Jonathan Liebesman
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Liebesman is a South African film director.
, South Africa. He studied filmmaking at the AFDA, The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance
and at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
At Tisch, he co-wrote and directed an 8-minute short film, Genesis and Catastrophe, adapted from a Roald Dahl short story. The film was screened at numerous festivals around the world, and was winner of the best short at the Austin Film Festival in 2000, as well as earning Liebesman the "Hollywood Young Filmmaker Award" at the Hollywood Film Festival in 2000.
. Although the film suffered from generally weak reviews, it opened at no. 1 at the US box office. The film grossed over $32.5 million at the US box office, and a further $15 million worldwide. The film was nominated for Best Horror/Thriller at the Teen Choice Awards in 2003, while the film’s star, Emma Caulfield, won Face of the Future from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films that year.
Liebesman’s next project, Rings
(2005), which he co-wrote with Ehren Kruger, was a 15-minute short that chronologically follows the events of the full length feature, The Ring
), and serves as a prequel to The Ring Two
(2005). The short offered an insightful transition between the two movies, and garnered high praise from fans of both feature-length films.
The films success brought him to the attention of Michael Bay
and his production company, Platinum Dunes
, who hired him to direct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel
entitled The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
opened in US theatres on 6 October 2006, and proved another box office hit for Liebesman. The $16 million movie opened at No 2 at the US box office with $18.5 million. As of 31 December 2006, the film had grossed around $50 million worldwide, including over $39.5 million in the US.
In 2007, it was initially announced that Liebesman would be the director of the Friday the 13th
reboot but as of November 2007, Marcus Nispel
, director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
remake of 2003, replaced Liebesman.
In 2008, Liebesman completed directing his third full-length feature film entitled The Killing Room
, a political thriller starring Chloe Sevigny, Nick Cannon, Timothy Hutton and Peter Stormare, about four people in a psychological study who discover they are subjects in a brutal and classified government program. The film debuted in the non-competition program at the Sundance Festival in January 2009.
In November 2008, Columbia Pictures announced that Liebesman would direct the science fiction film Battle: Los Angeles
. The $70m film, based on the story written by Chris Bertolini, revolved around a Marine platoon's encounter in a battle against an alien invasion on the streets of Los Angeles. The film opened at no. 1 at the US box office on March 11, 2011, and earned over $80m at the US box office, and over $200m globally..
In early 2009, it was announced that Liebesman was attached to direct a new Warner Brothers film entitled Odysseus, an epic based on Homer’s Odyssey.
In June 2010, Liebesman was named as the director of the sequel to Clash of the Titans
, entitled Wrath of the Titans starring Sam Worthington
, Ralph Fiennes
and Liam Neeson
. Principal photography
began on March 23, 2011, with filming taking place in summer 2011 in studios outside London
and on location in Surrey, South Wales
and in the Canary Islands
on the island of Tenerife
. The film is scheduled for a March 30, 2012 release.
In July 2011, it was announced that Warner Brothers and Liebesman would be collaborating on a upcoming biopic about Julius Caesar.
Personal life
Liebesman was born in JohannesburgJohannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
, South Africa. He studied filmmaking at the AFDA, The South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance
South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance
AFDA the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance is a film school located on campuses in Auckland Park, Johannesburg, and Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa. AFDA is South Africa's only full member of CILECT and therefore all AFDA degrees are recognized internationally...
and at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
At Tisch, he co-wrote and directed an 8-minute short film, Genesis and Catastrophe, adapted from a Roald Dahl short story. The film was screened at numerous festivals around the world, and was winner of the best short at the Austin Film Festival in 2000, as well as earning Liebesman the "Hollywood Young Filmmaker Award" at the Hollywood Film Festival in 2000.
Hollywood career
In 2002, at the age of 26, he directed his debut feature Darkness FallsDarkness Falls (2003 film)
Darkness Falls is a 2003 American horror film written by Joe Harris and John Fasano and directed by Jonathan Liebesman.-Plot:The story of the town Darkness Falls, begins with the legend of a widow, Matilda Dixon, who was adored by all the town's children...
