Alex Kurtzman

Alexander Hilary Kurtzman (born September 7, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for co-writing the scripts to Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) with his writing and producing partner Roberto Orci, and directing and co-writing The Mummy (2017). He made his directorial debut with People Like Us (2012), co-written alongside Orci and Jody Lambert.

Kurtzman is known, alongside Orci, for frequently collaborating with Michael Bay and J.J. Abrams, as well as co-creating for numerous Paramount Plus series: Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024), Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present); he also serves as showrunner of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026–present).

Early life and education

Kurtzman was born into a Jewish family^[1][2][3] and raised in Los Angeles, California.^[4] His longtime screenwriting partner Roberto Orci was his best friend in high school.

Kurtzman attended Wesleyan University.^[5]

Career

Kurtzman first teamed with Orci on the syndicated series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, for the television unit of Pacific Renaissance Pictures, then operating out of Universal International. After they produced several storylines to cope with the absence of lead actor Kevin Sorbo following a stroke that Sorbo had suffered during the fourth season, Kurtzman and Orci, both aged 24, were placed in charge of the show. They moved into films after they were asked to rewrite Michael Bay's The Island. The film earned nearly $163 million at the worldwide box office, on a budget of $126 million, which was enough of a success that they were brought in to write Bay's Transformers, which earned $710 million. Though The Island and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen were not particularly well received by critics, the two films earned a combined $1.7 billion. They co-created the Fox TV series Fringe in 2008 along with J. J. Abrams. After the pilot, Kurtzman served as consulting producer on the show for the remainder of its run.^[6] They then co-wrote the 2009 film Star Trek.

In 2011, Forbes magazine described Orci and Kurtzman as "Hollywood's Secret Weapons".

Kurtzman has frequently worked with a tight-knit group of film professionals which include J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Adam Horowitz, Roberto Orci, Edward Kitsis, Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, Jeff Pinkner, and Bryan Burk.^[2] In April 2014, both Orci and Kurtzman confirmed to Variety that they would no longer work together on film projects; they added that they would still work together—but only on television projects.^[7]

In 2018, Kurtzman signed a new five-year deal with CBS Television Studios to oversee and expand the Star Trek franchise on television, including serving as executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery (which he also co-showran with Michelle Paradise^[8]), Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Starfleet Academy (which he co-showruns with Noga Landau^[9]).^[10][11]

In August 2021, Kurtzman and his production company Secret Hideout extended their overall deal with CBS Studios through 2026.^[12]

Personal life

In 2002, Kurtzman married Samantha Counter, the daughter of lawyer Nick Counter.^[13]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

1. ^ Wills, Adam (July 5, 2007). "Screenwriter Alex Kurtzman 'Transforms' filmdom's giant robot genre". Jewish Journal. Archived September 20, 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
2. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (October 16, 2009). "Abrams keeps it all in the fan family – J.J. and his collaborators conquer Hollywood". Variety. Archived December 11, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. We’re all self-deprecating short Jews, with the exception of Bob Orci
3. ^ Wills, Adam (July 22, 2009). "Jews Get Geek on at Comic-Con". Jewish Journal. Archived July 8, 2018 at the Wayback Machine.
4. ^ "Alex Kurtzman Biography". IGN.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
5. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (June 24, 2007). "Character-Driven Films (but Keep the Kaboom)". The New York Times. Archived August 16, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
6. ^ Pomerantz, Dorothy (May 18, 2011). "Roberto Orci And Alex Kurtzman: Hollywood's Secret Weapons". Forbes. Archived August 1, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
7. ^ "Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci Splitting Up on Bigscreen (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. April 22, 2014. Archived April 23, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 22, 2014.
8. ^ "'Star Trek: Discovery' Renewed For Season 3 At CBS All Access, Michelle Paradise Joins Alex Kurtzman As Co-Showrunner". Deadline. February 27, 2019. Archived November 22, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
9. ^ Petski, Denise (March 30, 2023). "'Star Trek: Starfleet Academy' Gets Series Greenlight At Paramount+". Deadline Hollywood. Archived March 30, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
10. ^ Otterson, Joe (June 19, 2018). "Alex Kurtzman Sets Five-Year CBS TV Studios Pact, Will Oversee Expanded 'Star Trek' Universe". Variety. Archived July 21, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
11. ^ "Alex Kurtzman To Shepherd 'Star Trek' Franchise Expansion Under New 5-Year Overall Deal With CBS TV Studios". Deadline. June 19, 2018. Archived November 21, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
12. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 1, 2021). "Alex Kurtzman Inks Mega New Overall Deal With CBS Studios". Deadline Hollywood
13. ^ Hubler, Shawn (June 27, 2007). "Reel life was his real love". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
14. ^ Roberto Orci (August 10, 2008). "The All New "Hey Roberto" Thread". Don Murphy. Archived February 2, 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 22, 2008.
15. ^ Fleming, Mike (April 24, 2012). "Alex Kurtzman & Roberto Orci Re-Writing Sequel To 'Amazing Spider-Man'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived October 17, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2012.

External links

• Alex Kurtzman at IMDb