Billy Ray

Biography

Billy Ray is an Academy Award-nominated American screenwriter and director known for his taut, journalistic approach to docudramas and thrillers. He earned an Oscar nomination for writing "Captain Phillips" (2013) and gained critical acclaim for writing and directing "Shattered Glass" (2003). In 2026, Ray is one of the most in-demand writers in Hollywood, helming two of the year's biggest prestige projects. Most notably, he makes a grand return to the franchise he helped launch, serving as the screenwriter for "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" (November 20, 2026). Adapted from Suzanne Collins' new novel, the film explores the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell), focusing on a young Haymitch Abernathy. Ray previously wrote the screenplay for the very first Hunger Games film (2012). He also penned the script for the Netflix crime thriller "Animals" (2026), directed by Ben Affleck. The film, which deals with the kidnapping of a mayoral candidate's son, stars Matt Damon and marks another collaboration between Ray and high-profile political storytelling. Beyond film, 2026 marks his debut as a novelist. His Young Adult dystopian romance book, "Burn the Water", was published by Scholastic Press in March 2026.