Ben Ripley

Sometimes, all it takes it one good project to get your name on the map: screenwriter Ben Ripley landed high acclaim with a twisty science-fiction script that would ultimately become the feature film "Source Code" (2011). Ben Ripley was born in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He pursued an undergraduate degree at Stanford University (graduating cum laude), followed by an honor graduate degree at the University of Southern California's School of Cinema-Television. Ripley began his showbiz career in 2002, selling an unproduced horror screenplay to Fox. Two years later, he'd land his first bit of authorial success, penning the script for "Species III" (2004), of the popular but critically maligned sci-fi series. Ripley would follow up this feature by working on "Species: The Awakening" (2007) as well. The year 2007 changed the game for Ripley, earning studio attention for an original spec script he wrote, for the eventual science-fiction thriller "Source Code" (2011). Universal Studios purchased the script, eventually handing it to blossoming director Duncan Jones and casting high-profile star Jake Gyllenhaal. Shortly after penning "Source Code" but before its release, Ripley worked on a horror TV movie "The Watch" (Lifetime 2008), directed by Jim Donovan. However, it wasn't until the release of "Source Code" in 2011 that Ripley would advance to more optimistic career prospects. The long gestating project won immense critical appreciation, cementing Ripley as a writer to keep an eye on. He'd soon earn the opportunity to write the script for a "Source Code" sequel. Additionally, Ripley stepped outside the genre to pen the drama "Boychoir" (2015), which premiered at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival and starred Dustin Hoffman and Kathy Bates, as well as Josh Lucas.