J. J. Abrams#Books and comics

Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was born on June 27, 1966, in New York City, New York to veteran television producer Gerald W. Abrams (born 1939) of Polish-Jewish descent and Carol Ann Abrams (née Kelvin; 1942–2012), a Peabody Award winning television executive producer as well as author and law academic.{{Cite news |date=June 5, 2012 |title=Carol Ann Abrams dies, producer, author was mother of J.J. Abrams |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2012/scene/news/carol-ann-abrams-dies-1118055047/ |url-status=live |access-date=June 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710074439/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118055047 |archive-date=July 10, 2012}} His sister is the screenwriter Tracy Rosen. His father worked at CBS in Midtown Manhattan the year prior to Abrams' birth. By 1971 the family had relocated to Los Angeles. His mother worked as a real estate agent while Abrams and his sister were at school.

Abrams attended Palisades High School and after graduation planned on going to art school rather than a traditional college but eventually enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College, in Bronxville, New York.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-On2CusDM&t=5m48s&ab_channel=BAFTAGuru |title=J.J. Abrams: On Filmmaking |date=May 8, 2013 |publisher=BAFTA Guru |access-date=December 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105234339/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN-On2CusDM&t=5m48s&ab_channel=BAFTAGuru |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}

Abrams' first job in the movie business was at age 16 when he wrote the music for Don Dohler's 1982 horror movie Nightbeast. During his senior year at college, he teamed with Jill Mazursky, the daughter of award-winning writer/director Paul Mazursky, to write a feature film treatment.{{Cite magazine |title=J.J. Abrams |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jj-abrams/bio/194178 |url-status=dead |magazine=TV Guide |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110325072015/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jj-abrams/bio/194178 |archive-date=March 25, 2011}}{{Cite web |last=Natale |first=Richard |date=July 2014 |title=Paul Mazursky, Director of 'Unmarried Woman,' Dies at 84 |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/paul-mazursky-director-of-unmarried-woman-dies-at-84-1201256304/ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |website=Variety}} Purchased by Touchstone Pictures, the treatment was the basis for Taking Care of Business, Abrams' first produced film, which starred Charles Grodin and James Belushi and was directed by Academy Award winner Arthur Hiller. He followed with Regarding Henry, starring Harrison Ford, and Forever Young, starring Mel Gibson. He also co-wrote with Mazursky the script for the comedy Gone Fishin' starring Joe Pesci and Danny Glover.

In 1994, he was part of the "Propellerheads" with Rob Letterman, Loren Soman, and Andy Waisler, a group of Sarah Lawrence alums experimenting with computer animation technology. They were contracted by Jeffrey Katzenberg to develop animation for the film Shrek.The Men Who Would Be King: An Almost Epic Tale of Moguls, Movies, and a Company Called DreamWorks pgs. 55–56 Abrams worked on the screenplay for the 1998 film Armageddon with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director Michael Bay. That same year, he made his first foray into television with Felicity, which ran for four seasons on The WB Network, serving as the series' co-creator (with Matt Reeves) and executive producer. He also composed its opening theme music.

File:J.J. Abrams by David Shankbone.jpg in Manhattan]]

Under his production company, Bad Robot, which he founded with Bryan Burk in 2001,{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Tyrone |date=May 11, 2010 |title=J.J. Abrams not worried about writer's block on 'Fringe' |url=http://shows.ctv.ca/Fringe/article/JJ-Abrams-not-worried-about-writers-block-on-Fringe#c_0 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100726213716/http://shows.ctv.ca/Fringe/article/JJ-Abrams-not-worried-about-writers-block-on-Fringe |archive-date=July 26, 2010 |access-date=June 29, 2011 |publisher=CTV}} Abrams created and executive-produced ABC's Alias and is co-creator (along with Damon Lindelof and Jeffrey Lieber) and was executive producer of Lost. As with Felicity, Abrams also composed the opening theme music for Alias and Lost. Abrams directed and wrote the two-part pilot for Lost and remained active producer for the first half of the season. Also in 2001, Abrams co-wrote and produced the horror-thriller Joy Ride.Neil Daniels {{google books|TnsuCgAAQBAJ|Abrams – A Study in Genius: The Unofficial Biography}} In 2006, he served as executive producer of What About Brian and Six Degrees, also on ABC. He also co-wrote the teleplay for Lost{{'}}s third-season premiere "A Tale of Two Cities" and the same year, he made his feature directorial debut with Mission: Impossible III, starring Tom Cruise. Abrams spoke at the TED conference in 2007.{{Cite web |date=March 24, 2011 |title=J.J. Abrams's mystery box |url=http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523003833/http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/j_j_abrams_mystery_box.html |archive-date=May 23, 2011 |access-date=March 24, 2011 |publisher=TED}}{{Importance inline|date=June 2022}}

