According to Variety, Sony just ponied up 3 million big ones to screenwriter Ken Nolan for his 75-page "scriptment" entitled "The Grays," which is based on an as-yet-unpublished novel by Whitley Strieber.

The novel won't be published until next August, but here's the story scoop: It "concerns an alien race who essentially function as the "United States of the cosmos" -- running things on Earth as well as on other worlds. Operating in secrecy, the aliens are unwilling to reveal themselves for fear of altering mankind's development."

Apparently the lead role will go to an actress, but that's pretty much all the info available so far. But here's what we're wondering: If Nolan got 3 million bucks for his encapsulation of Strieber's book ... then how much dinero is the author due to receive? Either way, sounds like a pretty cool concept.

Nolan's only previous screenplay was for Ridley Scott's "Black Hawk Down," while Mr. Stieiber is probably best known for books like "Communion," "Wolfen," "The Hunger," and "The Coming Global Superstorm," which was partially adapted into a little romantic comedy known as "The Day After Tomorrow."