Columbia Pictures has acquired the S. Craig Zahler (Air Guitar Nation) spec script The Big Stone Grid.

The story centers on the investigation of a bizarre suicide which uncovers a secret extortion ring that operates in New York City. S. Craig Zahler is a former cinematographer who left the movie biz to become a caterer, even though he worked on screenplays in his spare time. His spec The Brigands of Rattleborge landed atop the Black List in 2006, which is being developed by Phoenix Pictures. The Big Stone Grid sparked a bidding war after it hit the market on Wednesday, with Columbia winning the auction on Friday.

Michael De Luca will produce The Big Stone Grid. S. Craig Zahler also sold his spec Raw Knuckles to Warner Bros. and his novel, A Congregation of Jackals will be published in May.