In 2008, Abrams produced the monster movie Cloverfield, which Matt Reeves directed.{{Cite web |last=Moore |first=Debi |date=July 13, 2012 |title=San Diego Comic-Con 2012: Dexter Panel Highlights; Watch the First Two Minutes of Season 7! |url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35377/san-diego-comic-con-2012-dexter-panel-highlights-watch-the-first-two-minutes-of-season-7/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119164334/http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/35377/jj-abrams-talks-cloverfield-sequel |archive-date=January 19, 2010 |website=Dread Central}} In 2009, he directed the science fiction film Star Trek,{{Cite web |last=Miska |first=Brad |date=January 16, 2010 |title=J.J. Abrams on 'Cloverfield' Sequel, "We're Working on Something" |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/18726/j-j-abrams-on-cloverfield-sequel-were-working-on-something/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100121045938/http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/18726/ |archive-date=January 21, 2010}} which he produced with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof. While it was speculated that they would be writing and producing an adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower series of novels, they publicly stated in November 2009 that they were no longer looking to take on that project.{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2008 |title=J.J. Abrams on Star Trek and Cloverfield 2 |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/startreknews.php?id=42298 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225132057/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/startreknews.php?id=42298 |archive-date=February 25, 2008 |access-date=February 23, 2008 |publisher=Comingsoon.net}} In 2008, Abrams co-created, executive produced, and co-wrote (along with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman) the FOX science fiction series Fringe, for which he also composed the theme music. He was featured in the 2009 MTV Movie Awards 1980s-style digital short "Cool Guys Don't Look at Explosions", with Andy Samberg and Will Ferrell, in which he plays a keyboard solo. NBC picked up Abrams's Undercovers as its first new drama series for the 2010–11 season.{{Cite web |date=May 3, 2010 |title=NBC Picks Up New J.J. Abrams Drama Series |url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Abrams-Picked-NBC-1018042.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423210623/http://www.tvguide.com/News/Abrams-Picked-NBC-1018042.aspx |archive-date=April 23, 2011 |website=TV Guide}} However, it was subsequently cancelled by the network in November 2010.

File:J.J. Abrams by Gage Skidmore.jpg in mid-2010]]

Abrams wrote and directed the Paramount science fiction thriller Super 8, starring Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning, while co-producing with Steven Spielberg and Bryan Burk; it was released on June 10, 2011.{{Cite news |last=Pamela McClintock |date=May 6, 2010 |title=Abrams, Spielberg confirmed for 'Super 8' |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/abrams-spielberg-confirmed-for-super-8-1118018854/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509124629/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018854.html |archive-date=May 9, 2010}}

