Beware the Lions is a script with potential, it has commercial bones and some sharp character work. But as it stands, it's overwritten, overlong, and in need of editing. The tone wavers between spy thriller, buddy comedy, and tragic character study, but the script doesn’t commit fully to any of them. The emotional moments don’t land as hard as they could because the tonal inconsistency undercuts their gravity.
What it needs:
- A leaner, more focused first act.
- Clearer genre direction: is this satirical, emotional, serious espionage, or comic heist?
- Trimming dialogue and side scenes that don’t drive the story forward.
- Simplifying the plot.
The bones are there. The heart is there. But it needs discipline to become a better script.