Characters
I've gotta nip this in the bud. This has catastrophe written all over it.
— Sydney • The American President

Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The speaker feels a situation is heading toward disaster and wants to stop it before it grows. Saying it has catastrophe written all over it shows they see the warning signs as unmistakable. The tone is anxious and urgent, favouring quick action over waiting.
Context reviewed