Abrams directed the sequel to Star Trek, Star Trek Into Darkness, released in May 2013.{{Cite web |title=J.J. Abrams Will Direct STAR TREK 2 |url=http://www.nextnewmovies.com/j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-trek-2 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402130857/http://www.nextnewmovies.com/j-j-abrams-will-direct-star-trek-2 |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=December 6, 2011 |publisher=NextNewMovies}} The film was interpreted as a loose remake of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2018 |title=The Wrath of Khan director wasn't impressed by Star Trek Into Darkness |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/11/the-wrath-of-khan-director-wasnt-impressed-by-star-trek-into-darkness/ |access-date=June 19, 2019 |website=Flickering Myth |language=en-US}} Critics generally reacted positively to the film, while Nicholas Meyer, the director of The Wrath of Khan, called it a "gimmick".{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2018 |title=Wrath of Khan Director Disappointed by Star Trek Into Darkness |url=https://screenrant.com/wrath-khan-director-disappointed-star-trek-into-darkness/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203055432/https://screenrant.com/wrath-khan-director-disappointed-star-trek-into-darkness/ |archive-date=December 3, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2018 |website=Screen Rant}} Abrams was criticized for the film's treatment of classic villain Khan Noonien Singh (Benedict Cumberbatch). Many felt that much of the character, originally played by Mexican actor Ricardo Montalbán, had been lost, especially his ethnic identity.{{efn|Khan is an explicitly non-white character in the Star Trek canon, introduced as a Sikh and former ruler of much of eastern Eurasia.{{Cite web |last=Blauvelt, Christian |date=May 18, 2013 |title=A 'Star Trek Into Darkness' Fan Review: Your 'Star Wars' Prequel Anger Is What I Feel Now |url=http://www.hollywood.com/news/movies/55014633/star-trek-into-darkness-fan-review-betrayal-star-wars-prequels |access-date=May 19, 2013 |website=2. Khan |publisher=Hollywood.com |page=1}}}} Two years after the film's release, Abrams said of the film, "there were certain things I was unsure of. ... Any movie ... has a fundamental conversation happening during it. And [for Into Darkness,] I didn't have it... [The weakness of the plot] was not anyone's fault but mine. ... [The script] was a little bit of a collection of scenes that were written by my friends ... And yet, I found myself frustrated by my choices, and unable to hang my hat on an undeniable thread of the main story. So then I found myself on that movie basically tap-dancing as well as I could to try and make the sequences as entertaining as possible. ... I would never say that I don't think that the movie ended up working. But I feel like it didn't work as well as it could have, had I made some better decisions before we started shooting."{{Cite news |title=The Triumphs And Mistakes That Got J.J. Abrams Ready For "Star Wars" |language=en |work=BuzzFeed |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kateaurthur/jj-abrams-and-the-long-road-to-star-wars |access-date=May 14, 2017}}

On January 25, 2013, Disney and Lucasfilm introduced Abrams as director and producer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh entry in the Star Wars film saga,{{Cite news |date=January 26, 2013 |title=It's official: Abrams to direct new 'Star Wars' film |work=CNN |url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/26/its-official-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-film/?hpt=hp_c3 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 26, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130127122221/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/26/its-official-abrams-to-direct-new-star-wars-film/?hpt=hp_c3 |archive-date=January 27, 2013}} with Bryan Burk and Bad Robot producing the film.{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2013 |title=Star Wars Is Being Kick-Started with Dynamite J.J. Abrams to Direct Star Wars: Episode VII |url=http://starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite-jj-abrams-to-direct-star-wars-episode-vii.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105234339/http://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-is-being-kick-started-with-dynamite |archive-date=January 5, 2016 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |website=StarWars.com }} Following this news, speculation arose as to Abrams's future with Paramount Pictures, under which he had released all of his previous feature work as a director, and which had a first-look deal with his company, Bad Robot. Paramount vice-chairman Rob Moore stated that Abrams would continue to have a hand in the Star Trek and Mission: Impossible franchises going forward.{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2013 |title=J.J. Abrams directing 'Star Wars': What happens to 'Star Trek'? |url=http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2013/01/25/j-j-abrams-directing-star-wars-what-happens-to-star-trek/#/0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126184555/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2013/01/25/j-j-abrams-directing-star-wars-what-happens-to-star-trek/#/0 |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=January 26, 2013 |website=Los Angeles Times}}

