Max Landis#Sexual assault accusations
{{short description|American filmmaker (born 1985)}}
{{for|the American basketball player|Max Landis (basketball)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Max Landis
| image = Max Landis by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption = Landis at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|8|3}}
| birth_place = Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
- Director
- producer
- screenwriter
}}
| years_active = 2001–present
| father = John Landis
| mother = Deborah Nadoolman Landis
| website =
}}
Max Landis (born August 3, 1985) is an American filmmaker. He is the son of director John Landis. He wrote scripts for the films Chronicle (2012), American Ultra (2015), Victor Frankenstein (2015), and Bright (2017). He wrote and directed the film Me Him Her (2015), produced the first two seasons of the Syfy series Channel Zero (2016), and created the series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016) based on the novel, for BBC America. He has also written limited series published by DC and Image Comics.
In both 2011 and 2012, he was listed among Forbes magazine's "30 Under 30" young people to watch in the entertainment industry.{{cite news|last=Pomerantz|first=Dorothy|url=https://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45ielh/max-landis-writer-26/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108083257/http://www.forbes.com/pictures/mfl45ielh/max-landis-writer-26/|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 8, 2012|title=Max Landis, Screenwriter, 26|date=December 19, 2011|work=Forbes|access-date=November 6, 2012}} His career stalled in 2017, following accusations from several women of emotional and sexual abuse.
Early life
Landis was born on August 3, 1985, his father's 35th birthday, in Beverly Hills, California, the son of director John Landis and costume designer and historian Deborah Nadoolman Landis.{{cite news |url=http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/64171/celebrity-jews203/ |title=Celebrity Jews |last=Bloom |first=Nate |date=February 2, 2012 |newspaper=JWeekly |access-date=August 3, 2019}} His family is Jewish.{{cite web |url=http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/forbes-features-members-of-the-tribe-in-30-under-30/6811 |title=Forbes Features Members of the Tribe In 30 Under 30 |author= |date=December 29, 2011 |website=JSpace |access-date=August 3, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130044117/http://www.jspace.com/news/articles/forbes-features-members-of-the-tribe-in-30-under-30/6811 |archive-date=January 30, 2012}} He left Beverly Hills High School for a therapeutic boarding school in Connecticut,{{cite web |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/jordanzakarin/max-landis-screenwriter-director-origin-story#.qun0P9DvW |title=The Amazing Origin Story Of A Hollywood Wonder Boy Learning To Use His Powers For Good, Not Evil |first=Jordan |last=Zakarin |date=November 5, 2013 |work=BuzzFeed |access-date=April 14, 2016}} but still graduated with a Beverly Hills High School diploma.{{Cite magazine |url=http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/19bb0be3#/19bb0be3/46 |title=Mad Max |first=Zack |last=Gutin |date=June 2011 |magazine=Script |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504152436/http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/19bb0be3#/19bb0be3/46 |archive-date=May 4, 2011}} Landis has stated that he has cyclothymia and dysgraphia.
Career
Max Landis appeared briefly in some of his father's films, including The Stupids, Blues Brothers 2000, and Burke and Hare.{{IMDb name|0484840|Max Landis}} He started writing at 16,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXQaloVftFs |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/DXQaloVftFs |archive-date=2021-12-15 |url-status=live|title=Max Landis talking about screen-writing and Hollywood at Dubai Comic Con |author=dxbcomiccon |date=April 22, 2012 |website=YouTube |access-date=November 6, 2012}}{{cbignore}} and sold his first script at the age of 18, a collaboration with his father on the Masters of Horror episode "Deer Woman".{{Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0643103/ |title=Deer Woman |website=IMDb.com}} In 2008 he independently wrote an unaired episode for the series's second incarnation as Fear Itself.{{Cite web |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1262621/ |title=Something with Bite |website=IMDb.com}} The same year, he wrote Back to Mysterious Island (based on the Jules Verne novel) for Bluewater Comics.{{cite web |url=http://www.comicvine.com/back-to-mysterious-island-1-tpb/4000-373827/ |title=Back To Mysterious Island #1 – TPB (Issue) |date=February 2, 2014 |website=Comic Vine |access-date=October 2, 2015}}