. Although the film suffered from generally weak reviews, it opened at no. 1 at the US box office. The film grossed over $32.5 million at the US box office, and a further $15 million worldwide. The film was nominated for Best Horror/Thriller at the Teen Choice Awards in 2003, while the film’s star, Emma Caulfield, won Face of the Future from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films that year.
Liebesman’s next project, Rings
Rings (short film)
Rings is a 2005 American horror short film. It was initially released as an extra disc with a re-release of The Ring on DVD. The events in Rings lead up to the sequel The Ring Two, on whose DVD Rings is also included as a bonus feature....
(2005), which he co-wrote with Ehren Kruger, was a 15-minute short that chronologically follows the events of the full length feature, The Ring
The Ring (2002 film)
The Ring is a 2002 American psychological horror film directed by Gore Verbinski and starring Naomi Watts and Martin Henderson. It is a remake of the 1998 Japanese horror film Ring....
), and serves as a prequel to The Ring Two
The Ring Two
The Ring Two is a 2005 American psychological horror film, and a sequel to the 2002 film The Ring, which was a remake of the 1998 Japanese film Ring...
(2005). The short offered an insightful transition between the two movies, and garnered high praise from fans of both feature-length films.
The films success brought him to the attention of Michael Bay
Michael Bay
Michael Benjamin Bay is an American film director and producer. He is known for directing high-budget action films characterized by their fast edits, stylistic visuals and substantial practical special effects...
and his production company, Platinum Dunes
Platinum Dunes
Platinum Dunes is a production company created in 2001 by filmmakers Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form. The company specializes in horror films, particularly remakes.Their website is part of Bloody Disgusting's site....
, who hired him to direct The Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel
Prequel
A prequel is a work that supplements a previously completed one, and has an earlier time setting.The widely recognized term was a 20th-century neologism, and a portmanteau from pre- and sequel...
entitled The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, a 2006 American slasher film, functions as a prequel to the 2003 remake of the 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman and co-produced by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper , the film went into release in North America on October 6,...
.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, a 2006 American slasher film, functions as a prequel to the 2003 remake of the 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman and co-produced by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper , the film went into release in North America on October 6,...
opened in US theatres on 6 October 2006, and proved another box office hit for Liebesman. The $16 million movie opened at No 2 at the US box office with $18.5 million. As of 31 December 2006, the film had grossed around $50 million worldwide, including over $39.5 million in the US.
In 2007, it was initially announced that Liebesman would be the director of the Friday the 13th
Friday the 13th (2009 film)
Friday the 13th is a 2009 American slasher film directed by Marcus Nispel and written by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift. It is a reboot of the Friday the 13th film series, which began in 1980 and the twelfth Friday the 13th film in total...
reboot but as of November 2007, Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel
Marcus Nispel is a German–American feature film director and producer, and formerly a director of television commercials and music videos. Many of his films have been remakes, all of which have met with a negative critical reception....
, director of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003 film)
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a 2003 remake of the 1974 horror film of the same name. The 2003 film was directed by Marcus Nispel and produced by Michael Bay...
remake of 2003, replaced Liebesman.
In 2008, Liebesman completed directing his third full-length feature film entitled The Killing Room
The Killing Room
The Killing Room is a 2009 psychological thriller film directed by Jonathan Liebesman and starring Chloë Sevigny, Nick Cannon, and Timothy Hutton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival...
, a political thriller starring Chloe Sevigny, Nick Cannon, Timothy Hutton and Peter Stormare, about four people in a psychological study who discover they are subjects in a brutal and classified government program. The film debuted in the non-competition program at the Sundance Festival in January 2009.
In November 2008, Columbia Pictures announced that Liebesman would direct the science fiction film Battle: Los Angeles
Battle: Los Angeles
Battle: Los Angeles is a 2011 American military science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo and Michael Peña...
. The $70m film, based on the story written by Chris Bertolini, revolved around a Marine platoon's encounter in a battle against an alien invasion on the streets of Los Angeles. The film opened at no. 1 at the US box office on March 11, 2011, and earned over $80m at the US box office, and over $200m globally..
