Writing

Jonathan Gems

London, United Kingdom
Department: Writing

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jonathan Gems (born 1952, London) is a British playwright and screenwriter mostly known for his work on Mars Attacks!, directed by Tim Burton. He also wrote the film's novelization. The son of the playwright Pam Gems, Jonathan Gems wrote a number of plays for theatres on the London fringe before gradually turning to screenwriting. As well as Mars Attacks!, Gems did uncredited rewrite work on Batman. Gems has written a number of unproduced scripts for Burton, including a Beetlejuice sequel titled Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, an updating of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher" set in Burbank, California, The Hawkline Monster, a cowboy/monster movie that was to star Clint Eastwood and Jack Nicholson and Go Baby Go, a beach movie in the style of Russ Meyer. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jonathan Gems, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Prominent works featuring Jonathan Gems

Mars Attacks!
Movie
Quick View

Mars Attacks!

1996
TMDB3.2
White Mischief
Movie
Quick View

White Mischief

1987
TMDB3.0
The Treat
Movie
Quick View

The Treat

1998
TMDB1.8
Nightshift
Movie
Quick View

Nightshift

1981
TMDB3.4
The War Of The Worlds: The Prophetic Novel
Movie
Quick View

The War Of The Worlds: The Prophetic Novel

2025
TMDB3.8
Who Killed British Cinema?
Movie
Quick View

Who Killed British Cinema?

2018
TMDB2.5
Van Morrison in Ireland
Movie
Quick View

Van Morrison in Ireland

1981
TMDB5.0

Filmography & Credits

Complete career catalog (8 titles)

PosterTitleCharacter / RoleTypeYear
The War Of The Worlds: The Prophetic NovelThe War Of The Worlds: The Prophetic NovelSelf (Screenwriter)Movie2025
Who Killed British Cinema?Who Killed British Cinema?SelfMovie2018
The TreatThe TreatDirectorMovie1998
The TreatThe TreatWriterMovie1998
Mars Attacks!Mars Attacks!ScreenplayMovie1996
White MischiefWhite MischiefScreenplayMovie1987
NightshiftNightshiftAdditional DialogueMovie1981
Van Morrison in IrelandWriterMovie1981