The Cool Story Behind “Déjà Vu”!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece Of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today is the 19th Anniversary of the release of the film “Déjà Vu” and the story behind it’s creation probably has drawn more attention than the film itself! I was lucky enough to talk to it’s screenwriter, Bill Marsilii!

Before “Déjà Vu” became one of the most talked-about high-concept thrillers of the 2000s, it started in the imagination of screenwriter Bill Marsilii. A passionate storyteller with a knack for bending time and space, Marsilii dreamed up the core concept of “Déjà Vu”: a government agent who uses experimental technology to travel back in time and stop a deadly terrorist attack. Inspired by the eerie feeling we all experience; that strange sensation that we’ve lived a moment before; Marsilii saw a way to turn déjà vu into the foundation for a mind-bending thriller that combined sci-fi, action, and emotional depth.

Determined to bring his ambitious idea to life, Marsilii teamed up with seasoned screenwriter Terry Rossio (best known for “Shrek” and “Pirates of the Caribbean”). Together, they spent months developing a tightly woven narrative that tackled complex themes of fate, time travel, and second chances. But Marsilii’s original spark; the emotional and psychological weight of déjà vu remained the story’s heartbeat. The result was a script so compelling, so unique, that it ignited a massive bidding war among major studios, ultimately selling for a record-shattering $5 million; the most ever paid for an original screenplay at the time.

What made this sale so historic wasn’t just the price tag; it was the triumph of a writer’s bold vision in an industry often ruled by franchises and reboots. Marsilii poured heart, brainpower, and unrelenting passion into a story that didn’t play it safe. His original idea, born out of a fascination with the unexplained and the universal longing to undo tragedy, resonated deeply with producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and director Tony Scott, who saw in it both blockbuster potential and emotional gravity. The film eventually starred Denzel Washington and became a memorable entry in the action-thriller genre; but it was Marsilii’s imaginative leap that made it all possible.

Today, Déjà Vu isn’t just remembered for its plot twists or explosive set pieces; it’s remembered as a story that started with one man’s creative spark. Bill Marsilii proved that Hollywood still makes room for original thinkers, and that one bold idea, crafted with care and conviction, can break records and turn heads. His story remains a beacon for screenwriters everywhere: dream big, write boldly, and never underestimate the power of an unforgettable “what if?”

Bonus Questions:

Giancarlo: Who are your biggest writing inspirations and what did you like to read and watch growing up? 

Bill Marsillii: I grew up loving the original Star Trek, and studying it through the books The Making of Star Trek, The World of Star Trek, and The Trouble With Tribbles, all three of which were deep-dive behind-the-scenes accounts of the making of the series, taught me a lot about writing. Rod Serling was an inspiration. I also read a lot of short stories, and loved Ray Bradbury and Harlan Ellison, two completely different science fiction writers. Richard Matheson is another great one.  

Giancarlo: Do you have a favorite project you’ve worked on? 

Bill Marsilii: I have many. Deja Vu, certainly, but many other scripts or projects that remain among my favorite work I’ve ever done, but that sadly did not get made, though several came close, among them a live-action prequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea that I sold to Disney many years ago. Another original of mine, Cold, sold to Lionsgate with Reese Witherspoon aboard to star and produce, but remains in sad limbo. And I have a current horror spec, Broad Daylight, that I think is right up there with the best things I’ve ever written. I keep a candle in the window for nearly all of them.

Giancarlo: Do you have advice for someone who wrote a spec script they’re proud of on how to sell it or get it off into the world?

Bill Marsilii: All my intel on that dates back to the previous millennium, and the rules have changed. I have a spec script of my own right now, that’s having a much tougher time in the world than I expected, even with people putting it out there for me. But here’s some advice I give in the book “101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters” (I didn’t come up with the title!) — check out pages 27-28 for a quote from me. (The whole book is full of great advice from much more successful writers than me.):

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten with life and with writing? 

Bill Marsilii: I don’t know if there’s an absolute BEST, but with Life, as often as possible, my advice is, try to say YES.  My daughter wants to me to come play with her during my work day, or maybe I don’t feel like it?  Say YES anyway.  Because someday I’ll want to, and it’ll be too late — she’s 21 now, and that time flew, and even though I said yes a lot, I wish I had done it more often.

And if you get invited to a thing and you're “eh” on whether or not to go? Try saying YES anyway — over the past several years, and throughout life, it’s surprising how often I’ve met someone wonderful or made some kind of unexpected connection just because I made the effort to go to a thing instead of just stay home.  

Best writing advice?  I don’t know what’s the best, but it’s up there:  Where screenwriting is concerned, the concept or core idea is the most important element of the script. I spend forever just coming up with a good idea for a movie; they’re not a dime a dozen, not at all, they’re rarer than gold. Because of that, I am not as prolific as I should be, but my track record for the things I do generate tends to be rather above average, not just in sales vs. non-sales, but in the dollar range of those sales. I hold out for a soulmate of a movie idea, then work on it for years (too long, I’ve no doubt). Other people have better careers than I, and would tell you that’s bad advice. But the career I do have, I credit to that mindset.

Thank you for tuning in and I hope you have a great weekend! We’ll catch you with another fun one on Monday!

-Giancarlo