected back in 2021, and spent the next three years honing it under the guidance of director, producer and co-writer David Lipper.
The film follows a small-town detective (Duhamel) in a race against time to solve three murders and save his son, who’s been buried alive by a serial killer (Sprouse). It was shot over just 12 days this past December with Lipper at the helm.

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“I couldn’t believe how huge this production was…and the cast, budget, setting, crew, and everything was just so beyond my wildest dreams and expectations,” Levine said of his December visit to the Clinton set of The Neglected – an unexpected trip Lipper insisted on so that Levine could watch his vision come to fruition firsthand.
“I am truthfully so honoured to have met David. He’s worked with the biggest stars in Hollywood, and I was a nobody, but he took a chance on me, anyway, and I’m forever grateful to him.”

Indeed, Levine’s trajectory from newbie screenwriter to credited co-writer and executive producer on The Neglected is one that all began after a chance introduction to the Latigo Films president and CEO by a family friend. Despite the film’s screenplay still being very much a work in progress at the time, Lipper nevertheless recognized the unique premise and gripping narrative of Levine’s concept for the film and agreed to take him and his script under his wing.
Levine quickly learned the ropes while working alongside Lipper and Latigo Films’ then-Director of Development, Isabella Blake-Thomas, to reshape the script over dozens of phone calls and live sessions, while simultaneously doing script coverage for Latigo.
“I was still learning the craft, but David saw something in the concept of my screenplay. He knew it could be something bigger,” Levine recalled, likening the “super talented” Lipper – who not only directed, produced, and co-wrote The Neglected, but also acted in it – to the next Quentin Tarantino.
“He helped me shape the script through 15 drafts, and by the time it was ready, it had become something I was truly proud of.”

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By 2022, the script was in good enough shape that Latigo Films optioned it, and it was sent out to cast beginning in 2023 – a process that took nearly two years. Despite a few setbacks along the way, the film eventually secured a star-studded cast including Duhamel (Transformers) as the determined detective, Sprouse (Suite Life of Zack & Cody) as the chilling killer, and other notable actors including Til Schweiger (Inglourious Basterds), Jeremy London (Mallrats), Jason London (Dazed and Confused), and Elena Sanchez (Kinds of Kindness) in other key roles.
Calling his entire on-set experience “totally surreal”, one of the biggest highlights for Levine was the production’s commitment to authenticity. Not only did The Neglected’s production team secure access to a real police precinct in Clinton, but they also cast actual police officers as extras in the film. This attention to detail was important to Levine, who shared Lipper’s desire for the film to feel grounded in reality.
“David wanted to make sure everything was accurate,” he said. “We had real officers on set, using real police equipment. It made everything feel so much more authentic.”
He was also thrilled at the opportunity to meet The Neglected’s star, Josh Duhamel, in person and watch his approach the role of Detective Shaw unfold in real time.
“Josh was incredible. To see someone like him bring the character to life was amazing. It’s crazy to think that my second-ever script is being performed by someone of his calibre,” he added.
For Levine, his whole experience bringing The Neglected from page to screen has reinforced his passion for the craft and deepened his commitment to writing.
“I first came into this industry as an actor, but being on the writing side has been so much more fulfilling for me.”
Reflecting on his time at Toronto Film School, where he’s now in his final term and boasts a 4.3 GPA, Levine credits the Writing for Film & Television program and its director, former CBC Head of Comedy Michelle Daly, with helping him refine his writing and develop the discipline he needed to succeed.
“Even though I was having all these successes, I still felt like I could learn more, so I decided to enroll in TFS – and it’s been the best experience of my life. I love, love, love, love this program,” he said, noting that his TFS experience and the mentorship he’s received from Daly has also shaped his approach to his career.
“I treat every assignment like it’s a producer assigning it to me, and I do it as soon as it’s handed out. I’m always thinking, ‘How can I make this my best work?’ Because, in this industry, you have to hustle.”
Looking ahead, Levine’s ultimate goal is to continue growing as a writer and filmmaker whose films “mean something.” Now that The Neglected has moved into post-production, he’s already focused on his next projects. He’s currently working on 2 of 200 – a 2SLGBTQIA+ film that he first started developing in 2020, which follows two teen boys who are diagnosed with the same rare cancer and find love and acceptance through their life-changing relationship – as well as a new thriller and a TV show.
“I’ve learned that once you get your foot in the door, it opens up so many more opportunities,” Levine said. “I want to tell stories with heart and authenticity, so I hope that The Neglected helps me do that — whether it’s through getting an agent or landing more deals. I’d also love to be able to teach at TFS one day and help other aspiring writers like myself.”
For Levine, the journey from a first-time screenwriter to a co-writer and executive producer on a Hollywood film is a testament to the power of persistence and taking chances.
“You have to keep fighting for your dreams, no matter how hard it is or how many times you want to give up,” he said, “because, at the end of the day, only you are in charge of your life.”
To learn more about The Neglected, check out the Deadline article announcing the film’s wrap HERE.