David Self

Biography

David Christopher Self is an American screenwriter recognized for his contributions to several major Hollywood films across different genres, from historical thrillers to supernatural horror and crime drama.

Biography and Early Career

Born on January 8, 1970, in Texas City, Texas, Self is a highly educated writer who earned both a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English literature. His career path into screenwriting began with "spec scripts" (speculative screenplays written without a commission), one of which, a political thriller titled Dawn's Early Light, circulated widely in Hollywood and garnered attention from major producers.

Before achieving major studio success, many of his early commissioned projects, such as an adaptation of the documentary Fires of Kuwait and a retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, were purchased but ultimately remained unproduced, a common hurdle in the film industry.

Notable Film Career

Self's breakout came in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where he quickly established himself as a versatile screenwriter adept at adapting source material:

The Haunting (1999): His first major studio screenplay, written for DreamWorks Pictures, was an adaptation of Shirley Jackson's classic novel The Haunting of Hill House.

Thirteen Days (2000): A historical drama chronicling the Cuban Missile Crisis, based on the memoirs of John F. Kennedy advisor Kenneth O'Donnell. Self persuaded the producer to drop a fictional love story and focus on a realistic, suspenseful historical narrative.

Road to Perdition (2002): This is arguably his most critically acclaimed work. He adapted the script from the graphic novel by Max Allan Collins. The film, directed by Sam Mendes and starring Tom Hanks, is a sweeping crime drama that explores themes of loyalty, violence, and father-son relationships in the Prohibition era.

The Bourne Identity (2002): Self contributed an uncredited script polish to this major action-thriller, helping to develop the tone and narrative of the first installment in the successful franchise.

The Wolfman (2010): He was later hired to do a major rewrite of the screenplay for the gothic horror remake, where he focused on beefing up the characterizations and the relationship between the father and son.

In addition to these produced credits, David Self has also been attached to various superhero and video game adaptations, including projects for Captain America, Namor, and God of War, demonstrating his continued work in high-profile development for major studios.