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

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

Year Title Writer Illustrator Notes
2014 Godzilla: Awakening Yes No Co-written with Greg Borenstein

Filmography

Film

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

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

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

  1. ^ "The truth sinks in - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. September 18, 2003. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. ^ "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.
  3. ^ "Screenplay Junkie #6: The 2008 Black List". Film Junk. December 12, 2008. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  4. ^ "50 Great Unproduced Movie Scripts". Archived from the original on December 2, 2010. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 16, 2014). "Legendary's 'Skull Island'; Tom Hiddleston Stars, Jordan Vogt-Roberts Helms King Kong Origin Tale". Deadline.
  6. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 18, 2014). "'Godzilla' Sequel To Be Scripted By Max Borenstein". Deadline Hollywood.
  7. ^ Truitt, Brian. "'Godzilla' writer readies fans with graphic novel". USA TODAY. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Exclusive: Godzilla writer Max Borenstein On Setting the Stage With Godzilla: Awakening Graphic Novel". Comicbook.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "Interview: 'Godzilla' Screenwriter Max Borenstein". Geeks of Doom. May 5, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  10. ^ Nadler, Lonnie (May 7, 2014). "Review: "Godzilla: Awakening"". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ Kit, Borys (March 9, 2012). "Disney Developing Sci-Fi Space Adventure 'Paladin' (Exclusive)". Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 30, 2013). "Max Borenstein To Adapt 'Mona' For New Regency". Deadline.
  14. ^ Holloway, Daniel (May 4, 2017). "'Game of Thrones' Spinoffs in the Works at HBO". Variety. Retrieved May 4, 2017.
  15. ^ a b Goldberg, Lesley (May 4, 2017). "'Game of Thrones': HBO Exploring Four Different Follow-Up Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
  16. ^ Blistein, Jon (May 4, 2017). "HBO Preps 'Game of Thrones' Spin-Off Series With George R.R. Martin". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 6, 2017.