Biography
Marc Klein is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and author whose stories of love and loss have captivated audiences worldwide.
Born in New York City, Klein grew up in Margate, New Jersey, a coastal town near the Atlantic City Boardwalk.
During his time at Atlantic City High School, he earned numerous creative writing awards and received a college scholarship from the National Foundation for the Advancement of Arts.
Klein studied filmmaking and screenwriting at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduating with honors, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a screenwriter.
In 1997, Klein sold his first screenplay, "Love, Jenny," a supernatural love story, to Universal Studios as a potential project for Will Smith and Jada Pinkett. Although the film was never produced, the sale enabled Klein to leave his assistant job and focus on screenwriting full-time.
In 2000, Klein penned the original screenplay "Serendipity," sparking a bidding war among Hollywood studios. Produced by Miramax Films and starring John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale, the film about star-crossed lovers was hailed as "an instant romantic comedy classic," grossing nearly $100 million in the U.S.
Legendary critic Gene Shalit praised the film, stating, "I've been reviewing movies for 35 years and Serendipity joins my personal list of matchless romantic comedies. Thrilling, most wonderful and beyond compare!" Since its release, "Serendipity" is often ranked among the greatest romantic comedies.
In 2005, Ridley Scott selected Klein to adapt Peter Mayle's bestseller "A Good Year," about an investment banker (played by Russell Crowe) who inherits a vineyard in Provence. Collaborating with Scott in Los Angeles, London, and Provence, Klein helped craft what became a more personal project for the director. Released by 20th Century Fox in 2006, "A Good Year" has gained a cult following, inspiring fans to visit the film's scenic Provence locations.
That same year, Klein adapted Melissa Bank's bestselling novel "A Girl’s Guide to Hunting and Fishing," considered one of the first modern "chick lit" books. Klein chose to direct the film himself, casting Alec Baldwin as the womanizing, alcoholic editor Archie Knox, and Sarah Michelle Gellar as his young girlfriend. Renamed "Suburban Girl," the bittersweet May-December romance debuted at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival.
Over the following years, Klein continued as a sought-after script doctor, focusing on romantic films. He contributed to several Nicholas Sparks adaptations, including "Dear John" starring Channing Tatum, "Safe Haven" directed by Lasse Hallstrom, and "The Best of Me," all of which were box office successes.
In 2011, Pulitzer Prize winner Lin-Manuel Miranda chose Klein to adapt his Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "In the Heights" for Universal Studios. Working closely with Miranda, Klein transformed the stage musical about Latino immigrants into a full-scale cinematic musical. After more than a decade of development and multiple studio changes, Warner Brothers scheduled the film’s release for Summer 2021.
In 2012, Klein received credit for "Mirror Mirror," a fresh take on the Snow White fairy tale. Starring Academy Award winner Julia Roberts as the Evil Queen and Lily Collins as Snow White, the film earned positive reviews and grossed $183 million worldwide.
In 2016, Relativity Studios hired Klein to adapt Alyson Richman’s bestselling novel "The Lost Wife," a sweeping love story set during World War II and the Holocaust. The project is in development with Emmy-nominated Joey King ("The Act") attached to star.
In 2018, Klein adapted Nicole Kear’s bestselling memoir "Now I See You," which chronicles Kear’s battle with a genetic disease that left her legally blind. The film is in pre-production with Emma Roberts set to star.
In 2019, Klein sold his original screenplay "The In Between" to Paramount Pictures. Written as a vehicle for Joey King, this supernatural teen love story is in pre-production, with filming scheduled to begin in March 2021.
Alongside the film, Klein authored the young adult novel "The In Between," his debut book, which Little, Brown for Young Readers will publish on June 1, 2021.
Klein currently lives in Los Angeles.
