Eric Heisserer's Career: From Blockbuster Scripts to Television Dramas
The journey of a professional screenwriter often involves a mix of high-profile successes, experimental television, and the persistence to navigate the complexities of studio development. Eric Heisserer has carved out a diverse portfolio, transitioning from early script attempts to writing some of the highest-grossing films of the modern era.
Early Career and Industry Insights
Heisserer's early work included writing Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li for 20th Century Fox. He also spent time developing a script for a potential He-Man film, originally titled Grayskull: The Masters of The Universe. While he was initially attached to the project, it was announced in 2024 that Chris Butler would instead write the script, marking the end of Heisserer's involvement.
Beyond writing, Heisserer has contributed to the industry discourse. After a pilot produced for the SyFy network failed to sell, he wrote a detailed account of his experiences for the Hollywood Reporter, providing a glimpse into the challenges of the television development process.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Major Cinematic Successes
Heisserer's career reached new heights through collaborations with major studios and renowned directors. In July 2013, Disney hired him to pen the live-action adaptation of The Jungle Book. Directed by Jon Favreau, the film became a massive commercial success upon its April 2016 release, grossing $966 million worldwide. Following this achievement, Heisserer began working on a sequel to the film with Favreau.
In June 2015, it was revealed that Heisserer was working on the screenplay for a sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun. Released in May 2022 as Top Gun: Maverick, the film saw Heisserer credited as a story co-writer alongside Peter Craig. This project earned him a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards.
[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]Ventures into Television and Animation
Expanding into the realm of television, Heisserer created Counterpart, a science-fiction thriller for Starz starring J. K. Simmons. Despite being ordered straight-to-series for two ten-episode seasons and premiering on December 10, 2017, the show struggled to find a wide audience. Starz attributed the cancellation in part to a lack of female appeal, though Heisserer noted via Twitter that MRC would seek a new home for the series.
More recently, Heisserer has collaborated with his wife, Rachel Kondo, to develop a new television adaptation of James Clavell's novel Shogun, a project they commenced in 2020.
His current projects also extend into animation. He is writing Prince of Port Au Prince, a CG-animated feature film for Netflix. The story is inspired by the childhood of Wyclef Jean, the cofounder of The Fugees and renowned Haitian singer.
Key Facts
- Academy Award Nomination: Nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay for Top Gun: Maverick.
- Box Office Success: Wrote The Jungle Book (2016), which earned $966 million globally.
- TV Creation: Created the Starz sci-fi series Counterpart.
- Current Projects: Working on Shogun (TV adaptation) and Prince of Port Au Prince (Netflix animation).
| Project | Role | Medium | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Jungle Book | Writer | Film | $966 million worldwide gross |
| Top Gun: Maverick | Story Co-writer | Film | Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Counterpart | Creator | TV Series | Two-season order from Starz |
| Shogun | Writer/Developer | TV Series | Adaptation of James Clavell novel |
| Prince of Port Au Prince | Writer | Animated Film | Netflix production |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which film earned Eric Heisserer an Academy Award nomination?
Eric Heisserer was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards for his work as a story co-writer on Top Gun: Maverick.
How successful was the live-action The Jungle Book?
The film was a significant commercial hit, grossing $966 million worldwide after its release in April 2016.
What happened to the series Counterpart?
Despite a two-season order, the series failed to attract a large enough audience and was cancelled; Starz cited a lack of female appeal as a contributing factor.
Who is the subject of the film Prince of Port Au Prince?
The Netflix CG-animated film is inspired by the childhood of Wyclef Jean, the Haitian singer and cofounder of The Fugees.
Is Eric Heisserer still working on the He-Man film?
No, as of 2024, it was announced that Chris Butler is writing the script for the film, and Heisserer is no longer involved.