Greg Berlanti

Gregory Berlanti (born May 24, 1972) is an American screenwriter, producer and director of film and television. He is known for his work on the television series ''Dawson's Creek'', '' Brothers & Sisters'', ''Everwood'', '' Political Animals'', '' Riverdale'', ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' and ''You'', in addition to his contributions to DC Comics on film and television productions, including The CW's Arrowverse, ''Titans'', and the ''Doom Patrol''. In 2000, Berlanti founded the production company Berlanti Productions.

In the 2017–2018 television season, Berlanti tied Jerry Bruckheimer's 2005–2006 record in having 10 different live-action scripted television series airing on various networks and digital platforms and took sole possession of the record, with 14 airing in the 2018–19 television season, having signed the most expensive producer deal at that time (June 2018) with Warner Bros. In the 2019–20 television season, with one cancellation and two new series, Berlanti increased the record to 18. Berlanti also directed the 2018 film '' Love, Simon'', a gay romantic comedy-drama which grossed $66million worldwide.

Berlanti was named on ''Time''s list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

Career

In 1998, at the age of 26, Berlanti landed his first writing job on The WB's ''Dawson's Creek'', where he quickly rose through the producing ranks from staff writer to executive producer. When creator and then-showrunner Kevin Williamson decided to step away from the show, 28-year-old Berlanti was promoted to showrunner.

Berlanti has spoken in many interviews about the importance of introducing a gay character into a primetime television show and featuring the first same-sex kiss between two men on U.S. network television on ''Dawson's Creek''. Speaking with ''The Hollywood Reporter'', he stated, “In the beginning, there was resistance. When we did the Jack kiss on ''Dawson's Creek'', everyone was tentative. But I took over the show and that was an important thing to me. If we were going to bring the character out, it seemed silly to me that he couldn't kiss.” When asked what he would have done if the network had said no to the kiss, Berlanti added, “I was prepared to quit. I really was.”

Berlanti subsequently created two drama series for Warner Brothers: ''Everwood'' and ''Jack & Bobby''. He and his business partner Mickey Liddell struck a deal with Warner Bros. in March 2003 via Berlanti/Liddell Productions. By the age of 32, he had also already directed his first feature film, '' The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy'', which starred Timothy Olyphant, Zach Braff, Justin Theroux, and Dean Cain. After three years at Warner Bros., he moved to Touchstone Television in 2006 and set up Berlanti Television as his new production company.

In 2006, Berlanti produced and wrote '' Brothers & Sisters'' for ABC, which aired for five seasons and featured the first same-sex legal marriage on network television. He replaced Marti Noxon, who departed the show because of creative differences.

In 2007, Berlanti executive-produced ''Dirty Sexy Money'' for ABC, which aired for two seasons and featured the first recurring transgender character on primetime television.

In 2008, Berlanti created and produced the ABC legal drama ''Eli Stone'' and, in 2012, the USA miniseries '' Political Animals''. At ABC, he produced and worked alongside Jon Harmon Feldman, former ''Dirty Sexy Money'' showrunner, to create ''No Ordinary Family''. In 2011, he shifted from ABC Studios back to its original home at Warner Bros. Television. For NBC, he produced ''The Mysteries of Laura'', an American adaptation of the Spanish television series, which premiered on September 17, 2014, and '' Blindspot'', which premiered on September 21, 2015.

Berlanti directed the 2010 film '' Life as We Know It'', starring Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel. He produced the film '' Pan'' for Warner Bros. under his Berlanti Productions banner; the film was released October 9, 2015.

In January 2016, The CW ordered the Berlanti-produced television pilot '' Riverdale'', based on the characters from Archie Comics. The pilot was picked up to series in May 2016. ''Riverdale'' premiered on January 26, 2017, and was renewed for a second season on March 7, 2017. In September 2017, it was reported that a live-action television series based on the comic book ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' was in development for The CW by Warner Bros. Television and Berlanti Productions. In December 2017, the project had moved to Netflix, and the first season of ''Chilling Adventures of Sabrina'' was released on October 26, 2018. On December 18, 2018, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.