Abrams directed, produced, and co-wrote the screenplay for The Force Awakens,{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2013 |title=J.J. Abrams to script as well as direct |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/25/star-wars-jj-abrams-script-episode-vii |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028074823/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/oct/25/star-wars-jj-abrams-script-episode-vii |archive-date=October 28, 2013 |access-date=October 25, 2013 |website=Guardian UK}} which opened in theaters on December 18, 2015.{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2013 |title='Star Wars: Episode VII' script delayed |url=https://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/star-wars-episode-vii-script-delayed/328150#GeOc2GrVGM0rZHbW.99 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216192105/http://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/star-wars-episode-vii-script-delayed/328150#GeOc2GrVGM0rZHbW.99 |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |access-date=December 16, 2013 |website=NME}}{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2014 |title=Disney Chief Reveals 'Star Wars: VII' Casting Almost Complete, Says Film Is Already Shooting (Video) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-chief-reveals-star-wars-693950 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703160617/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-chief-reveals-star-wars-693950 |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |access-date=July 4, 2014 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}} Despite its strong box office performance and positive reviews, the film was considered by some, including Star Wars creator George Lucas, to be too similar to the original 1977 film.{{Cite magazine |last=McFarland |first=Kevin |date=March 4, 2016 |title=The Force Awakens and A New Hope Are More Similar Than You Think |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/03/mapping-star-wars-force-awakens-characters/ |url-status=live |magazine=Wired |issn=1059-1028 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204061835/https://www.wired.com/2016/03/mapping-star-wars-force-awakens-characters/ |archive-date=December 4, 2018 |access-date=June 19, 2019}}{{Cite news |last=Child |first=Ben |date=December 31, 2015 |title=Attack of the moans: George Lucas hits out at 'retro' Star Wars: The Force Awakens |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |url-status=live |access-date=April 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001032034/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/31/george-lucas-attacks-retro-star-wars-the-force-awakens |archive-date=October 1, 2018}} In 2016, Abrams responded towards these complaints, stating: "What was important for me was introducing brand new characters using relationships that were embracing the history that we know to tell a story that is new — to go backwards to go forwards".{{Cite news |last=McMillan |first=Graeme |date=January 8, 2016 |title=J.J. Abrams Responds to "Rip-Off" Criticism About 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jj-abrams-responds-rip-criticism-853352 |url-status=live |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104073333/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/jj-abrams-responds-rip-criticism-853352 |archive-date=November 4, 2019}}{{efn|In 2017, Abrams said he would not do more remakes or reboots, to instead focus on his own creations, saying: "You know, I do think that if you're telling a story that is not moving anything forward, not introducing anything that's relevant, that's not creating a new mythology or an extension of it, then a complete remake of something feels like a mistake."{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Jason |date=January 9, 2017 |title=J.J. Abrams Says He's Done With the Remake/Reboot Business |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-says-hes-done-with-reboots/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113233113/https://www.slashfilm.com/j-j-abrams-says-hes-done-with-reboots/ |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |website=/Film}}}}

Abrams returned as producer for Star Trek Beyond, released in 2016, and also produced The Cloverfield Paradox, a sequel to 10 Cloverfield Lane, which was released on Netflix in February 2018.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2016 |title=God Particle is Cloverfield 3 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/god-particle-is-cloverfield-3/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030050016/http://www.slashfilm.com/god-particle-is-cloverfield-3 |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016}}{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=February 4, 2018 |title=Netflix's Ultimate Super Bowl Surprise: 'The Cloverfield Paradox' – Watch Trailer |url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/cloverfield-sequel-god-particle-super-bowl-trailer-netflix-streaming-release-1202276386/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205003638/http://deadline.com/2018/02/cloverfield-sequel-god-particle-super-bowl-trailer-netflix-streaming-release-1202276386/ |archive-date=February 5, 2018 |access-date=February 4, 2018 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} Also in 2018, Abrams produced Overlord, a horror film set behind German enemy lines in World War II and directed by Julius Avery.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=February 1, 2017 |title=Bad Robot's D-Day Movie 'Overlord' Finds Director (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/son-of-a-gun-director-bad-robots-nazi-zombie-pic-overlord-1201975823/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131132206/http://variety.com/2017/film/news/son-of-a-gun-director-bad-robots-nazi-zombie-pic-overlord-1201975823/ |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2017}} Abrams also produced the fourth, fifth, and sixth Mission: Impossible films.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=November 30, 2015 |title=Christopher McQuarrie Back To Write & Direct 'Mission: Impossible 6' |url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/christopher-mcquarrie-mission-impossible-6-director-writer-1201646710/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030074825/http://deadline.com/2015/11/christopher-mcquarrie-mission-impossible-6-director-writer-1201646710/ |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016}}

