Michael Lesslie

Biography

Michael Lesslie is a British playwright, screenwriter, and producer who has become one of Hollywood's premier adapters of complex literary and comic book properties. A double first graduate of Oxford University, he first gained acclaim for his visceral 2015 adaptation of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" starring Michael Fassbender. In 2026, he continues his stewardship of Panem. Following the success of his screenplay for The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, he returns as the co-screenwriter (alongside Billy Ray) for "The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping" (November 20, 2026). His script adapts Suzanne Collins' novel about the Second Quarter Quell, focusing on the psychological unraveling of a young Haymitch Abernathy. Simultaneously, he holds one of the most coveted jobs in the industry: he is currently writing the screenplay for the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first "X-Men" movie. While the film is still in development, his hiring signaled a grounded, character-driven direction for the mutants' introduction. He also penned the script for "Now You See Me: Now You Don't" (the franchise's third installment), which saw its home entertainment release in early 2026 following a late 2025 theatrical run.