Joe Johnston

Joseph Eggleston Johnston II (born May 13, 1950) is an American film director, producer, writer, and visual effects artist. He is best known for directing effects-driven films, including '' Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'' (1989), '' The Rocketeer'' (1991), '' Jumanji'' (1995), '' Jurassic Park III'' (2001), '' The Wolfman'' (2010), and '' Captain America: The First Avenger'' (2011).

Early life

Johnston was born Joseph Eggleston Johnston II in Austin, Texas, and attended California State University, Long Beach, and Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, both for industrial design.

Career

Design and visual effects

Much of the work at the beginning of Johnston's screen career combined design and special effects. He began his career as a concept artist and effects technician on the first ''Star Wars'' film, directed by George Lucas. He was the creative designer of the Millennium Falcon spacecraft and co-created the design of Boba Fett in '' The Empire Strikes Back'', while working for Industrial Light & Magic in the 1970s and was art director on one of the effects teams for the sequel '' Return of the Jedi''. His association with Lucas would later prove fruitful, when he became one of four to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Lucas and Steven Spielberg's film '' Raiders of the Lost Ark''. Johnston continued to work on many films as an effects expert.

He was also associate producer on fantasy film ''Willow'', and production designer on two mid-1980s TV movies which featured the Ewoks seen in ''Return of the Jedi''.

Johnston is also author of ''Star Wars'' novel ''The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense'', which ties into ''Return of the Jedi'' ( New York: Random House, 1984; , ).

In 1984, at 34, Johnston went to George Lucas and stated his desire to leave Lucasfilm for a year. However, Lucas offered him to go to USC School of Cinematic Arts and study there for a year, complete with paid tuition and half-salary that would let Johnston take any class he wanted. Johnston left after a year, saying he "was asked not to return" because he "broke too many rules".

Directing

Johnston made his directorial debut in 1989 with hit comedy adventure '' Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'', starring Rick Moranis. He followed it with comic-book adaptation '' The Rocketeer'' (1991). The film was a commercial failure, as was his next, the animated and live-action '' The Pagemaster'', starring Macaulay Culkin. Johnston rebounded, directing the family hit '' Jumanji'', starring Robin Williams. The film overcame lukewarm reviews to gross over $260 million.

Johnston was set to direct ''Hulk'', but dropped out in July 1997. Johnston then switched gears from effects-driven action films to the more personal '' October Sky'' (1999), starring a teenage Jake Gyllenhaal as a 1950s West Virginia high school student who dreams of being a rocket scientist for NASA against his father's wishes.

Johnston's first project of the 2000s was the sequel '' Jurassic Park III'', which made over US$300 million at the box office. Johnston followed it with western '' Hidalgo'', starring Viggo Mortensen. Johnston then took a six-year directorial break before signing on at a month's notice to take over the 2010 remake of 1941 horror classic '' The Wolfman''. Shot in England, the film starred Benicio del Toro and Anthony Hopkins.

In part thanks to his experience with the period superhero film ''The Rocketeer'', Johnston was selected to direct Marvel Studios superhero adaptation '' Captain America: The First Avenger''. Released on July 22, 2011,Nicholson, Amy
"Exclusive: 'Captain America' & 'JP4' News"
. '' Boxoffice'', January 13, 2010 the film stars Chris Evans as the comic book hero and Hugo Weaving as his archenemy the Red Skull. In 2014, Johnston directed the thriller '' Not Safe for Work'' for Blumhouse Productions.

On December 12, 2017, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that Johnston would direct 32 days of reshoots on the film '' The Nutcracker and the Four Realms'', due to its director Lasse Hallström being unavailable.

On December 5, 2019, it was reported that Joe Johnston was in negotiations with Walt Disney Pictures to direct ''Shrunk'', a legacy sequel to ''Honey, I Shrunk the Kids''.

Filmography

Director

Film

Television

Other credits

Film

Television

Bibliography

* 1977: ''The Star Wars Sketchbook''
* 1980: ''The Empire Strikes Back Sketchbook'' (with Nilo Rodis-Jamero)
* 1983: ''Return of the Jedi Sketchbook'' (with Nilo Rodis-Jamero)
* 1984: ''The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense''
* 2005: ''Star Wars: Aux origines du mythe'' (with Doug Chiang)
* 2007: ''The Hill Culture''
* 2011: ''The Mack Marsden Murder Mystery''

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Joe
1950 births
Best Visual Effects Academy Award winners
California State University, Long Beach alumni
Film directors from Texas
American action film directors
American people of German descent
American people of Scottish descent
Living people
Mass media people from Austin, Texas
American role-playing game artists
American visual effects artists
USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni
American storyboard artists
Industrial Light & Magic people
American fantasy film directors