Dan Harris
Encyclopedia
Dan Harris is an American screenwriter and director best known for working with Michael Dougherty
and Bryan Singer
, and whose writing credits include X2
and Superman Returns
.
and went to Wyoming Valley West Middle and High schools, and graduated from Wyoming Seminary
. Before he received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University
, Harris’s short film Urban Chaos Theory won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the NoDance Film Festival
, and the following winter, his short film, The Killing of Candice Klein, played at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival
.
, starring Sigourney Weaver
, Jeff Daniels
, Emile Hirsch
and Michelle Williams
. The film had its world premiere at the 29th Toronto Film Festival and opened Winter 2005 after being given special recognition for excellence in filmmaking from the National Board of Review.
In addition to Superman Returns, Harris and his writing partner Michael Dougherty
have co-written many films, including Urban Legends: Bloody Mary
and X2: X-Men United, which he wrote at the age of 22 for director Bryan Singer, an assignment offered to him after the director read the screenplay for Imaginary Heroes. In the same year, he was honored as one of Variety’s top 10 screenwriters to watch.
Harris is working on I, Lucifer
, a film that Harris will be directing, based on the best-selling novel which he adapted with Michael Dougherty. Harris and Dougherty opted out of writing the upcoming Superman sequel expected to be released in 2010.
Also with Dougherty and Singer, Fuchs, Harris wrote a year’s worth of the Ultimate X-Men
comic books for Marvel Comics
and the Superman Returns prequel comic books for DC Comics
. Recently, Harris’s photography has twice been published by New York fashion and arts landmark Visionaire
and he was part of Vanity Fair’s "Hollywood Portfolio" in 2005.
Michael Dougherty
Michael Dougherty is a screenwriter who is known for his work with Dan Harris on the scripts for Bryan Singer's films X2 and Superman Returns.-Early life:...
and Bryan Singer
Bryan Singer
Bryan Singer is an American film director and film producer. Singer won critical acclaim for his work on The Usual Suspects, and is especially well-known among fans of the science fiction and superhero genres for his work on the X-Men films and Superman Returns.-Early life:Singer was born in New...
, and whose writing credits include X2
X2 (film)
X2 is a 2003 superhero film based on the fictional characters the X-Men. Directed by Bryan Singer, it is the second film in the X-Men film series...
and Superman Returns
Superman Returns
Superman Returns is a 2006 superhero film directed by Bryan Singer. It is the fifth and final installment in the original Superman film series and serves as a alternate sequel to Superman and Superman II by ignoring the events of Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace .The film stars...
.
Early life
Harris was raised in Kingston, PennsylvaniaKingston, Pennsylvania
Kingston is a municipality located in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States, on the Susquehanna River opposite Wilkes Barre. Kingston was incorporated as a borough in 1857. Kingston has adopted a home rule charter which became effective in January 1976. It is part of the greater metropolitan...
and went to Wyoming Valley West Middle and High schools, and graduated from Wyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary, founded in 1844 and currently led by President Kip P. Nygren, is a private college preparatory school located in the Wyoming Valley of Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Kingston and Forty Fort It is near the Susquehanna River and the city of Wilkes-Barre...
. Before he received his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Harris’s short film Urban Chaos Theory won the Grand Jury Prize for Best Short Film at the NoDance Film Festival
Nodance Film Festival
Based in Park City, Utah, the Nodance Film Festival celebrates the alternative digital film culture, with an emphasis on first-time filmmakers and digital filmmaking. Held annually in Park City, Utah, Nodance holds the distinction of being the world's first DVD-projected film festival...
, and the following winter, his short film, The Killing of Candice Klein, played at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
.
Career
Harris made his feature film directing debut with Imaginary HeroesImaginary Heroes
Imaginary Heroes is a 2004 American drama film written and directed by Dan Harris. It focuses on the traumatic effect the suicide of the elder son has on a suburban family.-Plot:...
, starring Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver is an American actress. She is best known for her critically acclaimed role of Ellen Ripley in the four Alien films: Alien, Aliens, Alien 3 and Alien Resurrection, for which she has received worldwide recognition .Other notable roles include Dana...
, Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
, Emile Hirsch
Emile Hirsch
Emile Davenport Hirsch is an American television and film actor. He began performing in the late 1990s, appearing in several television films and series, and became known as a film actor after roles in Lords of Dogtown, The Emperor's Club, The Girl Next Door, Alpha Dog, and Into the Wild. In...
and Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (actress)
Michelle Ingrid Williams is an American actress. After starting her career with television guest appearances in the early 1990s, Williams achieved recognition for her role as Jen Lindley on the WB television teen drama Dawson's Creek, which she played from 1998 to 2003...
. The film had its world premiere at the 29th Toronto Film Festival and opened Winter 2005 after being given special recognition for excellence in filmmaking from the National Board of Review.
In addition to Superman Returns, Harris and his writing partner Michael Dougherty
Michael Dougherty
Michael Dougherty is a screenwriter who is known for his work with Dan Harris on the scripts for Bryan Singer's films X2 and Superman Returns.-Early life:...
have co-written many films, including Urban Legends: Bloody Mary
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary is a 2005 horror film starring Kate Mara, Robert Vito, Tina Lifford, Jeff Olson, Tamala Jones, Michael Gregory Coe, and Ed Marinaro....
and X2: X-Men United, which he wrote at the age of 22 for director Bryan Singer, an assignment offered to him after the director read the screenplay for Imaginary Heroes. In the same year, he was honored as one of Variety’s top 10 screenwriters to watch.
Harris is working on I, Lucifer
I, Lucifer (Glen Duncan)
I, Lucifer is a 2003 novel by Glen Duncan, told from the point of view of the eponymous fallen angel, who has taken on a human body formerly belonging to a struggling writer.-Plot summary:...
, a film that Harris will be directing, based on the best-selling novel which he adapted with Michael Dougherty. Harris and Dougherty opted out of writing the upcoming Superman sequel expected to be released in 2010.
Also with Dougherty and Singer, Fuchs, Harris wrote a year’s worth of the Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate X-Men
Ultimate X-Men is a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2001 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running X-Men comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
comic books for Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
and the Superman Returns prequel comic books for DC Comics
DC Comics
DC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
. Recently, Harris’s photography has twice been published by New York fashion and arts landmark Visionaire
Visionaire
Visionaire is an art and fashion publication that has come out in limited, numbered editions three times a year since spring 1991. Each issue has a specific format and theme around which prominent artists, designers, photographers, and others guests edit the publication...
and he was part of Vanity Fair’s "Hollywood Portfolio" in 2005.