Jason Fuchs
Jason Isaac Fuchs (born March 5, 1986) is an American actor and screenwriter known for his early career in child acting and later success in writing major film screenplays.[1] Born and raised in New York City, Fuchs began performing at age seven, debuting onstage at Lincoln Center in the play Abe Lincoln in Illinois starring Sam Waterston, and made his film debut as Marvin in Flipper (1996).[1] Throughout his teens and twenties, he built a steady acting resume with guest appearances on television series such as The Sopranos (HBO, 1999–2007), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC, 1999–), and Ed (NBC, 2000–2004), alongside supporting film roles in The Hebrew Hammer (2003) and Winter Solstice (2004).[2] His most prominent acting role came in 2010 as Leon Zimmerman in the crime drama Holy Rollers, opposite Jesse Eisenberg, portraying a young Hasidic Jewish man drawn into ecstasy smuggling.[1][3] Fuchs also maintained an active theater presence, including performances in Broadway productions like The Mystery of Edwin Drood (2012).[2] Transitioning to screenwriting in the early 2010s, Fuchs earned his first major credit co-writing Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), the fourth installment in the animated franchise, which grossed $877 million worldwide and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year.[2][4] His original screenplay for Pan (2015), a fantasy adventure prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, was featured on the 2013 Black List of most-liked unproduced scripts and starred Hugh Jackman and Garrett Hedlund.[2] Fuchs continued with high-profile projects, including co-writing the story for the DC Extended Universe film Wonder Woman (2017), directed by Patty Jenkins and starring Gal Gadot, which received critical acclaim and grossed over $822 million globally.[2][5] More recent credits include writing I Still See You (2018), a supernatural thriller, and Argylle (2024), a spy action-comedy directed by Matthew Vaughn featuring an ensemble cast with Henry Cavill and Bryce Dallas Howard.[6] As of 2025, Fuchs is penning the screenplay for Netflix's live-action adaptation of the manga series My Hero Academia, directed by Shinsuke Sato, with creator Kōhei Horikoshi involved in the project.[7]Early life and education
Family and childhood
Jason Fuchs was born on March 5, 1986, in New York City, to a Jewish family with Hasidic roots on his father's side, as his father was raised in that tradition. Fuchs is the grandson of two Holocaust survivors, including his paternal grandfather who was still alive as of 2015.[8][9][10] Growing up in the culturally rich environment of New York City within this Jewish household, Fuchs showed an early fascination with entertainment; by age four, he had become a devoted television viewer who expressed a desire not just to watch but to participate on screen himself. Fuchs' childhood was also marked by the September 11, 2001, attacks; his father, who worked near the World Trade Center, picked him up from school covered in soot.[10] This budding interest in performing arts led to his professional debut at age seven, when he appeared onstage at Lincoln Center in the revival of Robert E. Sherwood's play Abe Lincoln in Illinois, sharing the stage with veteran actor Sam Waterston in the title role.[1][11] The production, directed by Robert Falls and marking a significant early opportunity in one of New York's premier venues, immersed the young Fuchs in the world of professional theater and solidified his initial steps toward a career in the arts.Academic background
Fuchs completed his secondary education at a regular high school in New York City, as his parents preferred a conventional academic environment over a performing arts program.[10] In 2005, Fuchs enrolled at Columbia College, part of Columbia University in New York City, where he pursued a major in film studies.[12] He graduated in 2009, having balanced his coursework with creative endeavors that honed his skills in storytelling and production.[13] During his sophomore year, Fuchs wrote, produced, and starred in the short film Pitch, a project that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2006 and demonstrated his early aptitude for narrative filmmaking.[12] Fuchs' involvement in campus film projects at Columbia built directly on his prior acting experiences, fostering a deeper engagement with the technical and artistic aspects of cinema.[12] This academic foundation in film studies significantly influenced his transition to professional screenwriting later in his career.[12]Career
Acting roles