In September 2017, Abrams returned to direct and co-write Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker with Chris Terrio.{{Cite news |last=Osborn |first=Alex |date=September 12, 2017 |title=Star Wars: Episode IX To Be Directed by J.{{nbsp}}J. Abrams |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/12/star-wars-episode-ix-to-be-directed-by-jj-abrams |url-status=live |access-date=September 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912151838/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/09/12/star-wars-episode-ix-to-be-directed-by-jj-abrams |archive-date=September 12, 2017}} The film was released in December 2019 and received mixed reviews from critics and fans,{{Cite web |title=Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-ix---the-rise-of-skywalker |access-date=March 14, 2020 |website=Metacritic}}{{Cite web |title=Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_the_rise_of_skywalker/ |access-date=March 14, 2020 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}} while audience reactions were also mixed.{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=December 21, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams on The Rise of Skywalker Critics and Defenders: "They're All Right" |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/jj-abrams-reacts-last-jedi-rise-of-skywalker |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=March 14, 2020}}{{Cite magazine |date=December 20, 2019 |title=Opening night The Rise of Skywalker audience score shows a split with critics |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/12/20/star-wars-the-rise-of-skywalker-audience-score/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 14, 2020}}

In September 2019, Abrams and his Bad Robot company signed a $250 million five-year deal with WarnerMedia, including HBO and Warner Bros. Pictures.{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams signs exclusivity deal with WarnerMedia reportedly worth $250 million |url=https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/9/12/20862868/warnermedia-jj-abrams-movies-hbo-tv-streaming-bad-robot-productions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925121623/https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2019/9/12/20862868/warnermedia-jj-abrams-movies-hbo-tv-streaming-bad-robot-productions |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=theverge}} In April 2020, it was announced that Abrams would be developing three new shows for HBO Max: Duster, Overlook, and Justice League Dark.{{Cite web |date=April 16, 2020 |title=J.J. Abrams Sets 3 HBO Max Shows: Justice League Dark, 'The Shining' Spinoff, 'Duster' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jj-abrams-sets-3-hbo-max-shows-justice-league-dark-shining-spinoff-duster-1290530 |access-date=June 6, 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}} Since then, the latter two have been scrapped.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=February 16, 2023 |title='Duster' Series from J.J. Abrams a Go at HBO Max |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jj-abrams-duster-series-hbo-max-1235327731/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230216191718/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jj-abrams-duster-series-hbo-max-1235327731/ |archive-date=February 16, 2023 |access-date=February 16, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}

Abrams was one of the producers of an animated short film of The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at Christmas 2022.{{Cite news |title=The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse coming to BBC One and iPlayer this Christmas |publisher=BBC Media Centre. June 30, 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2022/the-boy-the-mole-the-fox-and-the-horse-bbc-christmas |access-date=June 30, 2022}}

Abrams served as executive producer and co-creator of a new Batman animated series titled Batman: Caped Crusader alongside Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm.{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=October 16, 2021 |title=Batman: Caped Crusader Is 'Adult', 'Psychologially Complex', and Includes New Versions of Familiar Characters – DC FanDome 2021 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/batman-caped-crusader-adult-bruce-timm-jj-abrams-matt-reeves |access-date=January 31, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}} The production team created eleven episodes which premiered August 1, 2024.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14681596/ |title=Batman: Caped Crusader (TV Series 2024– ) {{!}} Animation, Action, Adventure |language=en-US |access-date=June 2, 2024 |via=m.imdb.com}}

On May 8, 2024, it was announced that Abrams would write and direct an untitled new film, with Glen Powell in early talks to star in the project with Bad Robot signing on as the production company.{{Cite web|last=Gajewski|first=Ryan|date=May 8, 2024|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/glen-powell-jj-abrams-next-film-1235894264/|title=Glen Powell in Talks to Star in J.J. Abrams' Next Movie|access-date=May 9, 2024|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=May 8, 2024|title=J.J. Abrams Eyeing Glen Powell To Star In Next Movie|url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/j-j-abrams-glen-powell-1235909569/|access-date=May 9, 2024|website=Deadline Hollywood}} The company's five-year deal with Warner Bros. was also extended in August 2024, although it was expected to be less expensive than the previous agreement with future projects having significant budget cuts.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=August 20, 2024 |title=J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot In Negotiations With Warner Bros. To Extend Film & TV Deal |url=https://deadline.com/2024/08/jj-abrams-bad-robot-warner-bros-film-tv-deal-extension-1236044367/ |access-date=August 20, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Future projects include Flowervale Street, a Hot Wheels film adaptation, and an animated film based on Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go!.