While attending the University of Miami,{{cite web |url=http://www.themiamihurricane.com/2008/10/05/spotted-on-site-max-landis/ |title=Spotted On Site: Max Landis |first=Tanya |last=Thompson |date=October 5, 2008 |work=The Miami Hurricane |access-date=November 6, 2012}} Landis wrote shorts which were produced by students in the school's film program. Upon leaving the university, he went on what one contemporary reporter called a "spec-selling streak", having three of his pitches optioned within six months.{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/max-landis-on-a-spec-selling-streak-1118031778/ |title=Max Landis on a spec-selling streak |last=Sneider |first=Jeff |date=February 8, 2011 |work=Variety |access-date=November 6, 2012}} One of these was Good Time Gang, described as "a cross between The Bourne Identity and Jackass", which was not produced. He was hired in 2011 as screenwriter for Mr. Right, a violent romantic comedy{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/cabezas-to-helm-mr-right-1118044147/ |title=Cabezas to helm 'Mr. Right' |last1=Mayorga |first1=Emilio |date=October 8, 2011 |work=Variety |access-date=October 8, 2014}} released to mixed reviews in 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/mr-right |title=Mr. Right Reviews |website=Metacritic |access-date=November 6, 2016}}
He sold Chronicle, a script previously included on the Black List of promising unproduced screenplays,{{cite web |url=http://coronacomingattractions.com/news/black-list-2010-part-2 |title=The Black List of 2010 – Part 2 |last=Sauriol |first=Patrick |date=December 15, 2010 |website=Corona Coming Attractions.com |access-date=November 6, 2012}} to 20th Century Fox's Davis Entertainment. Directed by Josh Trank,{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2010/film/markets-festivals/fox-picks-up-max-landis-chronicle-script-1118022816/ |title=Fox picks up Max Landis' 'Chronicle' script |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |date=August 11, 2010 |work=Variety}} it was released in February 2012 to critical acclaim and commercial success. Landis wrote a draft for a sequel, but Fox was unhappy with it and the project was discontinued.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2012/03/max-landis-set-to-write-chronicle-2-for-fox-241001/ |title=Max Landis Set To Write 'Chronicle 2' For Fox |last=Brooks |first=Brian |date=March 8, 2012 |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=November 6, 2012}}{{cite web |url=http://splashpage.mtv.com/2012/10/11/chronicle-sequel-trouble-max-landis-john-landis/ |title=Fox Isn't Happy With 'Chronicle' Sequel Script, John Landis Says |last=Wigler |first=Josh |date=October 11, 2012 |website=MTV |access-date=August 3, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130314044453/http://splashpage.mtv.com/2012/10/11/chronicle-sequel-trouble-max-landis-john-landis/ |archive-date=March 14, 2013}} Davis and Fox also bought Landis's script for a film based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein,{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/frankenstein-coming-life-fox-204693 |title=Frankenstein Coming To Life for Fox |first=Pamela |last=McClintock |date=June 22, 2011 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 6, 2012}} which became 2015's Victor Frankenstein.
Landis has written and directed two short comedic features released on YouTube. The Death and Return of Superman (2012) mockingly retells DC Comics' 1992–1993 story-line of Superman's death and revival, with scenes acted out by his friends and Hollywood actors.{{cite web |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/votd-max-landis-the-death-return-superman/ |title=VOTD: Max Landis' 'The Death and Return of Superman' |date=February 4, 2012 |website=Slashfilm.com |access-date=November 6, 2012}} Wrestling Isn't Wrestling (2015) explains the nature of professional wrestling using the career of wrestler Triple H as an example, with several actors and wrestlers in cameos.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=92386&p=1|title=Wrestling Isn't Wrestling – Screenwriter Max Landis produces ode to professional wrestling|last1=Johnson|first1=Mike|date=March 17, 2015|website=PWInsider.com|access-date=July 22, 2015}} Landis was later hired as a consultant for WWE Raw.{{cite web|url=http://411mania.com/wrestling/max-landis-reveals-hes-a-consultant-for-wwe/|title=Max Landis Reveals He's a Consultant for WWE|last=Harris|first=Jeffrey|date=February 21, 2016|website=411MANIA|access-date=April 24, 2017}}
