James V. Hart (born 1947) is an American screenwriter and author. He is known for his literary adaptations, such as Hook (1991), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994).
Career Writing Hart wrote the screenplay to the Steven Spielberg feature film Hook which functioned as a sequel to J. M. Barrie's original story, with Peter Pan having grown into adulthood. Later, he wrote the 2005 children's novel Capt. Hook: The Adventures of a Notorious Youth, a prequel depicting the youth of Captain Hook, the nemesis of Peter Pan. He wrote the Francis Ford Coppola-produced horror films Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992) and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994).
Hart's writing focuses on adventure and fantasy fare, such as Muppet Treasure Island (1996), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life (2003), and Epic (2013). He co-created the pirate television drama Crossbones with Luther writer Neil Cross based on Colin Woodard's book The Republic of Pirates. On July 24, 2014, NBC announced that Crossbones had been canceled after one season.
Unmade screenplays Hart wrote the first draft screenplay of Atlas Shrugged, which was to be fully developed by director Randall Wallace. Hart also wrote an adaptation of The Sirens of Titan, which Kurt Vonnegut approved of before he died, as well as a screenplay adaptation for Crisis in the Hot Zone which was later adapted into a television series in 2019. In 2012, it was announced that TNT would create a television series based on the Dean Koontz's Frankenstein novels.
Teaching Hart has been a faculty member of the Columbia University Graduate Film program and has mentored for Sundance Film Labs, the Austin Writer's Ranch, and the Equinoxe-Europe Writing Workshops.
Personal life Hart is the son of Albert Hart and Alice Hart. He has one brother, David (deceased). He studied film and graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1969. He lives in New York with his wife Judith. Their two children, Jake and Julia, are also screenwriters.Bio blurb on dust jacket of Capt. Hook, published 2005.
Filmography Film Year Title Writer Producer 1974 Dirty O'Neil 1977 The Ransom 1984 Gimme an 'F' 1991 Hook 1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula 1994 Mary Shelley's Frankenstein 1996 Muppet Treasure Island 1997 Contact 2002 Tuck Everlasting 2003 Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life 2005 Sahara 2007 The Last Mimzy 2007 August Rush 2013 Epic
Additional literary material The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
Television Year Title Writer Creator Executiveproducer 2001 Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story 2014 Crossbones 2019–21 The Hot Zone
References
External links
Interview about Hook on www.hook-movie.com