Weed Road Pictures
Akiva Goldsman | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 7, 1962 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, producer, director |
| Years active | 1994–present |
| Known for | The Client, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, I, Robot, I Am Legend, Cinderella Man, Fringe, A Beautiful Mind, The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, Titans, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds |
Akiva Goldsman (born July 7, 1962) is a prominent American screenwriter, producer, and director recognized for his involvement in films such as The Client (1994), Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, I, Robot, I Am Legend, and Cinderella Man. He has contributed to numerous credited and uncredited script rewrites and authored more than twelve episodes of the science fiction series Fringe.
In 2002, Goldsman received both the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for his work on A Beautiful Mind (2001), which also earned the Best Picture accolade. His collaboration with director Ron Howard continued in 2006 with the film adaptation of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code, followed by writing its 2009 sequel, Angels & Demons.
Goldsman played a key role in co-developing the DC Comics television series Titans as well as the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Picard, which serves as a follow-up to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Additionally, he co-created the prequel series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, set before the original Star Trek timeline.
Early life
Goldsman was born in New York City and grew up in Brooklyn Heights. He is the son of Tev Goldsman and Mira Rothenberg, both clinical child psychologists who managed a group home for children with emotional disturbances. He completed his education at Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights, where he established early professional relationships. Goldsman earned his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University and pursued graduate studies in fiction writing at New York University.
1994–2000: Early career and breakthrough
Goldsman's initial notable achievement as a screenwriter came in 1994 with the legal thriller The Client, directed by Joel Schumacher and adapted from John Grisham’s novel. Featuring Susan Sarandon and Tommy Lee Jones, the film was both a commercial success and well-received by critics.
In 1995, he penned the screenplay for Batman Forever, marking his second project with Schumacher. Produced by Tim Burton and starring Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, among others, the movie earned over $330 million globally, making it the sixth highest-grossing film that year despite receiving mixed critical reviews.
Goldsman reunited with Schumacher in 1996 to adapt another Grisham novel for the screen with A Time to Kill. This legal drama starred Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, and Matthew McConaughey. It achieved commercial success while garnering a range of critical opinions from mixed to favorable.
In 1997, Goldsman collaborated once again with Schumacher on Batman & Robin, featuring George Clooney and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The film failed to perform well financially and was met with predominantly negative critiques, harming its standing in the market. Warner Bros. initially intended to produce a sequel with Goldsman returning as writer, but these plans were abandoned after he declined involvement.
In 1998, Goldsman wrote the screenplay for the science fiction action movie Lost in Space, directed by Stephen Hopkins. Although it received largely unfavorable reviews, it achieved moderate box office success, debuting at number one and ending Titanic’s extended run at the top.
That same year, he co-wrote Practical Magic, a fantasy drama directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Sandra Bullock alongside Nicole Kidman. Despite underwhelming initial box office performance and negative critical response, the film subsequently gained a dedicated cult following.
2000–2010: Academy Award Achievement
In 2001, Goldsman penned the screenplay for A Beautiful Mind, a biographical drama centered on Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash. Directed by Ron Howard and featuring Russell Crowe in the lead role, the movie earned four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Goldsman received his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for this work.
In 2008, Goldsman became involved with the inaugural season of Fox’s horror and mystery series Fringe, contributing as a writer, director, and consulting producer. He directed and wrote the episode titled "Bad Dreams" and continued serving as consulting producer throughout the series' five-season run.
2010–2020: Growth in Franchise and Genre Filmmaking
Goldsman took on the role of producer for Universal Pictures’ Lone Survivor (2013), directed by Peter Berg and adapted from Marcus Luttrell’s memoir. The film stars Mark Wahlberg and portrays a Navy SEAL mission in Afghanistan.
His directorial debut came in 2014 with Winter’s Tale, adapted from Mark Helprin’s novel and starring Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, and Will Smith. Initially optioned by Warner Bros., the project stalled before Goldsman revived it following personal tragedy, investing his own resources and utilizing industry relationships. Despite facing budget reductions and production obstacles—including Hurricane Sandy and a visual effects company bankruptcy—he successfully completed the film, which was released on February 14, 2014.
Goldsman also directed the 2017 horror thriller Stephanie, featuring Frank Grillo.
