Greg Berlanti

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

In 2018, Berlanti set a record in having 15 different live-action scripted television series planned to air in the 2018–19 television season on various networks and digital platforms, and he signed the most expensive producer deal to date with Warner Bros. In 2019, Berlanti had three pilots (Batwoman, Prodigal Son and Katy Keene) ordered to series, bringing his total shows on air to a record-breaking 18. Berlanti also directed the 2018 romantic comedy-drama film Love, Simon. Notable as the first film by a major Hollywood studio to focus on a gay teenage romance, it grossed $66million worldwide.

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

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

Berlanti subsequently created two drama series for Warner Brothers, Everwood and Jack & Bobby. By the age of 32, he had also already directed his first feature film,  The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy, which starred Timothy Olyphant, Zach Braff, Justin Theroux and Dean Cain.

In 2006, Berlanti produced and wrote Brothers & Sisters for ABC, which aired for five seasons and featured the first same-sex legal marriage on network television.

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

In 2008, Berlanti created and produced the ABC legal drama Eli Stone and in 2012 the USA miniseries Political Animals. For NBC, he has produced The Mysteries of Laura, an American adaptation of the Spanish television series, that premiered on September 17, 2014, and Blindspot which premiered on September 21, 2015.

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

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

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

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

In May 2016, Berlanti discussed his involvement in a Booster Gold feature film that is currently in development, as producer and possibly as director as well. Zack Stentz is signed to the project as screenwriter.

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

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

Arrow and Black Lightning were the first network shows to feature openly gay black characters.

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

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

Other DC shows
Berlanti worked with Mara Brock Akil and her husband Salim Akil to develop Black Lightning which also aired on the CW.

For DC Universe, Berlanti produces Titans, starring Brenton Thwaites, with Akiva Goldsman, Geoff Johns, and Sarah Schechter, and Doom Patrol, starring Matt Bomer and Brendan Fraser, with Jeremy Carver, Geoff Johns and Sarah Schechter.

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

Personal life
He was born in Rye, New York. His parents are Barbara Moller Berlanti and Eugene Berlanti. Greg has one sister, Dina, and two nieces. He has Italian and Irish ancestry. He described his early life in an August 2004 interview with Entertainment Weekly: "We were Italians in a town of WASPs" and his family was not "doing as well as 90% of the community." The Berlanti Productions production logo, which follows each episode of shows he produces, features a family with their backs to the audience and the spoken quote, "Greg, move your head!" This is an homage to Berlanti's father, Gene, who would yell at Greg when he was blocking the television screen. Berlanti graduated from Northwestern University in 1994.

Berlanti has been in a relationship with ex-LA Galaxy soccer player Robbie Rogers since mid-2013. On February 18, 2016, Berlanti and Rogers welcomed their first son via surrogacy, Caleb Berlanti. On December 31, 2016, Rogers and Berlanti announced they had become engaged. Their wedding occurred on December 2, 2017. On May 13, 2019 Berlanti and Rogers welcomed home their daughter Mia Barbara Rogers-Berlanti.

Awards and honors
In 2018, Berlanti was selected for the Vanguard Award by the Los Angeles LGBT Center, The Founders Award by the International Emmy Awards, The Hero Award by the Trevor Project, 500 Most Powerful People Working in the Global Media Business Today by Variety, in addition to winning a Teen Choice Award for The Flash, Riverdale and Love, Simon.

Additional wins include; 2017 for Teen Choice Award for Choice Drama TV Show for Riverdale and 2016 People's Choice Award wins for Supergirl and The Flash.

Past honors include; a 2012 Directors Guild of America nomination for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Miniseries in recognition for Direction of Political Animals Pilot, a 2013 Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie for Political Animals, a 2014 Saturn Award for Best Superhero Adaptation Television Series for The Flash as well as The Christopher Award for The Flash, a Leo Award Best Dramatic Series nomination for Arrow in 2013 as well as a Fan Favorite Awards and Fan Favorite New Show by TV Guide for Arrow, the Honors Writer Award by The Caucus in 2010, the Alumni Merit Award by the Northwestern Alumni Association in 2006, a 2005 a Gracie Award Presented by the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television,  the Religion Communicators Council Wilbur Award for the “A Man of Faith” episode of Jack & Bobby in 2005, the Turner Prize at the Environmental Media Awards in 2003 for Everwood, a GLAAD Media Award in 2001 for The Broken Hearts Club and a 2000 SHINE Award for his writing work on Dawson's Creek. Berlanti was also recognized by Variety in 2000 for their Watchable Helmers issue, as well as their 2018 Inclusion Impact Report and by The Hollywood Reporter in their 'Power 100 List' and 'Power Showrunners List' in 2018. In 2017, Berlanti was selected for the Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award.