David Gordon Green

David Gordon Green (born April 9, 1975) is an American filmmaker. Green began his career in 1997 and gained fame with the independent film ''George Washington'' (2000). He directed two additional independent dramas, '' All the Real Girls'' (2003) and '' Snow Angels'' (2007), as well as the thriller '' Undertow'' (2004), all of which he wrote or co-wrote.

In 2008, Green transitioned into Hollywood studio comedies, directing the films '' Pineapple Express'' (2008), '' Your Highness'' and '' The Sitter'' (both 2011). He briefly returned to his dramatic roots with the independent films '' Prince Avalanche'' (2013), '' Joe'' (2013), and '' Manglehorn'' (2014). Following this departure, he returned to studio films with '' Our Brand Is Crisis'' (2015) and '' Stronger'' (2017). Green directed a trilogy of slasher films for the ''Halloween'' franchise: ''Halloween'' (2018), '' Halloween Kills'' (2021), and '' Halloween Ends'' (2022), which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Danny McBride. Most recently, Green directed '' The Exorcist: Believer'' (2023) and the Christmas comedy ''Nutcrackers'' (2024).

Green has also directed episodes of the comedy series '' Eastbound & Down'' (2009–2013), '' Red Oaks'' (2014–17), '' Vice Principals'' (2016–17), and '' The Righteous Gemstones'' (2019–present), on all of which he additionally served as executive producer.

Early life

Green, one of four children, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up in Richardson, Texas. His mother, Jean Ann (née Hunter), was a Lamaze instructor, and his father, Hubert Gordon Green, Jr., was a medical school dean. Green attended Richardson High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied film directing. He currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

Career

As a college student, Green made the two short films, ''Pleasant Grove'' and ''Physical Pinball'', at the North Carolina School of the Arts prior to his feature film debut in 2000, the critically acclaimed ''George Washington'', which he both wrote and directed. He followed that with '' All the Real Girls'' in 2003 and '' Undertow'' in 2004. In 2007, he directed '' Snow Angels'', his first adaptation, based on the Stewart O'Nan novel. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival and stars Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. It was released by Warner Independent Pictures.

In 2008, Green's career transitioned when he directed the Seth Rogen buddy comedy '' Pineapple Express'', and the HBO series '' Eastbound & Down'', for which he directed twelve episodes and served as a consulting producer. In 2011, he co-created the animated series '' Good Vibes'' and directed the comedies '' Your Highness'' and '' The Sitter'', both of which received negative reviews.

In 2013, Green briefly returned to independent film when he directed and co-wrote '' Prince Avalanche'' and '' Joe''. He followed these films with '' Manglehorn'' (2014), '' Our Brand Is Crisis'' (2015), and '' Stronger'' (2017).

In 2018, Green directed the horror sequel ''Halloween'', produced by Jason Blum, executive produced by John Carpenter, and co-written by Green and Danny McBride. He also directed its sequels '' Halloween Kills'', released in October 2021, and '' Halloween Ends'', released in October 2022.

In December 2020, it was announced Green will direct a new installment of ''The Exorcist franchise'' which will be a direct sequel to William Friedkin's 1973 film adaptation of the 1971 novel. '' The Exorcist: Believer'' was released in October 2023.

Green subsequently directed the Christmas-set comedy ''Nutcrackers'', which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival. Of the film, Green stated; "This movie is a lot of things. It's a comedy, it's a drama, it's a horror movie. But for me, it's a reason to dance, you know, I just wanted to start moving, move my body a little bit, and get out to the farm and kick some pig shit."

Influences

Green's favorite films are, in order, '' Thunderbolt and Lightfoot'', '' 2001: A Space Odyssey'', ''The Gravy Train'', ''The Bad News Bears'', ''Deliverance'', ''Nashville'' and '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest''.

It has been suggested, even by the director himself, that Green's early films (most notably ''George Washington'') take influence from the works of Terrence Malick.''The Charlie Rose Show'', PBS, episode aired 2000. Available on ''George Washington'' DVD. New York: The Criterion Collection, 2001. Malick himself served as an executive producer of Green's 2004 film '' Undertow''.

Filmography

Film

Actor

Television

See also

* David Gordon Green's unrealized projects

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:David Gordon Green
1975 births
Film producers from Arkansas
American male screenwriters
American people of English descent
American television directors
American television producers
Artists from Little Rock, Arkansas
American fantasy film directors
Film directors from Arkansas
American horror film directors
Living people
Screenwriters from Arkansas
Silver Bear for Best Director recipients
Sundance Film Festival award winners
University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni
Richardson High School alumni
20th-century American screenwriters
20th-century American male writers
21st-century American screenwriters
21st-century American male writers