Jason Fuchs began his acting career as a child, debuting professionally at age seven in a 1993 Lincoln Center Theater production of Abe Lincoln in Illinois, where he appeared in the ensemble alongside Sam Waterston.[1] His breakthrough into film came shortly after with the role of Marvin, the inquisitive young son of a single mother, in the 1996 family adventure Flipper, directed by Alan Shapiro and co-starring Elijah Wood as his cousin and Paul Hogan as their uncle.[14] The film, a remake of the 1963 classic about a boy and his pet dolphin, marked Fuchs' first major screen appearance and showcased his ability to portray youthful curiosity amid adventure and environmental themes.[15] Throughout the early 2000s, Fuchs built his resume with guest spots on prominent television series, often playing complex young characters navigating family or social pressures. In 2000, he appeared as Jr. Sontag, a child accompanying his family on a trip to Italy, in the The Sopranos episode "Commendatori" from season two.[16] He followed this with the role of Nick Radsen, a popular but manipulative high school student involved in a sexual assault case, in the 2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Popular."[17] Additional television credits during this period included episodes of Cosby (1997), The Beat (2000) as Joshua Meyerwitz, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2002) as Ricky Feldman, and Ed (2002).[8] These roles highlighted Fuchs' versatility in dramatic and procedural formats, frequently depicting adolescents in moral or emotional dilemmas. Fuchs continued with supporting film parts that reflected his growing range, including an adolescent Hasidic boy in the 2003 comedy The Hebrew Hammer and Bob, a family friend, in the 2004 drama Winter Solstice.[8] By 2006, he starred as the titular character in the independent short film Pitch, further demonstrating his lead potential.[1] A significant step came in 2010 with his portrayal of Leon Zimmerman, the innocent younger brother drawn into a world of ecstasy smuggling, in the indie crime drama Holy Rollers, opposite Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha; the film, inspired by real events involving Hasidic Jews in the 1990s, earned praise for its authentic depiction of cultural tensions.[3] As Fuchs entered his mid-20s, his acting work became less frequent as he pivoted toward screenwriting, beginning with a co-writing credit on the 2012 animated feature Ice Age: Continental Drift.[18] He continued occasional acting, including as Carlo, a flirtatious screenwriter, in La La Land (2016), as Lawrence Grey in the Fox dramatic thriller series The Passage (2019), and as the Moderator in Argylle (2024).[19]Screenwriting and producing
Jason Fuchs made his screenwriting debut with the animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), co-writing the screenplay with Michael Berg based on characters created by Michael J. Wilson, Peter Ackerman, and Jim Hecht. The film, directed by Steve Martino and Mike Thurmeier, became a major commercial success, grossing $877 million worldwide against a $95 million budget. Fuchs' script contributed to the story of Manny, Sid, and Diego navigating a shifting continent, blending humor and adventure in the Ice Age franchise. Fuchs continued his screenwriting career with Pan (2015), a fantasy prequel to J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan, for which he penned the screenplay. Directed by Joe Wright, the film explored the origins of Peter Pan and Captain Hook in a World War II-era Neverland, though it earned mixed reviews and grossed $129 million worldwide. He then wrote the solo screenplay for Wonder Woman (2017), collaborating closely with director Patty Jenkins and producer Zack Snyder on the story, which drew from William Moulton Marston's DC Comics character. The film, starring Gal Gadot as Diana Prince, achieved critical and commercial acclaim, grossing over $822 million worldwide and marking a pivotal entry in the DC Extended Universe. Fuchs also served as executive producer on It Chapter Two (2019), the sequel to the 2017 horror film, which grossed over $473 million worldwide.[8] In addition to writing, Fuchs took on producing roles, serving as executive producer on the supernatural thriller I Still See You (2018), which he also wrote and which explored a post-apocalyptic world haunted by the dead, though it had limited theatrical release with a worldwide gross of approximately $1.6 million.[20] He later produced Argylle (2024), a spy action film directed by Matthew Vaughn, contributing to its development amid a $200 million budget, resulting in a worldwide gross of $96 million.[21] His acting background offered practical insights into character development across these projects. Overall, films written by Fuchs have collectively grossed more than $1.9 billion at the worldwide box office.Recent projects
