Joe Hill, recognized for his literary works, composes a screenplay every year, not for monetary reasons but to secure healthcare benefits. His newest novel, “King Sorrow,” which debuted in October, is being transformed into a television series, and his 2004 short story served as the inspiration for “The Black Phone” franchise. Although there are frequent mentions of adaptations of his works, Hill’s screenwriting efforts remain largely under the radar. In an interview with Mashable, he expressed that screenwriting plays a vital role in his career, saying, “I write a screenplay every single year. And I do it for the healthcare.”

Hill obtains healthcare for his family via the Writers Guild of America (WGA), which mandates fulfilling annual income requirements. In 2024, his wife Gillian was diagnosed with cancer, which required surgery. The WGA insurance saved them a substantial amount of money. “The operation alone was $60,000,” Hill mentioned. “Due to my Hollywood healthcare, I only had to pay 700 bucks. It’s priceless to have that insurance.”

At present, Hill is working on a screenplay for 2025, adapting an unpublished novella he authored. He recounted a time when he experienced a gap in healthcare coverage that prompted him to find work in Hollywood. Scott Derrickson, the director of “The Black Phone,” assisted him in landing a job. “He treated it like it was his family healthcare,” Hill shared. Derrickson motivated Hill to adapt his novella, resulting in a collaboration with Sony Screen Gems.

Hill’s wife has made a complete recovery, but he regards screenwriting as essential for his family’s health. He intends to keep writing a screenplay each year, along with aiming to produce a novel every year in his fifties. “The next two things I’ve got lined up are adaptations of other people’s words,” Hill noted, looking forward to his future endeavors.