In September 2012, Landis sold a "superhero police drama" TV series titled Vigilant to Fox, and planned to executive produce it with Homeland producer Howard Gordon,{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/homeland-howard-gordon-chronicle-max-landis-vigilant-fox-370959 |title='Homeland's' Howard Gordon, 'Chronicle' Scribe Sell 'Superhero' Police Drama to Fox (Exclusive) |first=Lesley |last=Goldberg |date=September 17, 2012 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 6, 2012}} but the project was cancelled. In 2012 Landis began work on his directorial debut, Me Him Her,{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/movies/news/a435937/chronicles-max-landis-to-direct-sexual-identity-film-me-him-her.html#~pgFiqJzOvqIQVs |title='Chronicle's Max Landis to direct sexual identity film 'Me Him Her' |last=Armitage |first=Hugh |date=November 6, 2012 |work=Digital Spy |access-date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2012/max-landis-sets-his-directorial-debut-in-indie-comedy-me-him-her/ |title=Max Landis Sets His Directorial Debut in Indie Comedy 'Me Him Her' |date=November 5, 2012 |website=FirstShowing.net |access-date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=35696 |title=Max Landis Directing Me Him Her |date=November 5, 2012 |work=Empire |access-date=June 26, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/max-landis-directing-debut-me-him-her-1118061762/ |title=Max Landis' directing debut: 'Me Him Her' |date=November 5, 2012 |work=Variety |access-date=June 26, 2015}} which received a limited released in March 2016 to mixed reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/max-landis-directing-debut-finally-gets-release-date/ |title=Max Landis' directing debut Me Him Her finally gets a release date |first=Owen |last=Williams |date=January 20, 2016 |work=Empire |access-date=January 20, 2016}}{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/me_him_her/ |title=Me Him Her (2016) |website=RottenTomatoes.com |date=March 4, 2016 |access-date=May 29, 2017}} The 2015 film American Ultra, based on his screenplay, received mixed reviews and disappointing box office results.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/american_ultra/|title=American Ultra|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=August 21, 2015 |access-date=January 17, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/American-Ultra|title=American Ultra (2015) - Financial Information|work=The Numbers|access-date=August 7, 2018}}
In February 2015, Landis directed Ariana Grande's music video "One Last Time".{{cite web |url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/ariana-grande/news/new-song-one-last-time/ |title=Ariana Grande's 'One Last Time' Video Could Bring About The End Of The WORLD |date=January 9, 2015 |website=Capital FM |access-date=March 16, 2016}} He was accused of plagiarizing the style and themes of the video from the music video for "You Are the One" by Australian band SAFIA.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6473121/ariana-grandes-one-last-time-video-called-out-for-plagiarism-watch |title=Ariana Grande's 'One Last Time' Video Called Out For Plagiarism: Watch |first=Lars |last=Brandle |date=February 18, 2015 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 18, 2019}}
In 2016, Netflix began production on Landis's script for Bright, then its most expensive self-produced film.{{cite web |url=https://collider.com/netflix-bright-deal-will-smith-david-ayer-movie/ |title=Netflix Makes Mammoth Deal for David Ayer's 'Bright' Starring Will Smith |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |date=March 18, 2016 |work=Collider |access-date=May 7, 2017}} Featuring magical fantasy characters such as orcs as an allegory for racism, the film was critically panned upon its release in December 2017,{{cite web |url=http://mashable.com/2017/12/22/bright-review-roundup/ |title=Poor Will Smith! Critics tore apart Netflix's first hopeful blockbuster, 'Bright' |last=Beck |first=Kellen |date=December 22, 2017 |work=Mashable |access-date=December 28, 2017}} but Netflix reported that it was popular with its subscribers.{{cite web |url=https://qz.com/1188058/netflix-explains-why-badly-reviewed-bright-killed-with-viewers |title=Netflix explains why a movie like "Bright" can bomb with critics and kill with audiences |last=Rodriguez |first=Ashley |date=January 24, 2018 |website=Quartz |access-date=March 18, 2019}}