In recent years, Jason Fuchs has shifted his focus toward television showrunning and high-profile adaptations, marking an evolution from his earlier film screenwriting successes to collaborative projects in serialized horror and anime-inspired live-action formats. As co-showrunner of the HBO prequel series It: Welcome to Derry, Fuchs has overseen the creative direction and episode planning for the 2025 production, which explores the origins of Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King's It universe alongside co-showrunner Brad Caleb Kane.[22] The series premiered on October 26, 2025, receiving positive reviews for its atmospheric horror and fidelity to King's source material.[23] Fuchs has also taken on writing duties for Netflix's live-action adaptation of the manga My Hero Academia, a collaboration with Legendary Pictures announced in September 2025. He began script work in October 2025, emphasizing the project's strengths in character-driven storytelling and creator Kōhei Horikoshi's active involvement to ensure authenticity.[24][25] This marks Fuchs's entry into adapting Japanese anime properties for Western audiences, building on his experience with ensemble-driven narratives. Additionally, Fuchs has contributed to other 2020s television endeavors, including a small acting role in the upcoming Friday the 13th prequel series Crystal Lake, where he appears in select episodes while maintaining his primary focus on writing and producing. These projects highlight Fuchs's expanding role in genre television and cross-media adaptations during the mid-2020s.Recognition
Awards
Jason Fuchs has received several accolades throughout his career in acting and screenwriting, recognizing both his early performances and his contributions to major films. In 2006, Fuchs won the Festival Prize for Best Short Film at the Big Apple Film Festival and Screenplay Competition for Pitch, a short film he wrote, produced, and starred in alongside Ian Gelfand.[26] This early success highlighted his multifaceted talents and premiered at the Cannes Film Festival, marking a pivotal moment in his transition from acting to writing. For his screenplay work on Wonder Woman (2017), co-written with Allan Heinberg and based on a story by Zack Snyder and Heinberg, Fuchs shared in two prestigious genre awards. The film earned the 2017 Dragon Award for Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Movie, directed by Patty Jenkins.[26] Additionally, it won the 2018 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form, celebrating its impactful adaptation of the DC Comics character and its box-office success exceeding $800 million worldwide.[27] In recognition of his screenwriting achievements, including Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), Fuchs was named to Forbes' 30 Under 30 Hollywood list in 2015, spotlighting emerging talents under age 30 in entertainment.[28]Nominations and honors
Fuchs earned a nomination at the 20th Young Artist Awards in 1999 for Best Performance in a Feature Film—Young Actor Age Ten or Under, for his role as young Vincenzo Cortino in the comedy Mafia!.[26] In recognition of his screenwriting, Fuchs shared a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 22nd Satellite Awards in 2017, alongside Allan Heinberg, for their work on Wonder Woman.[29] The film was also nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 30th USC Scripter Awards in 2018.[30] Early in his writing career, Fuchs co-wrote, produced, and starred in the short film Pitch, which garnered honors at the Santa Clarita Valley Film Festival in 2006.[26] Following the release of Wonder Woman, Fuchs participated in industry panels and discussions, including at the 2018 Austin Film Festival and the 30th USC Scripter Awards.[31][32]Filmography
Film acting credits
Jason Fuchs made his film acting debut as a child and continued to take on supporting roles throughout his career, often portraying young characters in independent and family-oriented features. His early work focused on coming-of-age stories and comedic roles, while later appearances included brief parts in major blockbusters. Below is a chronological list of his feature film acting credits, with brief descriptions of his characters and notable co-stars where relevant.| Year | Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Flipper | Marvin | Fuchs played Marvin, a young boy who befriends a dolphin in this family adventure remake, co-starring Elijah Wood and Paul Hogan. IMDb |
