Justin Zackham
Encyclopedia
Justin Zackham is the writer and executive producer of "The Bucket List
" starring Jack Nicholson
, Morgan Freeman
, Sean Hayes
and Rob Morrow
. The film, directed by Rob Reiner
, was released on Christmas, 2007. The film tells the story of two men (Nicholson and Freeman) who are roommates in a cancer ward where they learn on the same day that they each have only months to live. When Freeman's character was nineteen, he wrote a list of all the things he wanted to do with his life before he "kicked the bucket." Nicholson plays a millionaire who adds his own wishes to Morgan's list and the two men are soon skydiving, driving vintage race cars and riding a Harley-Davidson
motorcycle
along the Great Wall of China
.
A book by the same name includes Freeman, Yuichiro Miura
(the oldest man to climb Mt. Everest), and playboy Hugh Hefner
's list as well as younger people. People’s wish lists change over their lifetime.
Zackham is adapting the book Planetwalker for Universal Studios
and director
Tom Shadyac
. The biography
tells the story of John Francis
, a man who took a 17-year vow of silence while walking across North
and South America
. Francis obtained a bachelor and masters degrees along with a PhD, all while not speaking. He became a United Nations
Goodwill Ambassador and was hired by the U.S. Coast Guard to write oil spill legislation.
, about a former heavyweight champion facing bankruptcy and Alzheimer's disease.
He wrote a 2007 television pilot
, a coming of age
semi-autobiographical drama about five guys and one girl in their late 20s who have been friends since they were kids and who struggle to maintain their tight-knit group in the face of adulthood.
The Bucket List
The Bucket List is a 2007 comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Academy Award-winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman...
" starring Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson
John Joseph "Jack" Nicholson is an American actor, film director, producer and writer. He is renowned for his often dark portrayals of neurotic characters. Nicholson has been nominated for an Academy Award twelve times, and has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice: for One Flew Over the...
, Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman is an American actor, film director, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice. Freeman has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus and won...
, Sean Hayes
Sean Hayes (actor)
Sean Patrick Hayes is an American actor and comedian. He is widely known for his role as Jack McFarland in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which he won an Emmy Award, four SAG Awards, one American Comedy Award, and six Golden Globes nominations.He also portrayed comedian Jerry Lewis in the...
and Rob Morrow
Rob Morrow
Robert Alan "Rob" Morrow is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of Don Eppes on Numb3rs and as Dr. Joel Fleischman on Northern Exposure, a role which garnered him three Golden Globes and two Emmy Award nominations for "Best Actor in a Dramatic Series."-Personal life:Morrow was born in...
. The film, directed by Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Robert "Rob" Reiner is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and political activist.As an actor, Reiner first came to national prominence as Archie and Edith Bunker's son-in-law, Michael "Meathead" Stivic, on All in the Family. That role earned him two Emmy Awards during the 1970s...
, was released on Christmas, 2007. The film tells the story of two men (Nicholson and Freeman) who are roommates in a cancer ward where they learn on the same day that they each have only months to live. When Freeman's character was nineteen, he wrote a list of all the things he wanted to do with his life before he "kicked the bucket." Nicholson plays a millionaire who adds his own wishes to Morgan's list and the two men are soon skydiving, driving vintage race cars and riding a Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
along the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...
.
A book by the same name includes Freeman, Yuichiro Miura
Yuichiro Miura
is a Japanese alpinist who in 2003, at age 70, became the oldest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. This record was later broken. However, on May 26 2008, Miura once again successfully summited Mt Everest at the age of 75....
(the oldest man to climb Mt. Everest), and playboy Hugh Hefner
Hugh Hefner
Hugh Marston "Hef" Hefner is an American magazine publisher, founder and Chief Creative Officer of Playboy Enterprises.-Early life:...
's list as well as younger people. People’s wish lists change over their lifetime.
Biography
Zackham graduated from NYU film school after which he moved to Los Angeles and wrote, directed and produced the fraternity comedy "Going Greek" before turning to dramatic stories.Zackham is adapting the book Planetwalker for Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
and director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
Tom Shadyac
Tom Shadyac
Thomas Peter "Tom" Shadyac is an American comedian, director, screenwriter, and producer. Shadyac, who was the youngest joke-writer ever for comedian Bob Hope, is widely known for writing and directing the films Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Nutty Professor, Liar Liar, Bruce Almighty, and the...
. The biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
tells the story of John Francis
John Francis
John Francis may refer to:*John Francis , English cricketer*John Francis , cricketer*John Francis , American environmentalist...
, a man who took a 17-year vow of silence while walking across North
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
. Francis obtained a bachelor and masters degrees along with a PhD, all while not speaking. He became a United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Goodwill Ambassador and was hired by the U.S. Coast Guard to write oil spill legislation.
Book
The Bucket List: Things to Do Before I Kick It. Three Rivers Press (CA), 2007 ISBN 978-0307406712TV Credits
Zackham is the Creator and Executive Producer of the FX drama series Lights OutLights Out (2011 TV series)
Lights Out is an American television boxing drama series from the FX network in the United States. It stars Holt McCallany as Patrick "Lights" Leary, a New Jersey native, and former heavyweight champion boxer who is considering a comeback. The series premiered on January 11, 2011 at 10 pm ET/PT. On...
, about a former heavyweight champion facing bankruptcy and Alzheimer's disease.
He wrote a 2007 television pilot
Television pilot
A "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
, a coming of age
Coming of age
Coming of age is a young person's transition from childhood to adulthood. The age at which this transition takes place varies in society, as does the nature of the transition. It can be a simple legal convention or can be part of a ritual, as practiced by many societies...
semi-autobiographical drama about five guys and one girl in their late 20s who have been friends since they were kids and who struggle to maintain their tight-knit group in the face of adulthood.