Alexander Hilary Kurtzman (born September 7, 1973) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for co-writing the scripts to Transformers (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), and The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014) with his writing and producing partner Roberto Orci, and directing and co-writing The Mummy (2017). He made his directorial debut with People Like Us (2012), co-written alongside Orci and Jody Lambert.
Kurtzman is known, alongside Orci, for frequently collaborating with Michael Bay and J.J. Abrams, as well as co-creating for numerous Paramount+ series: Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024), Star Trek: Picard (2020–2023), and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022–present); he also serves as showrunner of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (2026–present).
Early life and education Kurtzman was born into a Jewish family and raised in Los Angeles, California. His longtime screenwriting partner Roberto Orci was his best friend in high school.
Kurtzman attended Wesleyan University.
Career Kurtzman first teamed with Orci on the syndicated series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, for the television unit of Pacific Renaissance Pictures, then operating out of Universal International. After they produced several storylines to cope with the absence of lead actor Kevin Sorbo following a stroke that Sorbo had suffered during the fourth season, Kurtzman and Orci, both aged 24, were placed in charge of the show. They moved into films after they were asked to rewrite Michael Bay's The Island. The film earned nearly $163 million at the worldwide box office, on a budget of $126 million, which was enough of a success that they were brought in to write Bay's Transformers, which earned $710 million. Though The Island and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen were not particularly well received by critics, the two films earned a combined $1.7 billion. They co-created the Fox TV series Fringe in 2008 along with J. J. Abrams. After the pilot, Kurtzman served as consulting producer on the show for the remainder of its run. They then co-wrote the 2009 film Star Trek.
In 2011, Forbes magazine described Orci and Kurtzman as "Hollywood's Secret Weapons".
Kurtzman has frequently worked with a tight-knit group of film professionals which include J. J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Adam Horowitz, Roberto Orci, Edward Kitsis, Andre Nemec, Josh Appelbaum, Jeff Pinkner, and Bryan Burk. In April 2014, both Orci and Kurtzman confirmed to Variety that they would no longer work together on film projects; they added that they would still work together—but only on television projects.
In 2018, Kurtzman signed a new five-year deal with CBS Television Studios to oversee and expand the Star Trek franchise on television, including serving as executive producer on Star Trek: Discovery (which he also co-showran with Michelle Paradise), Star Trek: Short Treks, Star Trek: Picard, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Starfleet Academy (which he co-showruns with Noga Landau).
In August 2021, Kurtzman and his production company Secret Hideout extended their overall deal with CBS Studios through 2026.
Personal life In 2002, Kurtzman married Samantha Counter, the daughter of lawyer Nick Counter.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes2005 The Island The Legend of Zorro 2006 Mission: Impossible III 2007 Transformers 2008 Eagle Eye 2009 Watchmen Script polish Star Trek The Proposal Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen 2011 Cowboys & Aliens 2012 People Like Us Directorial debut2013 Star Trek Into Darkness Now You See Me Ender's Game 2014 The Amazing Spider-Man 2 2016 Now You See Me 2 2017 The Mummy 2024 Rob Peace 2025 Star Trek: Section 31 Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Television Year Title Director Writer ExecutiveProducer Creator Notes1997–1999Hercules: The Legendary Journeys1999–2000Xena: Warrior Princess2000Jack of All Trades2001–2003AliasAlso supervising producer2004The Secret ServicePilot2008–2013FringeAlso consulting producer2010Transformers: PrimeAlso developer2010–2020Hawaii Five-0Also developer2011Exit StrategyPilotLocke & Key2013–2017Sleepy Hollow2014Matador2014–2018Scorpion2015–2016Limitless2017–2024Star Trek: DiscoveryEpisode "Brother"2017–2018Salvation2018–2020Star Trek: Short Treks2018–2019Instinct2020–2023Star Trek: Picard2020–2024Star Trek: Lower Decks2021Clarice 2021–2024Star Trek: Prodigy2022The Man Who Fell to Earth2022–presentStar Trek: Strange New Worlds2026–presentStar Trek: Starfleet Academy
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