The world of screenwriting continues to change as time goes on, primarily because of the extensive list of young screenwriters who push and innovate the field for years to come. Some of the best screenwriters in the world haven’t even begun their careers yet, making it worthwhile to know who is up and coming in the field.
If you’re a screenwriter yourself or just a fan of cinema, you’re in the right place. Below will highlight what we feel are ten of the best young screenwriters to watch in 2022. Although these aren’t the only screenwriters to be aware of, the number of writers there are in the field is pretty impressive. Nevertheless, let’s take a look!
Zach Baylin
It’s not every day you see a young screenwriter get their writing career started with a Williams sister biopic starring Will Smith, but that’s just the sort of career Zach Baylin has begun. Since being born in 1980, Baylin has been known for his Side Effects (2013), King Richard (2021), and an Untitled Studio 8/Francesco Munzi Crime Thriller Project. Be on the lookout for Baylin in 2022, especially if King Richard ends up being a success.
Akela Cooper
With 13 writing credits to already start her young career, Akela Cooper garnished a lot of attention with the trippy and unpredictable story of Malignant (2021. Nevertheless, Cooper is a producer and writer known for Luke Cage (2016), Malignant (2021), and Witches of East End (2013).
Jeremy O. Harris
The tweet-turned film Zola (2020) has gained a decent cult following already, primarily because of Jeremy O. Harris’s ability to write a solid script. Harris is known for his work on #Nightstrife (2014), The Amateur (2014), and Zola (2020). He is also a contributing writer for California-based XYZ Films LLC's movie news website twitchfilm.com.
Jessica Knoll
With only one writing credit that won’t be out until 2022, the future is bright for Jessica Knoll. Knoll is a writer and producer known for Luckiest Girl Alive (2022), The Favorite Sister, and Til Death. It’ll be interesting to see what sort of career Knoll develops, with it being so early in her career at the moment.
Randy McKinnon
With 14 writing credits and more, Randy McKinnon is a star in the making. McKinnon is an American Director, Writer, and Producer from Jacksonville, Florida. Originally a college football star at Syracuse University, McKinnon moved to Los Angeles to pursue filmmaking. He most recently is the creator, writer, and executive producer of Wild Rabbit at Hulu and has projects in development with Sony, Netflix, Paramount, Disney +, A24, UCP, Annapurna, Apple +, and Miramax.
L.T. Verrastro
Having written an episode for Zach Galifianakis’s Baskets, L.T. Verrastro has a bright future ahead of himself. Working on shows like Moonbase 8, Portlandia, Ghosted, Man Seeking Woman, and more, Verrastro is a name to keep an eye out for 2021. His writing credits will only continue to grow as time goes on.
Mike Gauyo
Mike Gauyo is the founder of The Black Boy Writes, and Black Girl Writes Mentorship Initiative, a mentorship program for pre-WGA black writers. Having written for shows like Insecure (HBO) and Ginny & Georgia (Netflix), Gauyo is a prominent young name in the game that’s reputation will only grow for years to come.
Dewayne Perkins
Dewayne Perkins is a Chicago-born and raised actor, writer, and comedian. Perkins’s writing credits include NBC's Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Netflix's The Break with Michelle Wolf, the WGA Awards, The Webbys, and the 2018 White House Correspondents Dinner. Besides writing, Perkins was named a Just For Laughs 2019 New Face, one of Comedy Central's 2018 "Up Next" comedians, a finalist for NBC's Stand Up, and one of TimeOut New York's "Breakout LGBTQ Comedians to Watch.” Don’t miss out on Perkins.
Anya Reiss
With four writing credits to her name, Anya Reiss is a growing writer in the world of screenwriting whose future will only continue to grow. Having written for Ackley Bridge and EastEnders, who knows where Reiss will end up in a few years. It’s impressive to see such a young writer accomplish so much at a young age.
Anna-Maria Ssemuyaba
Primarily known for Roger: A Documentary (2014) and Unsaid Stories (2020), Anna-Maria Ssemuyaba is an up-and-coming writer and director. Having the credit for working on the TV mini-series Guerrilla (2017), it’ll be interesting to see where Ssemuyaba ends within a few years.
Want to Learn More About Young Screenwriters?
As beneficial as this list is for you to be aware of several up-and-coming screenwriters, realize countless screenwriters are waiting to be discovered. Check out screen competitions, Reddit pages, film and television news, IMDB, and more to discover who is on the come-up. You’ll be glad you did!