In 2015, Paramount Pictures appointed him to lead efforts expanding Hasbro’s Transformers franchise into a shared cinematic universe.
He co-wrote and produced the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower.
By July 2017, Goldsman had signed a two-year first-look production deal with Paramount through his company Weed Road, transitioning from Warner Bros. This agreement included producing an adaptation of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six as well as developing fantasy projects based on the Ology book series, such as Alienology and Dragonology.
As of September 2018, Goldsman joined the writing team for Star Trek: Picard, concentrating on the later life of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. In 2020, he took on the roles of creator and co-showrunner for the Paramount+ series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
2020–present: Current Endeavors
In February 2025, Goldsman revealed plans to develop a new television universe at Legendary Television, reinterpreting three iconic sci-fi series originally created by Irwin Allen. This initiative includes modernized adaptations of Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Land of the Giants, and The Time Tunnel, updating Allen’s original concepts to appeal to contemporary viewers.
Personal life
Goldsman’s first spouse was film producer Rebecca Spikings-Goldsman, daughter of producer Barry Spikings, who passed away in 2010. He met his second wife, Joann Richter, in 2012; they married two years later and have two daughters together. The family divides their time between residences in Los Angeles and New York.
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Client | No | No | Yes | |
| Silent Fall | No | No | Yes | ||
| 1995 | Batman Forever | No | No | Yes | |
| 1996 | A Time to Kill | No | No | Yes | Received a nomination for Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Written Film; earned over $100 million at the box office |
| 1997 | Batman & Robin | No | No | Yes | Nominated for Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay |
| 1998 | Lost in Space | No | Yes | Yes | |
| Practical Magic | No | No | Yes | ||
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | No | No | Yes | Awarded Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay; also nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay |
| 2004 | I, Robot | No | No | Yes | |
| 2005 | Cinderella Man | No | No | Yes | Nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay |
| 2006 | The Da Vinci Code | No | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | I Am Legend | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2009 | Angels & Demons | No | No | Yes | |
| 2014 | Winter's Tale | Yes | Yes | Yes | Marked directorial debut |
| 2015 | The Divergent Series: Insurgent | No | No | Yes | |
| 2016 | ' 'The 5th Wave | ' 'No' | ' 'No' | ' 'Yes' | |
| 2017 | ' 'Rings | ' 'No' | ' 'No' | ' 'Yes' | |
| ' 'Transformers: The Last Knight | ' 'No' | ' 'No' | ' 'Partial Story' | ' Received a nomination for Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay' | |
| ' 'The Dark Tower | ' 'No' | ' 'Yes' | ' 'Yes' | ||
| ' 'Stephanie | ' 'Yes' | ' 'No' | ' 'No' | ||
| '2026' | ' 'Practical Magic 2 | ' 'No' | ' 'No' | ' 'Yes' |
- Deep Blue Sea (1999)
- Starsky & Hutch (2004)
- Mindhunters (2004)
- Constantine (2005)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005)
- Poseidon (2006)
- Hancock (2008)
- The Losers (2010)
- Fair Game (2010)
- Jonah Hex (2010)
- Lone Survivor (2013)
- King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)
- The Map of Tiny Perfect Things (2021)
- Without Remorse (2021)
- Firestarter (2022)
- Meet Cute (2022)
- I'm Reed Fish (2006)
- Brooklyn Rules (2007)
- Paranormal Activity 2 (2010)
- Paranormal Activity 3 (2011)
- Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)
- Doctor Sleep (2019)
- Back to the Outback (2021)
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Executive Producer |
Writer | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–2013 | Fringe | Yes | Yes | Yes | Directed one episode; penned eighteen; served as executive producer for two |
| 2017 | Star Trek: Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Authored three episodes; directed two installments |
| 2018–2019 | Titans | Yes | Yes | Yes | Both wrote and directed two episodes each |
| 2018–2020 | Star Trek: Short Treks | No | Yes | No | |
| 2020–2022 | Star Trek: Picard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Wrote five episodes and directed two |
| 2022 | Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Contributed as writer and director for one episode each |
| 2023 | The Crowded Room | No | Yes | Yes | Served as creator |
Acting credits
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Hancock | Executive |
| 2009 | Star Trek | Member of Vulcan Council |
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | Starfleet Admiral |
| 2021 | 'Unknown Dimension: The Story of Paranormal Activity' | Himself |