In September 2017, Landis published a website called "A Scar No One Else Can See", which contained a 150-page theory on the themes of Carly Rae Jepsen's songs,{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/music/2017/09/13/max-landis-carly-rae-jepsen/ |title=Max Landis Wrote a 150-Page 'Living Document' About Carly Rae Jepsen |first=Nick |last=Romano |date=September 13, 2017 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=June 20, 2019}} arguing that they present a dark, three-part narrative about heartbreak and rejection.{{cite web |url=https://slate.com/culture/2017/09/max-landis-writes-150-page-theory-about-carly-rae-jepsen-songs.html |title=Max Landis Wrote a 150-Page Examination of Carly Rae Jepsen Songs |first1=Marissa |last1=Martinelli |date=September 14, 2017 |website=Slate |access-date=June 20, 2019}} Although Landis called the project a "celebration" of Jepsen, The Daily Dot and Pride.com described the document as a conspiracy theory,{{cite web |url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/max-landis-carly-rae-jepsen/ |title=Max Landis releases 150-page conspiracy theory about pop singer Carly Rae Jepsen |first=Brianna |last=Stone |date=September 13, 2017 |website=The Daily Dot |access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.pride.com/music/2017/9/13/screenwriter-wrote-conspiracy-theory-carly-rae-jepsen |title=This Screenwriter Wrote a 150 Page Carly Rae Jepsen Conspiracy Theory |first=Taylor |last=Henderson |date=September 13, 2017 |website=Pride |access-date=June 20, 2019}} and Reid McCarter of The A.V. Club dismissed its conclusions as unremarkable.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/max-landis-discovers-music-criticism-writes-hundreds-o-1809227450 |title=Max Landis discovers music criticism, writes hundreds of pages about Carly Rae Jepsen |first1=Reid |last1=McCarter |date=September 14, 2017 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=June 20, 2019}}
Landis wrote a draft of the screenplay for Shadow in the Cloud (2020) before being removed from the project due to sexual assault allegations. Although the script was re-written by Roseanne Liang, he received credit per Writers Guild of America rules. Analysis of the script finds it mostly unchanged from his first draft, and Landis has said he is very happy with the finished product.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/apr/19/chloe-grace-moretz-people-said-youre-going-to-lose-your-career-over-this|title=Chloë Grace Moretz: 'People said: You're going to lose your career over this'|website=The Guardian|first=Alexandra|last=Pechman|date=April 19, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=July 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704225953/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/apr/19/chloe-grace-moretz-people-said-youre-going-to-lose-your-career-over-this|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/max-landis-sexual-assault-accusation-1203246371/|title=Max Landis Accused of Rape, Assault and Psychological Abuse|website=Variety|first=Gene|last=Maddus|date=June 18, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620050211/https://variety.com/2019/film/news/max-landis-sexual-assault-accusation-1203246371/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/max-landis-8-women-accuse-hollywood-filmmaker-of-emotional-and-sexual-abuse-were-not-people-to-him|title=Eight Women Accuse Hollywood Filmmaker Max Landis of Emotional and Sexual Abuse: 'We're Not People to Him'|website=The Daily Beast|first=Amy|last=Zimmerman|date=June 18, 2019|access-date=July 4, 2019|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618184028/https://www.thedailybeast.com/max-landis-8-women-accuse-hollywood-filmmaker-of-emotional-and-sexual-abuse-were-not-people-to-him|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/max-landis-is-back-with-shadow-in-the-cloud.php|title=Max Landis Is Back With 'Shadow In The Cloud'|website=Pajiba.com|first=Kayleigh|last=Donaldson|date=September 16, 2020|access-date=September 17, 2020|archive-date=September 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930154050/https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/max-landis-is-back-with-shadow-in-the-cloud.php|url-status=live}}
In February 2020, Landis announced Glass Planet Consulting, a "creative coaching and consulting resource for screenwriters living and working in Los Angeles".{{Cite web|last1=Erbland|first1=Kate|date=2021-01-01|title='Shadow in the Cloud': Roseanne Liang Turned a Max Landis Script Into Her Own Feminist Monster Movie|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2021/01/shadow-in-the-cloud-roseanne-liang-max-landis-feminist-monster-1234607112/|access-date=2021-03-07|website=IndieWire|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Donaldson|first=Kayleigh|date=2020-02-28|title=Accused Sexual Abuser Max Landis's Attempted Comeback is as Gross as He Is|url=https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/accused-sexual-abuser-max-landiss-attempted-comeback-is-as-gross-as-he-is.php|access-date=2021-03-07|website=Pajiba}}
Controversies
Landis has been criticized for statements he has made about women, and he has been accused of abuse and sexual misconduct by several women and industry figures.{{cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/max-landis-accused-sexual-assault/ |title='Bright' Screenwriter Max Landis Accused of Sexual Assault by Multiple Women |last=Welk |first=Brian |date=June 18, 2019 |work=TheWrap |access-date=June 19, 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/max-landis-screenwriter-feminist-criticism-680007 |title=Screenwriter Max Landis Says He's 'Sick' Of Feminist Media Calling Him Sexist |last= Menta |first= Anna |date=October 6, 2017 |work=Newsweek |access-date=5 January 2018}}
