Universal Pictures and the Kennedy/Marshall Co. have picked up the spec thriller, American by Blood from Matthew Sand.

The film is based on the novel by Andrew Huebner about three U.S. Army scouts who are the first to arrive at the horrifying aftermath of the battle of Little Bighorn and then take on the grueling assignment of tracking down the Sioux leader, Crazy Horse. Variety notes the book was published in 2000, and was first optioned for Steven Spielberg to direct.

American by Blood has no official production schedule.