In early 2009, it was announced that Liebesman was attached to direct a new Warner Brothers film entitled Odysseus, an epic based on Homer’s Odyssey.
In June 2010, Liebesman was named as the director of the sequel to Clash of the Titans
Clash of the Titans (2010 film)
Clash of the Titans is a 2010 fantasy and action remake of the 1981 film of the same name . The story is very loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Sam Worthington, the film was originally set for standard release on March 26, 2010...
, entitled Wrath of the Titans starring Sam Worthington
Sam Worthington
Samuel Henry J. "Sam" Worthington is an English born, Australian actor. After almost a decade of roles in Australian TV shows and films, Worthington gained Hollywood's attention by playing Marcus Wright in Terminator Salvation and the lead role, Jake Sully, in James Cameron's science...
, Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
and Liam Neeson
Liam Neeson
Liam John Neeson, OBE is an Irish actor who has been nominated for an Oscar, a BAFTA and three Golden Globe Awards.He has starred in a number of notable roles including Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List, Michael Collins in Michael Collins, Peyton Westlake in Darkman, Jean Valjean in Les...
. Principal photography
Principal photography
thumb|300px|Film production on location in [[Newark, New Jersey]].Principal photography is the phase of film production in which the movie is filmed, with actors on set and cameras rolling, as distinct from pre-production and post-production....
began on March 23, 2011, with filming taking place in summer 2011 in studios outside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and on location in Surrey, South Wales
South Wales
South Wales is an area of Wales bordered by England and the Bristol Channel to the east and south, and Mid Wales and West Wales to the north and west. The most densely populated region in the south-west of the United Kingdom, it is home to around 2.1 million people and includes the capital city of...
and in the Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
on the island of Tenerife
Tenerife
Tenerife is the largest and most populous island of the seven Canary Islands, it is also the most populated island of Spain, with a land area of 2,034.38 km² and 906,854 inhabitants, 43% of the total population of the Canary Islands. About five million tourists visit Tenerife each year, the...
. The film is scheduled for a March 30, 2012 release.
In July 2011, it was announced that Warner Brothers and Liebesman would be collaborating on a upcoming biopic about Julius Caesar.
Films
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Genesis and Catastrophe Genesis and Catastrophe: A True Story "Genesis and Catastrophe: A True Story" is a short story written by Roald Dahl included in his 1962 book Kiss Kiss. It is a fictionalized account based upon a true historical incident. It is also known as "A fine son".-Plot summary:... |
Short film |
| 2003 | Darkness Falls Darkness Falls (2003 film) Darkness Falls is a 2003 American horror film written by Joe Harris and John Fasano and directed by Jonathan Liebesman.-Plot:The story of the town Darkness Falls, begins with the legend of a widow, Matilda Dixon, who was adored by all the town's children... |
|
| 2005 | Rings Rings (short film) Rings is a 2005 American horror short film. It was initially released as an extra disc with a re-release of The Ring on DVD. The events in Rings lead up to the sequel The Ring Two, on whose DVD Rings is also included as a bonus feature.... |
Short film |
| 2006 | The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, a 2006 American slasher film, functions as a prequel to the 2003 remake of the 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Directed by Jonathan Liebesman and co-produced by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper , the film went into release in North America on October 6,... |
|
| 2009 | The Killing Room The Killing Room The Killing Room is a 2009 psychological thriller film directed by Jonathan Liebesman and starring Chloë Sevigny, Nick Cannon, and Timothy Hutton. It premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival... |
|
| 2011 | Battle: Los Angeles Battle: Los Angeles Battle: Los Angeles is a 2011 American military science fiction war film directed by Jonathan Liebesman, and starring Aaron Eckhart, Michelle Rodriguez, Ramon Rodriguez, Bridget Moynahan, Ne-Yo and Michael Peña... |
|
| 2012 | Wrath of the Titans Wrath of the Titans Wrath of the Titans is an upcoming fantasy film and sequel to the 2010 film, Clash of the Titans. The film stars Sam Worthington, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Danny Huston, Édgar Ramírez, Bill Nighy, Toby Kebbell and Rosamund Pike with Jonathan Liebesman directing a screenplay by Dan Mazeau, David... |