= Misogyny accusations =
In a 2013 interview with self-styled sexologist Shelby Sells, Landis made numerous comments about women, such as, "The most fucked up thing was that I cheated on a girl who I also gave a crippling social anxiety, self-loathing, body dysmorphia, eating disorder too."{{cite web |url=http://shelbysells.com/2013/09/30/interview-series-max-landis/ |title=Interview Series: Max Landis |last1=Sells |first1=Shelby |website=ShelbySells.com |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930221530/http://shelbysells.com/2013/09/30/interview-series-max-landis/ |archive-date=September 30, 2013 }} Landis's statements were sharply criticized as misogynistic and objectifying of women, such as in a Jezebel piece which described his comments as "obnoxious", "twisted", and "gross".{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/max-landis-profile-dirk-gently.html |title=Who's Afraid of Max Landis? |last1=Riesman |first1=Abraham |date=October 2, 2017 |website=Vulture |publisher=New York Media LLC |location=New York City|access-date=5 January 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://jezebel.com/screenwriter-bro-just-might-be-hollywoods-biggest-fuck-1440597536 |title=Screenwriter Bro Just Might Be Hollywood's Biggest Fuckwit |last1=Baker |first1=Katie J.M.|date=October 3, 2013 |website=Jezebel |publisher=2017 Gizmodo Media Group |location=New York City|access-date=6 January 2018}}
In a 2015 Twitter post, Landis described the lead character Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens as a Mary Sue, a term originating in critiques of fan fiction to describe "a type of female character who is depicted as unrealistically lacking in flaws or weaknesses". The term is also sometimes used misogynistically to refer to any female main character.{{cite web | url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/these-women-coined-term-mary-sue-180972182/ | title=The Women Who Coined the Term 'Mary Sue' }} Landis later stated in an interview that he stood by his criticism, but "I regret framing it that way. I didn't understand that the term Mary Sue had been co-opted."
= Sexual assault allegations =
{{See also|Weinstein effect}}
In December 2017, Landis was accused of sexual assault by former co-worker Anna Akana. MAD Magazine editor Allie Goertz had commented several weeks earlier that "I can't imagine who is more scared in a post-Weinstein world than a famous director's son,"{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/bright-screenwriter-max-landis-accused-of-sexual-assault |title='Bright' Screenwriter Max Landis Accused of Sexual Assault |last1=Stern |first1=Marlow |date=December 24, 2017 |website=The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast Company LLC |access-date=January 5, 2018}} and various entertainment-industry figures commented in response about this person's bad reputation without naming him.{{cite web |url=https://movieweb.com/max-landis-accused-sexual-misconduct-abuse/ |title=Max Landis Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women |last1=Burwick |first1=Kevin |date=December 24, 2017 |website=MovieWeb |publisher=WATCHR Media Inc. |location=Las Vegas, Nevada|access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/max-landis-sexual-assault-harassment-allegations/ |title=Sexual Assault Allegations Levied at Max Landis on Twitter |last1=Freeman |first1=Molly |date=December 23, 2017 |website=Screen Rant |publisher=Valnet |location=Montreal, Quebec, Canada|access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/entertainment/2017/12/max-landis-sexual-assault-bright-writer/ |title=Max Landis: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |last1=Walsh |first1=Shannon |date=December 23, 2017 |website=Heavy.com|publisher=Heavy Inc.|location=New York City|access-date=January 14, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/one-of-max-landis-sexual-assault-accusers-comes-forward-1832607378 |title=One of Max Landis' sexual assault accusers comes forward with more details |last=Hughes |first=William |date=February 13, 2019 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=j2 Global|location=San Francisco, California|access-date=March 2, 2019}} Following Akana's statement, other industry figures confirmed Landis's reputation by name. Anti-harassment activist Zoë Quinn posted about him, alleging that his abuse of women was an "open secret" in Hollywood, and that they had been withholding the story because "him & his dad are powerful figures".
