Michael France (January 4, 1962 April 12, 2013) was an American screenwriter. He is best remembered for writing the screenplays for Cliffhanger (1993), the James Bond film GoldenEye (1995), and the comic book films Hulk (2003), The Punisher (2004), and Fantastic Four (2005).
Early life France was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. As a kid he loved comics and movies, which may have inspired him to write. He attended the University of Florida in the early 1980s, working as a projectionist at a small movie theater in Gainesville and participating in its programming. He earned a graduate degree from the film school at Columbia University in New York City.
Career France moved to Los Angeles, California, where he sold the script for Cliffhanger. He later wrote the scripts for GoldenEye, Hulk, The Punisher, and Fantastic Four. He also did some uncredited work on The World Is Not Enough. France bought the historic Beach Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida; built in 1939, the theater is known for its screening of independent and foreign films.
Personal life France lived in St. Pete Beach, Florida, with his wife, Elizabeth, and their three children, Annabelle and Carolynn, twins, age 10 at the time, and Thomas, age 15. He died on April 12, 2013, after complications resulting from diabetes. He was 51 years old.
References
External links
The One-Page Screenplay: Michael France's Tips on Suicide Notes Movieline.com article, June 22, 2009 Star Trek fans get ready for the big premiere 10Connects.com article (with video), May 8, 2009 Shop Local: Beach Theatre The Daily Loaf article, December 11, 2008 St. Petersburg Times article June 14, 2008 St. Petersburg Times article June 8, 2008 Hollywood meets 'Rocky Horror' PoynterOnline.org article July 2, 2007 Beach's Indy Icon Going Hollywood St. Petersburg Times article April 12, 2007 Local screenwriter buys St. Pete Beach theater St. Petersburg Times article April 8, 2007 Floridian: Flexing his writer's muscle St. Petersburg Times article June 20, 2003 IGN: 10 Questions: Mike France June 19, 2003 interview Countdown to 'Hulk': Screenwriter Michael France's Big, Green Vision Comic Book Resources interview, June 16, 2003 Floridian: Riding Spider-Man's coattails St. Petersburg Times article May 10, 2002 The Beach Theatre Independent landmark movie theatre in St. Pete Beach, FL, owned by screenwriter Michael France. Built in 1939. Newmarket Press biography