{{main|J. J. Abrams's unrealized projects}}

In 1989, Abrams met Steven Spielberg at a film festival, where Spielberg spoke about a possible Who Framed Roger Rabbit sequel, with Abrams as a possible writer and with Robert Zemeckis as producer.{{Cite web |last=Giroux |first=Jack |date=March 12, 2016 |title=J.J. Abrams Once Had a Pitch for Who Framed Roger Rabbit 2 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142233/http://www.slashfilm.com/who-framed-roger-rabbit-2/ |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Slash Film}} Nothing came up from this project, although Abrams has some storyboards for a Roger Rabbit short.

In July 2002, Abrams wrote a script for a possible fifth Superman film entitled Superman: Flyby.{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2008 |title=Cashiers du Cinemart Issue 15 |url=http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216230219/http://www.impossiblefunky.com/archives/issue_15/15_superman.asp?IshNum=15 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 }} Brett Ratner and McG entered into talks to direct,{{Cite web |last=Stax |date=September 17, 2002 |title=Ratner Talks Superman |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/17/ratner-talks-superman |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421042508/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/17/ratner-talks-superman |archive-date=April 21, 2013 |access-date=October 30, 2016}} although Abrams tried to get the chance to direct his own script.{{Cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Michael |last2=McNary |first2=Dave |date=August 12, 2004 |title=Par girding up for 'War' |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/par-girding-up-for-war-1117908978/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104192428/https://variety.com/2004/film/markets-festivals/par-girding-up-for-war-1117908978/ |archive-date=January 4, 2018 |access-date=December 10, 2017 |website=Variety}} However, the project was finally cancelled in 2004 and instead Superman Returns was released in 2006.

In November 2009, Abrams and Bad Robot Productions along with Cartoon Network Movies, Warner Bros., Frederator Films and Paramount Pictures, reportedly were producing a film adaptation of Samurai Jack.{{Cite web |title=J.J. Abrams Producing Samurai Jack: The Movie – Film Junk |url=https://filmjunk.com/2009/11/19/j-j-abrams-producing-samurai-jack-the-movie/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704095207/https://filmjunk.com/2009/11/19/j-j-abrams-producing-samurai-jack-the-movie/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019}} However, the production of the film was scrapped after Abrams' departure from the project to direct Star Trek.{{Cite web |last=Douglas |first=Edward |date=June 26, 2012 |title=A Preview of Sony Animation's Hotel Transylvania - ComingSoon.net |url=https://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/727845-a-preview-of-sony-animations-hotel-transylvania |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030144430/http://www.comingsoon.net/horror/news/727845-a-preview-of-sony-animations-hotel-transylvania |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Coming Soon}} For this and other reasons, series creator Genndy Tartakovsky made a new season instead of a feature film. Also in 2009, Abrams and Bad Robot were reportedly set to produce a film based on the Micronauts toy line.{{Cite news |last=Schuker |first=Lauren A. E. |date=November 6, 2009 |title=The Cry Goes Out in Hollywood: 'Get Me Mr. Potato Head's Agent!' |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125737028160428961 |url-status=live |access-date=August 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821084527/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125737028160428961 |archive-date=August 21, 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Blogger |url=http://theplaylist.blogspot.pe/2009/11/jj-abrams-to-produce-micronauts.html |website=theplaylist.blogspot.pe}} However, the film has never gone into production.{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Rick |date=March 27, 2013 |title='G.I. Joe: Retaliation' Writers Offer Updates on 'Cowboy Ninja Viking,' 'Micronauts' and 'Epsilon' (Exclusive) |url=http://www.movies.com/movie-news/39g-i-joe-retaliation39-writers-offer-updates-on-39cowboy-ninja-viking39-39micronauts39-39epsilon39-exclusive/11704 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142213/http://www.movies.com/movie-news/39g-i-joe-retaliation39-writers-offer-updates-on-39cowboy-ninja-viking39-39micronauts39-39epsilon39-exclusive/11704 |archive-date=October 30, 2016 |access-date=October 30, 2016 |website=Movies.com}}