In February 2015, it was announced that Berlanti and Sera Gamble would develop a series for Showtime based on Caroline Kepnes's thriller novel ''You''. Two years later, it was announced that the series was purchased by Lifetime and put on fast-track development. ''You'' premiered on September 9, 2018. On July 26, 2018, ahead of the series premiere, Lifetime announced that the series had been renewed for a second season. On December 3, 2018, it was confirmed that Lifetime had passed on the series and that Netflix picked up the series ahead of the release of the second season. The second season was released on December 26, 2019. On January 14, 2020, Netflix renewed ''You'' for a third season, which was released on October 15, 2021. In October 2021, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season.

More recently, his Berlanti/Schechter Films company had a first-look deal with Netflix.

DC Comics

Film

Berlanti co-wrote and co-produced the DC Comics film ''Green Lantern'', starring Ryan Reynolds as the titular character. As the film was neither critically nor financially successful, further planned releases were cancelled.

In May 2016, Berlanti discussed his involvement, as producer and possibly as director, in a ''Booster Gold'' feature film that was in development. Zack Stentz was signed to the project as screenwriter. It is still in movie limbo.

Arrowverse

In January 2012, it was announced that, along with Andrew Kreisberg and Marc Guggenheim, Berlanti would create, write, and produce a series called ''Arrow'', based on Green Arrow, for The CW. The series premiered on October 10, 2012, and was picked up to full series in the same month. On July 30, 2013, it was announced at the summer TCA tour that Berlanti, Kreisberg, and DC Comics CCO Geoff Johns would be introducing Barry Allen in the second season of ''Arrow'', with the possibility of the character being spun off to his own series. Actor Grant Gustin was cast and made his debut in episode 8, "The Scientist." In November 2013, The CW officially ordered a pilot for ''The Flash'', and in May 2014, the network picked the project up to series, with a premiere scheduled for autumn of that year.

On February 26, 2015, it was announced that Berlanti, along with Guggenheim and Kreisberg, would write and executive produce a spin-off series featuring The Atom (Brandon Routh), Captain Cold (Wentworth Miller), Martin Stein (Victor Garber), and The White Canary (Caity Lotz), for a potential 2016 premiere. The series was ultimately titled ''Legends of Tomorrow'', and it followed a ragtag team of heroes and villains as they traveled through time and space on a mission to stop the devious immortal Vandal Savage. The series premiered on January 21, 2016, and was renewed for a second season on March 11, 2016.

''Supergirl''

On September 4, 2014, it was reported that Berlanti would executive-produce a re-imagining of the origin of ''Supergirl'', to be written by '' The New Normal'' and ''Chuck'' alum Ali Adler. ''The Flash'' co-creator Johns was also involved with development. On September 19, 2014, it was reported that CBS had made a series commitment to ''Supergirl''. It was also announced that Berlanti would co-write the first episode.

After its first season, the show moved from CBS to The CW, bringing all live-action Arrowverse shows together on one network. The show made history in 2018 for featuring the first live-action transgender superhero when Nicole Maines was cast in a main role.

Other DC shows

Berlanti worked with Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim Akil to develop ''Black Lightning'' which also aired on The CW.

Berlanti also produced ''Titans'', starring Brenton Thwaites, with Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter; ''Doom Patrol'', starring Matt Bomer and Brendan Fraser, with Jeremy Carver, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter; and '' Stargirl'' starring Brec Bassinger, with Greg Beeman, Melissa Carter, Geoff Johns, Sarah Schechter, and Glen Winter.

In 2017, Berlanti wrote and executive-produced '' Freedom Fighters: The Ray'' for The CW's streaming platform. The show was praised for its depiction of the first openly gay superhero to headline a series.

In 2019, it was announced that Berlanti would be producing shows based on ''Green Lantern'' and '' Strange Adventures'' for HBO Max. It was also revealed that Berlanti would also serve as a writer on the ''Green Lantern'' series.

Personal life

He was born in Suffern, New York

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