Matt Lieberman

Biography

Matt Lieberman is an American screenwriter best known for writing successful family and fantasy films such as Scoob!, The Addams Family, The Christmas Chronicles and its sequel, and Free Guy. His work is widely appreciated for blending humor, heart, and high-concept storytelling.

Early Life and Education

Lieberman was born at Scott Air Force Base in Belleville, Illinois. He spent most of his childhood in Randolph, New Jersey, where he developed an early interest in writing and storytelling. He later attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, one of the most prestigious film and performing arts institutions in the United States, where he refined his screenwriting skills.

Personal Life

Matt Lieberman is married to costume designer and stylist Maya Lieberman. The couple lives in Pacific Palisades, California, along with their daughter. Despite his success in Hollywood, Lieberman maintains a relatively private family life.

Career Beginnings

Lieberman began his professional writing career through the Walt Disney Feature Writer’s Program, which helped launch his path in mainstream cinema. Early in his career, he worked on several projects in development, including Short Circuit, Monopoly, Zombie Brother, and Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, gaining valuable industry experience.

Breakthrough Success

In 2012, Lieberman sold his spec script 12/24 to Chris Columbus’s production company, 1492 Pictures. The project later evolved into The Christmas Chronicles. Originally conceived as a found-footage style story about children trying to capture Santa Claus on camera, the script was later acquired by Netflix. Lieberman reworked the story to expand Santa’s role, ultimately shaping the character for Kurt Russell’s celebrated performance.

Another major milestone came with Lieberman’s spec script Free Guy, which was purchased by 20th Century Fox and featured on the 2016 Black List, an annual list of Hollywood’s most liked unproduced screenplays. The film, starring Ryan Reynolds, was released in 2021 and became a major commercial success.

Recent Projects

Lieberman continues to be highly active in the industry. Paramount Pictures acquired his family adventure concept Yumanzu, which he is co-writing with Kenya Barris. The film is being produced by