In February 2018, HBO ordered Abrams' sci-fi drama Demimonde to series.{{Cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=February 1, 2018 |title=HBO orders J.J. Abrams sci-fi drama 'Demimonde' to series |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/01/hbo-orders-j-j-abrams-sci-fi-drama-demimonde-to-series/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200111024804/https://ew.com/tv/2018/02/01/hbo-orders-j-j-abrams-sci-fi-drama-demimonde-to-series/ |archive-date=January 11, 2020 |access-date=June 19, 2019}} In June 2022, the project was cancelled.{{Cite web |last=Hailu |first=Selome |date=June 8, 2022 |title=J.J. Abrams' 'Demimonde' Sci-Fi Drama Series Not Moving Forward at HBO |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/jj-abrams-demimonde-scrapped-hbo-1235287793/ |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

{{See also|Bad Robot}}

File:1221olympicblvd.jpg

In 2001, Abrams founded his own production company, Bad Robot, in association with Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures. Initially a television production company under Touchstone Television, Bad Robot would branch out into film production, with the first movie to be produced under the Bad Robot name being Joy Ride (2001). Bad Robot is well known for Lost, the Star Trek Kelvin timeline films, the Mission: Impossible films excluding Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One, the Cloverfield franchise, and the Star Wars sequel trilogy.

As of November 2015, a video game called Spyjinx was in development, with Abrams in a collaboration with Bad Robot and Chair Entertainment.{{Cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |date=November 11, 2015 |title=J.J Abrams is making a game with the studio behind Infinity Blade |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/11/11/9713768/jj-abrams-bad-robot-game-spyjinx |magazine=The Verge}}Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-q2sZ8XxD14 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20151111225606/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2sZ8XxD14 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite news |last=Spyjinx |date=November 11, 2015 |title=J.J Abrams And Donald Mustard Announces Video Game Partnership #SPYJINX |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-q2sZ8XxD14}}{{cbignore}}{{clarify|date=October 2022}} A beta test was launched on April 2, 2020, by Epic Games.{{cite web |last1=Statt |first1=Nick |title=Epic Games reveals new mobile game Spyjinx in collaboration with J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Games |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/2/21206332/epic-games-spyjinx-bad-robot-games-reveal-ios-android-beta-release |website=The Verge |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=May 31, 2024}}{{cite web |last1=Oloman |first1=Jordan |title=Epic Games, J.J. Abrams' Long-Dormant Spyjinx Finally Revealed, Getting a Limited Beta |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/epic-games-jj-abrams-long-dormant-spyjinx-finally-revealed-getting-a-limited-beta |website=IGN |date=April 2, 2020 |access-date=May 31, 2024}}

On October 29, 2013, S., a novel written by Doug Dorst based on a concept by Abrams, was released.{{Cite web |title=Stranger |url=http://soonyouwillknow.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131119154437/http://soonyouwillknow.com/ |archive-date=November 19, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |publisher=Soonyouwillknow.com}}

In 2019, Abrams made his debut as a writer for Marvel Comics, co-authoring the company's title Spider-Man from September of that year with his son Henry.{{Cite web |last=Marcus |first=Tucker |date=June 19, 2019 |title=J.J. Abrams Makes His Marvel Debut with 'Spider-Man' #1 |url=https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/j-j-abrams-makes-his-marvel-debut-with-spider-man-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190624130746/https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/j-j-abrams-makes-his-marvel-debut-with-spider-man-1 |archive-date=June 24, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019}} The first issue of the comic includes the death of Mary Jane Watson, and a twelve-year time shift, with the series' protagonist being Ben Parker, son of Peter Parker and Mary Jane.{{Cite web |last=Patches |first=Matt |date=September 18, 2019 |title=Spider-Man #1 is a J.J. Abrams comic book in every twist-filled way |url=https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/9/18/20870550/j-j-abrams-spider-man-1-mary-jane-ben-parker-spoilers |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929012029/https://www.polygon.com/comics/2019/9/18/20870550/j-j-abrams-spider-man-1-mary-jane-ben-parker-spoilers |archive-date=September 29, 2019 |access-date=September 29, 2019 |website=Polygon}}

