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Justin Marks (writer)

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For the American racing driver, see Justin Marks.
Justin Marks
Born
United States
Alma materColumbia University
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, producer, television showrunner
Years active2002–present

Justin Marks is an American screenwriter, producer and television showrunner. He was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards as one of the writers of Top Gun: Maverick. Marks alongside his wife Rachel Kondo is the creator and showrunner of the FX epic series Shōgun, based on the novel by James Clavell.

Education

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Marks graduated from Columbia College of Columbia University in 2002 and he studied architecture in college. During his senior year, he befriended a literary manager, who helped him launch his career in screenwriting.[1][2]

Career

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One of the first scripts Marks penned was Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li for 20th Century Fox. A year prior, he had also written a script for a potential He-Man film, initially entitled Grayskull: The Masters of The Universe. Marks is no longer involved with this project as of 2024, when it was announced that the film will have a script written by Chris Butler.

After a pilot produced for SyFy failed to sell, Marks wrote of his experiences for the Hollywood Reporter.[3]

In July 2013, Marks was hired by Disney to write a live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book.[4] Jon Favreau came on board as director,[5] and the film was released in April 2016, grossing $966 million worldwide. In 2016, Marks was working on a Jungle Book sequel with Favreau returning as director.[6]

In June 2015, it was revealed that Marks was working on the screenplay for a sequel to the 1986 film Top Gun.[7] The film, titled Top Gun: Maverick, was released in theatres between May 24 and May 27, 2022; Marks was credited as story co-writer with Peter Craig.[8][9]

Marks created the Starz science-fiction thriller Counterpart, starring J. K. Simmons. The show was ordered straight-to-series for two ten-episode seasons. The first episode premiered December 10, 2017, but the series failed to attract an audience.[10] Marks stated on his Twitter feed that MRC would attempt to find the series a new home.[11] Starz cited a lack of female appeal as a factor in the show's cancellation.[12]

In 2020, Marks and his wife Rachel Kondo commenced work on a new television TV adaptation of the James Clavell novel Shogun.[13][14]

He is also currently writing Prince of Port Au Prince, a Netflix CG-animated feature film inspired by the childhood of Haitian singer and The Fugees co-founder Wyclef Jean.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Notes Distributor
2009 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Writer 20th Century Fox
2016 The Jungle Book Writer Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
2022 Top Gun: Maverick Story only Paramount Pictures

Television

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Year Title Writer Executive
Producer 		Showrunner Creator Notes
2013 Rewind Yes Yes No No TV movie
2017-2019 Counterpart Yes Yes Yes Yes
2024 Shōgun Yes Yes Yes Yes with Rachel Kondo

References

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  1. ^ "Get a manager". johnaugust.com. 31 May 2011. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
  2. ^ "What Was Your Favorite Film or Performance in 2017?". Columbia College Today. 23 January 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "My Life as a Screenwriter". Hollywood Reporter. 15 May 2013. Retrieved May 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "Justin Marks To Adapt Live-Action Jungle Book Reboot At Disney". Deadline Hollywood. July 9, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 6, 2013). "Jon Favreau In Talks To Helm New Disney Adaptation Of Kipling's The Jungle Book". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  6. ^ Kit, Borys (April 11, 2016). "Jungle Book 2 in the Works With Jon Favreau, Justin Marks (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
  7. ^ Zumberge, Marianne (June 26, 2015). "'Top Gun 2' to Feature Maverick, Drone Warfare". Variety. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  8. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony; Tartaglione, Nancy (September 1, 2021). "'Top Gun: Maverick' Flies From Thanksgiving To Memorial Day Weekend; 'Mission: Impossible 7' Ignites In Fall 2022". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  9. ^ "Top Gun: Maverick". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  10. ^ "Counterpart Canceled". Decider. 11 February 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  11. ^ "Counterpart Canceled". Decider. 11 February 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  12. ^ "'Counterpart': J.K. Simmons' Starz Sci-Fi Thriller "Too Male" To Score Third Season Amid "Premium Female" Push – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. 26 July 2019. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  13. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 23, 2020). "'Shōgun' "Re-Adaptation" With Writer Justin Marks Headed To Production At FX". deadline.com. Deadline. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  14. ^ "FX's 'Shogun': 'You Have to Have Japanese People With Agency,' Network Says". IndieWire. 5 February 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
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