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Max Landis
Landis at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
Born	(1985-08-03) August 3, 1985 (age 39) Beverly Hills, California, United States
Occupation(s)	Writer, filmmaker
Years active	2001–present
Parent(s)	John Landis Deborah Nadoolman Landis

Max Landis (/ˈlændɪs/; born August 3, 1985) is an American writer and filmmaker, known for writing the films Chronicle (2012), American Ultra (2015), Victor Frankenstein (2015), and Bright (2017), and for producing the Syfy series Channel Zero and the American adaptation of Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency on BBC America. He has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. He is the son of director John Landis.

Early life

Landis was born in Beverly Hills, California, the son of director John Landis and costume designer and historian Deborah Nadoolman Landis. His family is Jewish. He left Beverly Hills High School for a therapeutic boarding school in Connecticut, but still graduated with a Beverly Hills High School diploma.

Career

Since he started writing at 16, Landis has written 75 screenplays. He sold his first script at the age of 18, a collaboration with his father, John, on the Masters of Horror episode "Deer Woman". He would later be asked to return to the series in its second incarnation, Fear Itself, independently penning the episode "Something with Bite". He also wrote for Bluewater Productions' Back to Mysterious Island, a 2008 comic series. Landis has made cameo appearances in a number of John Landis' films, including The Stupids, Blues Brothers 2000 and Burke and Hare. In 2011 and 2012, Landis was listed among Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" young people to watch in the entertainment industry.

While attending the University of Miami, Landis wrote numerous shorts which were produced by students in the school's film program. Upon leaving the university, Landis went on a "spec-selling streak", having three of his pitches optioned within six months. First, Landis sold Chronicle to producer John Davis and 20th Century Fox's Davis Entertainment. The Chronicle script was previously included on the Black List, an annual compendium of the year's best unproduced screenplays. A documentary-style movie about three Seattle teenagers that develop superpowers after encountering a strange substance in the woods, Chronicle was directed by Josh Trank, and takes a different approach to handling superpowered characters.

Chronicle was released on February 3, 2012. It received wide acclaim and Rotten Tomatoes gives it an approval rating of 85% based on review from 171 critics, and the site's consensus says the film "transcends its gimmicks with a smart script, fast-paced direction, and engaging performances from its young, talented cast". Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert praised the movie, saying, "sometimes a movie arrives out of the blue that announces the arrival of considerable new talents", and singling out Landis' dialogue as adding a natural authenticity to the proceedings. The film opened in 2,907 theaters and exceeded expectations by grossing $22,000,000 to top the weekend box office. It eventually grossed over $126,000,000. Landis wrote a draft for a sequel, but Fox was unhappy with the draft and Landis is no longer working on the project.

Davis and Fox again opted to team with Landis for a film based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

In September 2012, Landis created a TV series and sold it to Fox and planned to executive produce it with Homeland producer Howard Gordon. The series, entitled Vigilant, centers on a young woman who creates a fictional vigilante persona to stop crime and combat a brutally coercive police department and its corrupt internal affairs department. Landis also wrote the pilot script. Though the initial report described the show as a "superhero police drama," Landis said that it is not a superhero show and "has more in common with The Wire than Smallville."

On the same day Chronicle was released, Landis released a comedic short film to YouTube entitled The Death and Return of Superman. The video, drawing inspiration from the Drunk History series of short films (including Landis' own Drunk Comic Book History videos about Robin and Batman: Knightfall) retells the story of Superman's death and return through Landis' voice and perspective, with scenes acted out by his friends and actors including Elijah Wood, Mandy Moore, Simon Pegg, Jennette McCurdy, Ron Howard and Elizabeth Gillies.

In 2012 Landis began work on his directorial debut Me Him Her. The film was released March 2016.

In February 2015, Landis directed Ariana Grande's music video "One Last Time". He was accused of plagiarising the style and themes of the video from the music video for "You Are the One" by Australian band SAFIA.

