Gregory Berlanti (born May 24, 1972) is an American screenwriter, producer and 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 productions, including The CW's Arrowverse, as well as Titans and Doom Patrol. In 2000, Berlanti founded the production company Berlanti Productions.
In the 2017–18 television season, Berlanti tied Jerry Bruckheimer's 2005–06 record in having 10 different live-action scripted television series airing on various networks and digital platforms and took sole possession of the record, with 14 airing in the 2018–19 television season, having signed the most expensive producer deal at that time (June 2018) with Warner Bros. In the 2019–20 television season, with one cancellation and two new series, Berlanti increased the record to 18. Berlanti also directed the 2018 film Love, Simon, a gay romantic comedy-drama which grossed $66 million worldwide. He was an executive producer of the superhero drama television series Superman & Lois (2021–24).
Berlanti was named on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.
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. In 2000, 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 a primetime television show and featuring the first same-sex kiss between two men on American 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. 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 the network had said no to the kiss, Berlanti added, "I was prepared to quit. I really was."
Berlanti subsequently created two drama series for Warner Bros: Everwood and Jack & Bobby. He and his business partner Mickey Liddell struck a deal with Warner Bros. in March 2003 via Berlanti/Liddell Productions. 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. After three years at Warner Bros., he moved to Touchstone Television in 2006 and set up Berlanti Television as his new production company.
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. He replaced Marti Noxon, who departed the show because of creative differences.
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. At ABC, he produced and worked alongside Jon Harmon Feldman, former Dirty Sexy Money showrunner, to create No Ordinary Family. In 2011, he shifted from ABC Studios back to its original home at Warner Bros. Television. For NBC, he produced The Mysteries of Laura, an American adaptation of the Spanish television series, which 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 Bros. 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 in development 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 Caroline Kepnes's thriller novel 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. The second season was released on December 26, 2019. On January 14, 2020, Netflix renewed You for a third season, which was released on October 15, 2021. In October 2021, ahead of the third season premiere, the series was renewed for a fourth season.
In April 2019, Amazon Studios officially won the film rights to Red, White & Royal Blue, to be produced by Berlanti Productions. The project, based on the 2019 novel of the same name by Casey McQuiston, had its world premiere at the BFI IMAX in London on July 22, 2023 and was released on Amazon Prime Video on August 11, 2023.
In May 2021, The CW pilot All American: Homecoming was picked up to series to be executive produced by Berlanti in association with creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sarah Schechter, David Madden, and Robbie Rogers. All American: Homecoming premiered on The CW in February 2022. The series was canceled after three seasons, ending in September 2024.
In February 2022, Max put in a series order for The Girls on the Bus, previously worked on by Netflix and The CW, to be produced by Berlanti, Amy Chozick, Julie Plec, Rina Mimoun, and Sarah Schechter. It was announced that filming had wrapped on the pilot and production began in October 2022. The series was cancelled after one season.
In March 2022, Apple TV+ acquired the distribution rights to Fly Me to the Moon, a film covering the 1960s Space Race. In June 2022, the project's original director, Jason Bateman, left the project, and the role was later filled by Berlanti. Filming began later in the year in October, and it was released in July 2024.
More recently, his Berlanti/Schechter Films company had a first-look deal with Netflix.
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.