The 2008 TIME 100 Finalists

Read about the leaders, artists, enterpreneurs and thinkers who, in your opinion, deserve a spot on this year's TIME 100 —Scott Brown and Michelle Kung

J.J. ABRAMS

J.J. Abrams

Ethan Miller / Getty

AGE: 41
OCCUPATION: Writer, director, producer, composer
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 1

PRO: Presiding over an ever-expanding constellation of fantasy hits, Abrams is hard at work at what could be the biggest film of 2009: a prequel re-boot of classic sci-fi series Star Trek, and cryptic drama Lost has finally returned to must-see status after a lackluster third season.

CON: Die-hard Trekkies are more than ready to tear apart his new vision (with its mostly no-name cast). Despite the hype that surrounded it, the Abrams-produced monster flick Cloverfield was a critical flop. Non-fantastical efforts such as What About Brian and Six Degrees have been met with non-fantastical ratings (and cancellation).

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