| 1998 | Louis & Frank | Louis Jr. | He portrayed the son of a mobster in this crime comedy-drama about two hitmen, alongside Eric Stoltz and Mary-Louise Parker. TMDB |
| 1998 | Jane Austen's Mafia! | Young Vincenzo Cortino | Fuchs appeared as the younger version of the mob boss's son in this parody film, featuring Lloyd Bridges and Famke Janssen. Rotten Tomatoes |
| 2002 | Spooky House | Yuri | In this family fantasy, he played Yuri, a boy investigating a mysterious mansion, opposite Ben Kingsley and Mercedes Ruehl. IMDb |
| 2003 | The Hebrew Hammer | Adolescent Hasidic Boy | Fuchs had a supporting role as a young Hasidic boy in this satirical comedy about a Jewish superhero, co-starring Adam Goldberg and Jonathan Katz. TMDB |
| 2004 | Winter Solstice | Bob | He depicted Bob, a troubled teenager dealing with family loss in this drama, alongside Anthony LaPaglia and Aaron Stanford. Rotten Tomatoes |
| 2010 | Holy Rollers | Leon Zimmerman | Fuchs portrayed Leon Zimmerman, a devout friend drawn into drug smuggling in this crime drama inspired by true events, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Justin Bartha. IMDb |
| 2016 | La La Land | Carlo | In the Academy Award-winning musical, he played Carlo, a screenwriter who flirts with the protagonist, featuring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. TMDB |
| 2019 | Love Is Blind | Young Murray | Fuchs appeared as the younger version of the lead character in this romantic drama about perception and family, opposite Shannon Tarbet and Matthew Broderick. IMDb |
| 2019 | It Chapter Two | Richie's Manager | He had a cameo as Richie's manager in this horror sequel, part of the ensemble with Bill Hader and Jessica Chastain. Rotten Tomatoes |
| 2024 | Argylle | Moderator | In this spy thriller, Fuchs played a moderator in a brief role, alongside Bryce Dallas Howard and Henry Cavill. IMDb |
Film writing and producing credits
Jason Fuchs began his screenwriting career with the animated feature Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012), for which he received co-screenplay credit with Michael Berg. At age 25, Fuchs drew on his early familiarity with script structure—having read professional screenplays since childhood—to craft the story of Manny, Sid, and Diego navigating a fractured continent amid prehistoric chaos. The film, produced by Blue Sky Studios, grossed $877 million worldwide against a $95 million budget, marking a commercial success in the franchise.[18][4] Fuchs followed with the original screenplay for Pan (2015), an origin story reimagining J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan universe during World War II, where a young orphan is kidnapped to serve as a laborer in Neverland's mines. His script, which landed on the 2013 Black List, incorporated inventive elements like pirate air raids and a multicultural band of lost boys, blending adventure with themes of destiny and rebellion. Directed by Joe Wright, the film earned $128 million globally on a $150 million budget, underperforming despite positive audience scores.[33][34][35] In Wonder Woman (2017), Fuchs contributed to the story alongside Zack Snyder and Allan Heinberg, adapting DC Comics' iconic Amazonian warrior for the DC Extended Universe. Influenced by his childhood fandom of the character's comics, including arcs like Wonder Woman: Paradise Lost, Fuchs helped shape Diana Prince's journey from Themyscira to World War I-era Europe, emphasizing her heroism and humanity. The Patty Jenkins-directed film achieved $824 million in worldwide earnings on a $149 million budget, becoming a critical and commercial triumph.[36][37][38] Fuchs wrote the screenplay for I Still See You (2018), a supernatural thriller directed by Scott Speer and starring Bella Thorne, adapted from the novel Break My Heart 1,000 Times by Jamie Ford. He also served as executive producer on the project, which explored themes of grief and the afterlife in a world where ghosts linger after a cataclysmic event.[39] Fuchs served as both writer and producer on Argylle (2024), a spy thriller directed by Matthew Vaughn that follows a novelist whose fictional plots mirror real espionage events. Penned during the COVID-19 lockdown, the screenplay fused meta-narrative twists with high-stakes action across global locales, reflecting Fuchs' interest in genre-blending escapism. As producer under his Five Ten Productions banner, he collaborated closely with Vaughn's team; the film grossed $96 million worldwide against a $200 million budget.[40][41][42]| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ice Age: Continental Drift | Writer | Co-screenplay with Michael Berg; franchise entry focusing on continental separation and family bonds. |
