Max Borenstein
Max Borenstein (born June 20, 1981) is an American screenwriter. He is best known as the creator of the MonsterVerse film series featuring classic Kaiju of Toho's Godzilla mythos, including writing Godzilla, Godzilla: Awakening (both 2014) and Kong: Skull Island (2017), and contributing to the story of Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) and Godzilla vs. Kong (2021). In 2022, he co-created the sports drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty on HBO.
Life and career
[edit]Borenstein wrote, edited, and directed the 2003 film Swordswallowers and Thin Men while a senior at Yale University. Starring Peter Cellini, Zoe Kazan, Fran Kranz and Graham Norris, and featuring Army Wives star Sally Pressman and Midnight's Children lead Satya Bhabha, the film won Best Feature and Best Screenplay at the New York Independent Film Festival and was named Best First Feature 2003 by Los Angeles Times critic Kevin Thomas.[1]
Borenstein's 2008 screenplay What Is Life Worth?, based on Kenneth Feinberg's memoir of the same name, was included on The Black List, an annual list compiled by Hollywood executives of their favorite unproduced screenplays. On February 14, 2018, it was reported that he would produce his screenplay into film alongside Michael Sugar, Marc Butan, Sean Sorensen, and Bard Dorros, with director David Frankel helming the project. It was ultimately directed by Sara Colangelo under the title Worth.[2][3] His 2009 screenplay Jimi, commissioned by Legendary Pictures and based on the life of guitarist Jimi Hendrix, was also included on The Black List.[4]
Borenstein is the credited creator of Legendary's MonsterVerse, having written and/or co-written the films Godzilla, Kong: Skull Island,[5] and Godzilla: King of the Monsters,[6] as well as the prequel graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening, co-written with his brother Greg,[7][8][9][10] and executive producing the Apple TV+ television series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which adapts the character of Lee Shaw from Awakening to live-action.[11]
On January 30, 2013, Borenstein was hired to write Paladin for Walt Disney Pictures,[12] and Mona for New Regency.[13] On May 4, 2017, HBO announced that Borenstein is one of four writers working on a potential pilot for a Game of Thrones spin-off. In addition to Borenstein, Carly Wray, Jane Goldman, and Brian Helgeland are also working on potential pilots.[14] Borenstein has been working and communicating with George R. R. Martin, the author of A Song of Ice and Fire, the series of novels upon which the original series is based.[15] Current Game of Thrones showrunners D. B. Weiss and David Benioff would also be executive producers for whichever project is picked up by HBO.[15][16]
Bibliography
[edit]| Year | Title | Writer | Illustrator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Godzilla: Awakening | Yes | No | Co-written with Greg Borenstein |
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Swordswallowers and Thin Men | Yes | Yes | No | Also cinematographer & editor and actor |
| 2014 | Godzilla | No | Yes | No | |
| 2017 | Kong: Skull Island | No | Yes | No | |
| 2019 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | No | Story | No | |
| 2020 | Worth | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2021 | Godzilla vs. Kong | No | Yes | No | |
| 2023 | Hypnotic | No | Yes | No |
Executive producer
- Ascension (2008)
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Writer | Executive Producer |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Minority Report | Yes | Yes | Also developer |
| 2019 | The Terror: Infamy | Yes | Yes | Also creator |
| 2022–2023 | Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty | Yes | Yes | |
| 2023 | Monarch: Legacy of Monsters | No | Yes | Co-created Lee Shaw (portrayed by Kurt Russell and Wyatt Russell) with Greg Borenstein for the 2014 graphic novel Godzilla: Awakening.[11] |
Short films
[edit]| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Law and Order: Christmas Special | Yes | No | No |
| 2008 | A Room of One's Clone | Yes | No | No |
| 2015 | In Her Place | No | Yes | Yes |
References
[edit]- ^ "The truth sinks in - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. September 18, 2003. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ "Michael Keaton In Talks For 'What Is Life Worth'; David Frankel Helming From Max Borenstein's Black List Script – Berlin". Deadline. February 14, 2018. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
- ^ "Screenplay Junkie #6: The 2008 Black List". Film Junk. December 12, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
- ^ "50 Great Unproduced Movie Scripts". Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 16, 2014). "Legendary's 'Skull Island'; Tom Hiddleston Stars, Jordan Vogt-Roberts Helms King Kong Origin Tale". Deadline.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 18, 2014). "'Godzilla' Sequel To Be Scripted By Max Borenstein". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Truitt, Brian. "'Godzilla' writer readies fans with graphic novel". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Exclusive: Godzilla writer Max Borenstein On Setting the Stage With Godzilla: Awakening Graphic Novel". Comicbook.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "Interview: 'Godzilla' Screenwriter Max Borenstein". Geeks of Doom. May 5, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Nadler, Lonnie (May 7, 2014). "Review: "Godzilla: Awakening"". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Legendary Comics [@legendarycomics] (November 18, 2023). "Lee Shaw first appeared in the graphic novel #GODZILLA AWAKENING in 2014 and now he's back in #MONARCH: LEGACY OF MONSTERS. Read more about Shaw in LEGENDS OF THE #MONSTERVERSE at the link in bio!" – via Instagram.
- ^ Kit, Borys (March 9, 2012). "Disney Developing Sci-Fi Space Adventure 'Paladin' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 30, 2013). "Max Borenstein To Adapt 'Mona' For New Regency". Deadline.
- ^ Holloway, Daniel (May 4, 2017). "'Game of Thrones' Spinoffs in the Works at HBO". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (May 4, 2017). "'Game of Thrones': HBO Exploring Four Different Follow-Up Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (May 4, 2017). "HBO Preps 'Game of Thrones' Spin-Off Series With George R.R. Martin". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 6, 2017.