In March 2015, Landis, a wrestling fan, released a short film, Wrestling Isn't Wrestling, for free on YouTube. The comedic film explained the nature of professional wrestling using the career of wrestler Triple H. Several actors and wrestlers had cameos. In response, Triple H described the film as "awesome" and that Landis "gets it". PWInsider described it as "very engaging" with "unique and creative production", "especially worth passing on to anyone who ever questions why you enjoy pro wrestling"; while prowrestling.net said it was "must-see", "innovative" and funny. Landis was later on secretly hired as a consultant for WWE Raw.

Personal life

Landis stated in an interview with Buzzfeed that he has cyclothymia and dysgraphia.

Controversies

Landis has been sharply criticized for statements he's made about women, and he has been accused of abuse and sexual misconduct by several women.

Misogyny accusations

In a 2013 interview with self-styled sexologist Shelby Sells, Landis said, "the most fucked up thing was that i cheated on a girl who i also gave a crippling social anxiety, self-loathing, body dismorphia, eating disorder to." The interview was sharply criticized, such as in an essay on the website Jezebel which described his comments about women and relationships as "obnoxious", "twisted", and "gross". Landis later claimed to have been drunk during the interview.

In a post on Twitter in 2015, Landis described the lead character Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a "Mary Sue", a term originating in critiques of fan fiction, now often used derisively by critics of feminism to describe female protagonists who are "too competent". He later stated in an interview that he stood by his criticism, but "I regret framing it that way. I didn’t understand that the term 'Mary Sue' had been co-opted".

Sexual assault accusations

In December 2017, Landis was accused of sexual assault by former co-worker Anna Akana. MAD Magazine editor Allie Goertz had commented several weeks earlier about "a famous director’s son" that she "couldn’t imagine someone more scared in a post-Harvey Weinstein world," referring to the series of allegations of sexual misconduct by the film producer. Other entertainment-industry figures commented in response about this person's bad reputation without naming him. Following Akana's statement, others confirmed Landis' reputation by name. Anti-harassment activist Zoe Quinn posted about Landis, alleging that his abuse of women was an "open secret" in Hollywood, and that she’d been withholding the story because "him & his dad are powerful figures." In June 2019, Landis' former girlfriend Whitney Moore posted on Twitter about Landis, referring to "horrific, inhumane things he did to me".