| 2015 | Pan | Writer | Original screenplay; WWII-era Peter Pan prequel with innovative Neverland lore. |
| 2017 | Wonder Woman | Story | Co-story credit; DC Comics adaptation centering Amazonian origins and WWI heroism. |
| 2018 | I Still See You | Writer, Executive Producer | Screenplay; supernatural thriller adapted from Jamie Ford's novel. |
| 2024 | Argylle | Writer, Producer | Original screenplay and production via Five Ten Productions; meta-spy comedy-thriller. |
Television credits
Jason Fuchs began his television career as a child actor with guest appearances in several series during the late 1990s and early 2000s. His early roles often featured him as young characters in dramatic narratives, showcasing his versatility in ensemble casts.[8] In 2000, Fuchs appeared as Junior Sontag in the episode "Commendatori" of The Sopranos, portraying a child during a tense family interaction amid the show's exploration of organized crime.[16] That same year, he guest-starred as Joshua Meyerwitz in The Beat, a short-lived series depicting urban youth and police dynamics. Fuchs continued with guest roles in 2002, playing Ricky Feldman in the Law & Order: Criminal Intent episode "Crazy," where he depicted a troubled young boy entangled in a psychological thriller plot.[43] Also in 2002, he portrayed Nick Radsen, a high school student involved in a rape investigation, in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Popular," earning a Young Artist Award nomination for his performance.[17] In 2003, he appeared as Wesley Stout in Ed, a comedy-drama about a lawyer in a small town. Later guest spots included Young Ryan in the soap opera All My Children in 2005. In 2010, Fuchs guest-starred as Dylan in The Good Wife episode "Cleaning House." He returned to television in 2011 as Stuey in the Pan Am episode "Truth or Dare," contributing to the period drama's ensemble of flight attendants and passengers.[44] Fuchs took on a more substantial recurring role in 2019 as Lawrence Grey in The Passage, a Fox series adaptation of the novel by Justin Cronin, where he played a complex antagonist figure in a post-apocalyptic vampire thriller spanning 10 episodes.[45] In 2021, he appeared as Strauss, a publisher, in the Mythic Quest episode "#YumYum," a comedy series about video game development. Transitioning to behind-the-scenes work, Fuchs served as co-creator, writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner for the HBO series It: Welcome to Derry (2025–), a prequel to the It film franchise set in 1960s Maine, exploring the origins of Pennywise and the town of Derry across eight episodes. The series premiered on October 26, 2025.[46]| Year | Series | Role/Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Sopranos | Actor (Junior Sontag, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 2, Episode 4.[16] |
| 2000 | The Beat | Actor (Joshua Meyerwitz, 1 episode) | Guest role in series finale. |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Actor (Ricky Feldman, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 1, Episode 12.[43] |
| 2002 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Actor (Nick Radsen, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 3, Episode 16; Young Artist Award nominee.[17] |
| 2003 | Ed | Actor (Wesley Stout, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 3. |
| 2005 | All My Children | Actor (Young Ryan, unknown episodes) | Recurring guest in soap opera. |
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Actor (Dylan, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 2, Episode 4. |
| 2011 | Pan Am | Actor (Stuey, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 1, Episode 7.[44] |
| 2019 | The Passage | Actor (Lawrence Grey, 10 episodes) | Recurring role as key antagonist.[45] |
| 2021 | Mythic Quest | Actor (Strauss, 1 episode) | Guest role in Season 2, Episode 3. |
| 2025– | It: Welcome to Derry | Writer, Executive Producer, Co-Showrunner | Co-creator of 8-episode prequel series; premiered October 26, 2025.[46] |
Video game credits
Jason Fuchs has made contributions to the video game industry primarily through voice acting, lending his talents to several titles from Rockstar Games during the mid-2000s.[8] These roles showcased his early acting skills in interactive media, often portraying supporting or background characters in action-adventure settings.[47] His video game credits include:| Year | Title | Role(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Red Dead Revolver | Billy Cougar, Jody, Young Red Harlow |
| 2006 | Bully | Bo Jackson |
| 2008 | Grand Theft Auto IV | The Crowd of Liberty City (voice) |