Apple Original Films wins high-concept sci-fi thriller The Waffle House Index starring Inde Navarrette and produced by Brad Pitt's Plan B. Get details!
Breakout star Inde Navarrette (Obsession, Superman & Lois) has signed on to star in and executive produce The Waffle House Index, a high-concept sci-fi thriller acquired by Apple Original Films. Fresh off her massive box-office success in the horror sensation Obsession and her headline-making casting as Rogue in Marvel Studios' upcoming X-Men reboot, Navarrette will also mark her first executive producer credit on the project.
The original screenplay by Andrew Nunnelly sparked an intense Hollywood bidding war after appearing on the 2025 Black List. Apple landed the package in a seven-figure deal, partnering with Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment to bring the bizarre, high-stakes story to the screen.
What Is The Waffle House Index Plot About?
The film's title borrows from the real-world metric used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to gauge the severity of natural disasters based on the operational status of 24/7 Waffle House diners. A green index level signals full service, yellow indicates a limited menu due to low supplies, and red means the location has completely shut down under extreme danger.
Written by Andrew Nunnelly, the story subverts a standard survival thriller into a chaotic genre mashup:
- The Standoff: Jane (played by Navarrette), a graveyard-shift waitress working through an impending storm, faces immediate danger when an armed stranger walks into her restaurant.
- Escalating Chaos: The late-night altercation spirals out of control as a sudden, catastrophic flood hits the area, unleashing killer crocodiles into the rising waters.
- Sci-Fi Extravaganza: The narrative escalates into absolute mayhem featuring a nuclear blast, alien forces, and a secret magical bunker hidden directly beneath the Waffle House diner floor.
Who Is the Creative Team Behind The Waffle House Index?
The Waffle House Index reteams Apple Original Films with Plan B Entertainment, led by Oscar-winning producers Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner. The production outfit previously collaborated with Apple on major projects including Wolfs starring Brad Pitt and George Clooney.
Behind the camera, Louis Paxton is attached to direct. Paxton generated major industry momentum after winning the NEXT Innovator Award at the Sundance Film Festival for his comedy feature The Incomer.
With Navarrette attached as both the main star and an executive producer, the seven-figure package represents one of Apple's biggest original film acquisitions of the year. Production timelines and additional casting decisions have not yet been announced by Apple.