David W. Zucker and Nicholas Meyer reflect on the evolution of international television drama through the lenses of writing, production and world-building, revisiting some of the most influential experiences in contemporary television and cinema, from Star Trek to major American serial productions.
Biography – Nicholas Meyer
Nicholas Meyer is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and director. His body of creative work in publishing, film, and television spans more than five decades. Meyer’s seventh Sherlock Holmes novel, Sherlock Holmes and The Real Thing was published in 2025 by the Mysterious Press. He is the author of seven previous novels, including The Seven-Per-Cent Solution (1974), a Doyle tale in which Sherlock Holmes met Sigmund Freud.
The novel sold more than two million copies, stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for forty weeks, and won the British Gold Dagger award from the British Crime Writers’ Association. Two years later, Meyer received an Academy Award nomination for his screenplay of the eponymous film, which starred Nicol Williamson, Robert Duvall, Alan Arkin, Vanessa Redgrave and Laurence Olivier.
Meyer made his directing debut in 1979 with a film he wrote, Time After Time, starring Malcolm McDowell, Mary Steenburgen and David Warner. He went on to direct Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Other directing credits includeVolunteers (Tom Hanks, 1986), The Deceivers (Pierce Brosnan, 1988), Company Business, (Gene Hackman, 1991), Star Trek VI, The Undiscovered Country (Christopher Plummer, 1992), and the HBO film, Vendetta (Christopher Walken, 1999). His screenplays include Sommersby (Richard Gere and Jodie Foster, 1993) and contributions to Fatal Attraction (1987) and Dreamworks’ Prince of Egypt (1998).
His other books include Target Practice, which was nominated for an Edgar Award, and five other Holmes novels, Sherlock Holmes and the Telegram from Hell (2024), The Adventure of the Peculiar Protocols (2019), The West End Horror (also New York Times bestseller, 1976), The Canary Trainer(1993) and The Return of the Pharaoh, (2021). His autobiographical novel, Confessions of a Homing Pigeon, was published in 1981. Meyer’s memoir, The View from the Bridge: Memories of Star Trek and a Life in Hollywood, was published in 2009. He is currently working on his seventh Sherlock Holmes novel.
Meyer directed ABC’s The Day After (1983), which remains the single most-watched television film ever made (100 million people in one night) and was nominated for fourteen Emmys. Additional work includes a two-part miniseries, Houdini (Adrien Brody, 2014) based on his father, Bernard C. Meyer’s biography. He is the co-creator of the Netflix series Medici—Masters of Florence, starring Dustin Hoffman, and worked on STAR TREK: Discovery for CBS Access.
Born and raised in New York City, Nicholas Meyer was graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in theatre and filmmaking. He lives in Santa Monica, California.
Biography – David W. Zucker
David W. Zucker is Chief Creative Officer for Scott Free, and Executive Producer of ALIEN: EARTH (FX), the hit global series from Noah Hawley; the acclaimed crime drama, DOPE THIEF (Apple), starring Oscar nominees Brian Tyree Henry and Wagner Moura; and the Leo Woodall-led international conspiracy thriller PRIME TARGET (Apple). Forthcoming releases include a fresh venture into the realm of BLADE RUNNER 2099 (Amazon), featuring Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh and Hunter Schafer; and the psychological horror series, THE TERROR: DEVIL IN SILVER (AMC), starring Dan Stevens and Judith Light.
During his tenure, Scott Free has produced a steady stream of highly acclaimed programs including seven seasons of the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated, Peabody-winning THE GOOD WIFE (CBS); six seasons of the acclaimed spin-off, THE GOOD FIGHT (Paramount+); RAISED BY WOLVES (HBO MAX); THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE (Amazon); GREAT EXPECTATIONS and A CHRISTMAS CAROL (FX/BBC); KALEIDOSCOPE (Netflix); THE BEAST MUST DIE (AMC/Britbox); THE HOT ZONE and THE HOT ZONE: ANTHRAX (National Geographic); Jean-Claude Van Damme’s action-comedy, JCVJ (Amazon); and six seasons of the crime drama, NUMB3RS (CBS).
Additional standout programming includes KLONDIKE (Discovery), the Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH (Starz), WORLD WITHOUT END (Reelz), Emmy-nominated INTO THE STORM (HBO), Emmy-nominated THE ANDROMEDA STRAIN and COMA (A&E), the Golden Globe-nominated THE COMPANY (TNT) and a feature-length digital series HALO: NIGHTFALL (X-Box/Microsoft).
Acclaimed non-fiction programs include AT WITT’S END (Hulu), STILL MISSING MORGAN (Hulu), CRIMES OF THE CENTURY (CNN) and the Emmy-winning documentary special GETTYSBURG (History Channel).