In June 2019, Landis's former girlfriend Whitney Moore posted on Twitter about him, referring to "horrific, inhumane things he did to me",{{Cite web|date=2019-06-12|title=Max Landis Has Been Accused Of More Abuse, This Time By His Ex-Girlfriend Whitney Moore|url=https://dlisted.com/2019/06/12/max-landis-has-been-accused-of-more-abuse-this-time-by-his-ex-girlfriend-whitney-moore/|access-date=2021-12-29|website=Dlisted|language=en}} and The Daily Beast published accusations from eight women about emotional and sexual abuse by him, one describing him as "a serial rapist, gaslighter, physical and psychological abuser".{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/max-landis-8-women-accuse-hollywood-filmmaker-of-emotional-and-sexual-abuse-were-not-people-to-him |title=Eight Women Accuse Hollywood Filmmaker Max Landis of Emotional and Sexual Abuse: 'We're Not People to Him' |last1=Zimmerman |first1=Amy |date=June 17, 2019 |website=The Daily Beast |publisher=The Daily Beast Company|location=New York City|access-date=June 17, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/max-landis-accused-of-sexual-physical-and-emotional-a-1835615378 |title=Max Landis accused of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse by 8 women |last=Colburn |first=Randall |date=June 18, 2019 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=j2 Global|location=San Francisco, California|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/06/max-landis-sexual-abuse-claims.html |title=Max Landis Accused of Sexual and Emotional Abuse by 8 Women |first=Devon |last=Ivie |date=June 18, 2019 |website=Vulture|publisher=New York Media|location=New York City|access-date=June 18, 2019}} In a Twitter post expressing support for Landis's accusers, Chronicle director Josh Trank said that he had banned the writer from the set during filming.{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/chronicle-director-josh-trank-says-he-banned-max-landis-1835625218 |title=Chronicle director Josh Trank says he banned Max Landis from set |last=Hayes |first=Britt |date=June 18, 2019 |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=j2 Global|location=San Francisco, California|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/06/josh-trank-banned-max-landis-chronicle-set-1202150922/ |title=Josh Trank Banned Max Landis From 'Chronicle' Set and Hasn't Spoken to Him Since 2012 |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=June 18, 2019 |website=IndieWire |publisher=Penske Media Corporation|location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/max-landis-dropped-by-manager-following-sexual-assault-accusations/ |title=Max Landis Dropped by Manager Following Sexual Assault Accusations |first=Brian |last=Welk |date=June 19, 2019 |website=TheWrap |publisher=TheWrap, Inc.|location=New York City|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://canoe.com/entertainment/celebrity/max-landis-dropped-by-managers-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620060336/https://canoe.com/entertainment/celebrity/max-landis-dropped-by-managers-after-sexual-misconduct-allegations |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 20, 2019 |title=Max Landis dropped by managers after sexual misconduct allegations |date=June 20, 2019 |newspaper=The Calgary Herald |via=Canoe.com |access-date=June 20, 2019}} Landis's management company Writ Large and his manager Britton Rizzio stated that they had dropped him "as soon as they heard about" the Daily Beast story.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2019/06/max-landis-dropped-by-managers-writ-large-sexual-assualt-allegations-1202634930/ |title=Max Landis Dropped By His Writ Large Managers Amid Allegations |last=Robb |first=David |date=June 19, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation|location=Los Angeles, California|access-date=June 20, 2019}}{{cite web |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/hagens-berman-law-firm-eyes-class-action-suit-against-max-landis-after-abuse-reports |title=Hagens Berman Law Firm Eyes Class-Action Suit Against Max Landis After Abuse Reports |first=Tracy |last=Connor |date=June 20, 2019 |website=The Daily Beast |publisher=IAC|location=New York City|access-date=June 24, 2019}} After the news broke, MGM shelved production of Deeper, a film script by Landis the studio had previously won in a bidding war.{{cite news |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/idris-elba-max-landis-deeper/ |title=Idris Elba Sci-Fi Film Deeper Dropped Over Max Landis Allegations|access-date=April 27, 2021}}
