Gary Ross

Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956) is a highly regarded American screenwriter, director, and producer. He rose to fame with his work in the fantasy comedy-drama film Pleasantville (1998), the sports drama film Seabiscuit (2003), the sci-fi action film The Hunger Games (2012), and the heist comedy film Ocean's 8 (2018). Over his career, Ross has been nominated for four Academy Awards showcasing his talent and expertise in the film industry. Born in Los Angeles, California, Ross is the son of Arthur A. Ross, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter.

Before his screenwriting career kicked off, Ross worked in various roles such as a fisherman, campaign consultant and even authored a novel. He began his film journey with Paramount Pictures and his first produced screenplay, Big, co-written with Anne Spielberg, cemented his talent with an Academy Award nomination and a Writers Guild of America Award. Among his major works were Pleasantville in 1998, which he wrote and directed, and Seabiscuit in 2003 which he wrote, directed, and produced. His adaptation of the first book in Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games trilogy was critically and financially successful, but Ross chose not to adapt or direct the sequels due to the rushed production schedule. Ross's versatility also extends into animation, having written and produced the animated feature The Tale of Despereaux, and authoring a children's book, Bartholomew Biddle and the Very Big Wind.