Meghan Allen – 2026 Pilot Finalist (Hour)
Powder Keg
In 1913 Sarajevo, a socially awkward Gavrilo Princip finds friendship after joining Young Bosnia, a secret society of drunks, dreamers, and would-be freedom fighters. Unfortunately for Europe, Gavro and his boys are just competent enough to change the world… via the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand.
Powder Keg is an hour-long miniseries that combines historical satire with heartbreaking drama and teenage farce. Adding these elements to the pressure cooker of 1914 European politics results in the unluckiest assassination in history! The world will remember them as the boys who started World War I— if they can stop arguing long enough to pull it off.
The series is a witty, character-driven ensemble piece that follows young idealists in their fight for freedom from the distant Habsburg Empire. However, the heart of the story centers on a desperate young man who is terrified of being forgotten. Gavro’s struggle for recognition and his desire to belong binds him to a brotherhood that teeters on the edge of disaster. But while Young Bosnia may have started as a group of friends, teenaged revolutionaries aren’t known for their fraternity. With high stakes and low beer budgets, how would you make an empire listen? What would you do to be remembered?
Meghan Allen is a midwestern comedy writer who grew up reading fantasy novels and running through cornfields with sticks. As an adult, she has big dreams of working on shows like The Great, Hacks, and Derry Girls. She’s written several TV pilots, short films, and audio dramas. She’s even got a stage play (anything but a full feature, oof)! Much of her work explores the tensions and complexities of group dynamics— her recent projects center around the deterioration of friendships. Meghan’s passion for storytelling led her to pursue an advanced writing degree at the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she refined her skillset, learned the industry, and developed projects that launched her career in the dramatic arts. Her work has received acclaim in scriptwriting competitions and film festivals around the world. Since graduating, she has worked as a film set professional, a journalist, a narrative designer, and as a script analyst.
