The Grey List Showcases the Top Forty Over 40, Proving Creativity Has No Expiration Date

The 2026 edition of The Grey List is here, spotlighting the Top Forty Over 40—a curated collection of original, production-ready feature and pilot scripts from screenwriters over 40. Launched in 2022 by PNW-based writer and filmmaker Brad M. Johnson to push back against ageism in the entertainment industry, The Grey List continues to prove that great storytelling thrives at any age.

Going into their fourth year, 2026’s list features 40 exceptional, market-ready scripts from seasoned writers and showcases an impressive range of genres, voices, and perspectives, resulting in fresh, compelling stories ready for production.

Previous Grey List featured writers have credits that range from Emmy-winning classics like Futurama, NYPD Blue, and Saturday Night Live, to massive streaming hits and fan-favorite dramas including LOST, The Witcher, The 100, and CSI.

By opening a line of discourse on the topic of ageism, Johnson hopes the stigma of being an older writer can be repositioned. Rather than something to overcome, a writer’s age should be recognized as an asset—offering gatekeepers and showrunners a depth of perspective and lived experience that can elevate a feature script or enrich any writers’ room.

“When we launched The Grey List, the mission was simple: create a visible, credible platform for screenwriters over 40 whose work is production-ready and industry competitive,” says Johnson.

“Over the last few years, we’ve had the privilege of reading some truly amazing scripts, and watching Grey List writers sign with reps, secure options, land staffing positions, and move projects into active development.” Johnson adds, “It’s a testament to the level of skill that writers with more lived experiences bring to the table, and proof that our goal here at The Grey List is one worth striving for.”

The work represented within The Grey List was selected by a dedicated team of working creatives who combed through more than 400 scripts and evaluated each one based on concept and execution, as well as individual acclaim through contests, fellowships, and other forms of third party recognition, and personal recommendations from industry professionals.

The result is a dynamic slate of forty screenplays that reflect diversity across race, gender identity, and sexual orientation—while also spanning the full spectrum of career stages, from established working professionals to represented writers seeking their breakthrough, and emerging voices just beginning their journey.

The Grey List for 2026 can be seen here (LINK).

ABOUT BRAD M. JOHNSON

Brad M. Johnson is an award-winning writer and filmmaker based in the Pacific Northwest. He is the founder and head producer of Daisy If You Do Productions. His directorial debut, Chat, won the Audience Favorite award at the Poulsbo Film Festival, and his most recent production, Sense of Emergency, has screened at multiple prestigious festivals including the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, the Sonoma International Film Festival, and the Oscar-qualifying Hollyshorts Film Festival. Brad has had multiple scripts optioned and is currently moving into pre-production on his latest scripts, a neo-noir crime drama on which he will also direct and produce.