Filmography

Film

Television

Short film

Web series

Music videos

Acting credits

Bibliography

References

1. JWeekly: "celebrity jews" by Nate Bloom February 2, 2012
2. JSpace: "Forbes Features Members of the Tribe In 30 Under 30" Archived 2012-01-30 at the Wayback Machine December 29, 2011
3. "The Amazing Origin Story Of A Hollywood Wonder Boy Learning To Use His Powers For Good, Not Evil". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
4. Script Magazine: Mad Max Archived May 4, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
5. "Max Landis talking about screen-writing and Hollywood at Dubai Comic Con". YouTube. 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
6. IMDB: "Masters of Horror" Deer Woman
7. IMDB: "Fear Itself" Something with Bite
8. "Back To Mysterious Island #1 – TPB (Issue)". 2014-02-02. Retrieved 2015-10-02.
9. IMDB:Max Landis
10. Dorothy Pomerantz (2011-12-19). "Max Landis, Screenwriter, 26". Forbes.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
11. Tanya Thompson (2008-10-05). "Spotted On Site: Max Landis". The Miami Hurricane. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
12. Sneider, Jeff (2011-02-08). "Max Landis on a spec-selling streak". Variety.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
13. Sauriol, Patrick (2010-12-15). "The Black List of 2010 – Part 2". Coronacomingattractions.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
14. McClintock, Pamela (August 11, 2010). "Fox picks up Max Landis' 'Chronicle' script". Variety.
15. Kelly, Tim (2010-08-26). "Max Landis sets the record straight on his movie Chronicle". Chud.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
16. "Chronicle". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
17. "Chronicle". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. 2012-02-01. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
18. Downey, Ryan J. (2012-02-06). "'Chronicle' Makes Fourth Highest Super Bowl Debut". Mtv.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
19. "Chronicle". Box Office Mojo. 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
20. Brooks, Brian. "Max Landis Set To Write 'Chronicle 2' For Fox". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
21. Fox Isn't Happy With 'Chronicle' Sequel Script, John Landis Says, MTV (October 11, 2012).
22. "Frankenstein Coming To Life for Fox". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
23. "'Homeland's' Howard Gordon, 'Chronicle' Scribe Sell 'Superhero' Police Drama to Fox (Exclusive)". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2012-09-17. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
24. Twitter / Uptomyknees
25. "Drunk Comic Book History Chronicles". Aboutheroes.com. 2012-02-03. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
26. "VOTD: Max Landis' 'The Death and Return of Superman'". Slashfilm.com. 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2012-11-06.
27. Armitage, Hugh (2012-11-06). "'Chronicle's Max Landis to direct sexual identity film 'Me Him Her' – Movies News". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
28. "Max Landis Sets His Directorial Debut in Indie Comedy 'Me Him Her'". FirstShowing.net. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
29. "Max Landis Directing Me Him Her | Movie News | Empire". Empireonline.com. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
30. "Max Landis' directing debut: 'Me Him Her'". Variety.com. 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
31. "Ariana Grande's 'One Last Time' Video Could Bring About The End Of The WORLD". Capital FM. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
32. ^ Johnson, Mike. "Wrestling Isn't Wrestling – Screenwriter Max Landis produces ode to professional wrestling". pwinsider.com. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
33. Martin, Adam. "Triple H comments on Max Landis wrestling parody". wrestleview.com. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
34. "Former WWE personalities, independent wrestling stars, and celebrities appear in a short film profiling and parodying the career of Triple H". prowrestling.net. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
35. "Max Landis Reveals He's a Consultant for WWE". 411MANIA. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
36. Zakarin, Jordan (November 5, 2013). "The Amazing Origin Story Of A Hollywood Wonder Boy Learning To Use His Powers For Good, Not Evil". Buzzfeed. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
37. Sells, Shelby. "Interview Series: Max Landis". Internet Wayback Machine. Shelby Sells. Archived from the original on 30 September 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
38. J. M. Baker, Katie. "Screenwriter Bro Just Might Be Hollywood's Biggest Fuckwit". Jezebel. 2017 Gizmodo Media Group. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
39. ^ Riesman, Abraham. "Who's Afraid of Max Landis?". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
40. ^ Menta, Anna. "SCREENWRITER MAX LANDIS SAYS HE'S 'SICK' OF FEMINIST MEDIA CALLING HIM SEXIST". Newsweek. Newsweek. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
41. ^ Burwick, Kevin. "Max Landis Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women". MovieWeb. WATCHR Media Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
42. Freeman, Molly. "Sexual Assault Allegations Levied at Max Landis on Twitter". Screen Rant. Valnet. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
43. ^ Stern, Marlow. "'Bright' Screenwriter Max Landis Accused of Sexual Assault". The Daily Beast. The Daily Beast Company LLC. Retrieved 5 January 2018.
44. Walsh, Shannon. "Max Landis: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Heavy Inc. Retrieved 14 January 2018.
45. Hughes, William. "One of Max Landis' sexual assault accusers comes forward with more details". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2019-03-02.
46. Moore, Whitney (2019-06-11). "a dam has been brokenpic.twitter.com/EecgfgUfY9". @tweetneymoore. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
47. Hipes, Patrick (2015-11-18). "'Channel Zero' Anthology Series Gets Greenlight From Syfy For 2-Season Run". Deadline. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
48. Littleton, Cynthia (2016-01-08). "BBC America Gives Series Order to 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency'". Variety. Retrieved 2016-10-08.
49. @Uptomyknees (September 9, 2014). "MY #SCP! If you like it, please upvote! http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-2137" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
50. i09

External links

• Max Landis at IMDb 

• 1985 births
• American Jews
• American male screenwriters
• Beverly Hills High School alumni
• Jewish American writers
• Living people
• People from Beverly Hills, California
• People with bipolar disorder
• Sexual harassment in the United States
• University of Miami alumni
• Film directors from Los Angeles
• Screenwriters from California