In August 2021, Landis published an essay titled "Why I Never Responded To My Public Shaming," in which he referred to the sexual assault accusations against him as "a somewhat corrupt enterprise," and rejected a comparison to comedian Bill Cosby and producer Harvey Weinstein on the grounds that he was "not a real celebrity," while conceding "some of what's been said about me is true." He also discussed the therapy he sought following the accusations, and the public reaction to the fatal helicopter accident that occurred in 1982 on the set of his father's film Twilight Zone: The Movie.{{cite news |date=Aug 26, 2021 |author=Landis, Max |url=https://maxlandis.medium.com/why-i-never-responded-to-my-public-shaming-9f7a32d9db7f |title=Why I Never Responded To My Public Shaming |access-date=June 26, 2022 }}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2" |Year
! rowspan="2" |Title ! colspan="3" |Credited as ! rowspan="2" |Notes |
|---|
| width=65| Director
! width=65| Writer ! width=65| Executive |
| 2012
| | {{yes}} | | Story co-written with Josh Trank |
| rowspan="4"| 2015
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | | |
| American Ultra
| | {{yes}} | | |
| Mr. Right
| | {{yes}} | {{Yes}} | |
| Victor Frankenstein
| | {{yes}} | | Based on Frankenstein by Mary Shelley |
| 2017
| Bright | | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | |
| 2020
| | {{yes}} | | Rewritten by Roseanne Liang; credit retained |
=Television=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-right:auto; margin-right:auto" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="2" | Credited as ! rowspan="2" | Notes ! rowspan="2" | {{Ref heading}} |
|---|
| style="width:65px;"| Writer
! style="width:65px;"| Executive producer |
| 2005
| style="text-align:left;"| Masters of Horror | {{yes}} | | style="text-align:left;"| 1 episode: "Deer Woman" | |
| 2009
| style="text-align:left;"| Fear Itself | {{yes}} | | style="text-align:left;"|1 episode: "Something with Bite" | |
| 2016–2017
| style="text-align:left;"| Channel Zero | | {{yes}} | style="text-align:left;"| |
| 2016–2017
| style="text-align:left;"| Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | style="text-align:left;"| Series creator; based on the novels by Douglas Adams. |
=Short film=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin-right:auto; margin-right:auto" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:33px;"|Year
! rowspan="2" |Title ! colspan="3" |Credited as ! rowspan="2" |Notes ! {{Ref heading}} |
|---|
| style="width:65px;"| Director
! style="width:65px;"| Writer ! style="width:65px;"| Producer ! |
| 2012
|align="left" |The Death and Return of Superman |{{yes}} |{{yes}} | |align="left" |Role: Himself |
| 2015
|align="left" |Wrestling Isn't Wrestling |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |align="left" |Role: Himself |
| 2021
|align="left"|The Death of Batman |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |align="left" |Role: Himself, assorted characters |
| 2023
|align="left"|The Society: Endangered Species |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |align="left" |Role: Himself, assorted characters |
=Web series=
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2007
| Himself as commentator | ||
| 2015–2017
| Himself as competitor (6 episodes) | ||
| 2015
| Himself | ||
| 2016
| Writer: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" | ||
| 2017
|Himself (voice), Episode: "Sex Survey Results" |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" | |||
| Year | Title | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015
| "One Last Time" | Director |
=Acting credits=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role |
|---|
| 1996
| Graffiti artist |
| 1998
| Ghostrider |
| 2010
| Handsome coachman |
| 2015
| Party bystander |
Publications
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||
| Year | Title | Role | Publisher | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008
| Back to Mysterious Island | Writer | | ||||
| 2014
| SCP-2137 – The Forensic Ghost of Tupac Shakur | Writer | | ||||
| 2016
| Superman: American Alien | Writer | Will Eisner Award Nomination – Best Writer{{Cite web |url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/here-are-your-2017-eisner-award-nominees-1794851102 |title=Here Are Your 2017 Eisner Award Nominees |first=Charles |last=Pulliam-Moore |date=May 2, 2017 |website=io9}} | ||||
| 2016
| Green Valley | Writer | | ||||
| 2020
| Polybius (stage play manuscript) | Writer | Self-published | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Max Landis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Landis, Max}}
Category:2017 controversies in the United States
Category:21st-century American Jews
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:Beverly Hills High School alumni
Category:Film directors from Los Angeles
Category:Film people from Beverly Hills, California
Category:Jewish American screenwriters
Category:People with bipolar disorder
Category:Screenwriters from California