Abrams is married to public relations executive Katie McGrath and has three children.[http://alias.unfiction.com/s1/background.htm "EW Gets the Stories Behind Those Goofy TV Production-Company Logos"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717155632/http://alias.unfiction.com/s1/background.htm |date=July 17, 2011 }}, Entertainment Weekly, December 7, 2001: "The title came to creator J.J. Abrams during a writers' meeting, and he recorded his children, Henry and Gracie (ages 2 and 3), saying the words into his Powerbook's microphone. 'That day in the office while editing,' says Abrams, 'I put together sound effects on my computer, burned a QuickTime movie on a CD, gave it to postproduction, and three days later it was on national television.'" His daughter, Gracie Abrams, is a pop singer-songwriter.{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2020 |title=Her famous dad's a fan. So is Phoebe Bridgers. But Gracie Abrams has a voice all her own |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-07-29/gracie-abrams-jj-abrams-phobe-bridgers-minor |access-date=August 7, 2020 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} He resides in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California.{{Cite magazine |title=Jj Abrams, Katie McGrath 4th Annual Pink Party to... – Picture 2072721 |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/photos.nsf/main/jj_abrams_2072721 |magazine=Contactmusic.com |access-date=November 25, 2013}}[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/g/a/2009/05/06/movie_premieres.DTL&o=2 Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie – Media (3 of 46) Movie Premieres: 'Star Trek,' 'Angels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090510144455/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2009%2F05%2F06%2Fmovie_premieres.DTL&o=2 |date=May 10, 2009 }}, "Director J.J. Abrams and wife, actress Katie McGrath, parade on the red carpet as they arrives at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood for the premiere of the movie 'Star Trek' in Los Angeles on April 30, 2009. He is Jewish and his wife is Catholic, and he sometimes takes his children to religious services on Jewish holidays.[http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/now_its_jj_abrams_turn_to_trek_20090506/ Jewishjournal.com: Now It's J.J. Abrams' Turn to 'Trek'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081039/http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/now_its_jj_abrams_turn_to_trek_20090506/ |date=December 22, 2015 }}, accessed December 16, 2015

Abrams serves on the Creative Council of Represent.Us, a nonpartisan anti-corruption organization{{Cite news |title=About {{!}} Represent.Us |language=en-US |work=End corruption. Defend the Republic. |url=http://represent.us/about |url-status=live |access-date=November 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023054916/https://represent.us/about/ |archive-date=October 23, 2016}} and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) Board of Governors.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://mptf.com/about-us/ |access-date=February 4, 2021 |website=mptf.com}} It was also reported that he attended the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

In September 2024, Abrams signed a letter along with over 125 other Hollywood professionals urging California Governor Gavin Newsom to sign AI safety bill SB 1047.{{Cite news |last= |date=September 24, 2024 |title=Mark Hamill, Jane Fonda, J.J. Abrams urge Gov. Newsom to sign AI safety bill |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2024-09-24/mark-hamill-jane-fonda-joseph-gordon-levitt-sign-letter-in-support-of-ai-safety-bill-sb-1047 |access-date=September 26, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Artists For Safe AI |url=https://artists4safeai.com/ |access-date=September 26, 2024 |website=artists4safeai.com |language=en}}

Executive producer only

• What About Brian (2006–07)
• Six Degrees (2006–07)
• Believe (2014)
• 11.22.63 (2016) (Miniseries{{Cite web |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Hulu Original "11.22.63" Premieres Presidents Day 2016 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2015/10/30/hulu-original-112263-premieres-presidents-day-2016-828412/20151030hulu01/ |access-date=November 25, 2015 |website=The Futon Critic}})
• Roadies (2016)
• Westworld (2016–2022)
• Castle Rock (2018–19)
• Little Voice (2020)
• Lovecraft Country (2020)
• Challenger: The Final Flight (2020)
• Lisey's Story (2021) (Miniseries)
• UFO (2021)
• Presumed Innocent (2024)
• Batman: Caped Crusader (2024–present)

• S. (with Doug Dorst, 2013)

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite magazine |last=Kamp, David |date=Jun 2013 |title=What you should know about J. J. Abrams |department=In the Details |magazine=Vanity Fair |volume=634 |page=36}}
• {{Cite web |last1=LaPorte |first1=Nicole |last2=Ifeanyi |first2=KC |date=April 9, 2019 |title=Exclusive: J.J. Abrams on Star Wars, Apple, and building Bad Robot into a Hollywood force |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90331236/exclusive-j-j-abrams-on-star-wars-apple-and-building-bad-robot-into-a-hollywood-force |website=Fast Company}}

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