Jack Thorne

Jack Thorne (born December 6, 1978, in Bristol, England) is a British playwright, screenwriter, and producer whose work spans stage, film, and prestige television. Known for emotionally direct storytelling and ambitious adaptations, he has become one of the UK’s most in-demand writing voices.

A self-professed enthusiast of hard science fiction, Thorne reached global audiences with the stage phenomenon Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. On screen, his writing credits include the feature film Wonder (2017) and Netflix’s Enola Holmes (2020) and its 2022 sequel, as well as the acclaimed TV adaptation of His Dark Materials (2019–2022).

Thorne also built a reputation for gritty, character-led drama through his long-running collaboration with director Shane Meadows, co-writing the mini-series This Is England ’86, ’88, and ’90. He has appeared in various factual and talk formats connected to his work, including Newsnight and Question Time.

In 2023, his four-part drama Best Interests—starring Michael Sheen and Sharon Horgan—earned multiple nominations and won Best Limited Series at the Banff Rockie Awards. His 2025 Netflix mini-series Toxic Town and Adolescence further cemented his standing with strong critical praise.