Josh Olson
Encyclopedia
Josh Olson is an American screenwriter and director. Olson began his career working as a production assistant in the art department on the 1987 film Masters of the Universe
. In 2006, he was nominated for the British Academy Award, the Writer's Guild Award, the USC Scriptor award and the Academy Award for his adapted screenplay for A History of Violence
.
Olson was the most recent writer on the postponed Halo film project, which was being produced by Peter Jackson
.
In 2006, Olson was invited by author Harlan Ellison
to collaborate with Ellison on an adaptation of the author's short story "The Discarded" for ABC's series, "Masters of Science Fiction." The episode stars Brian Dennehy and John Hurt, and was directed by Jonathan Frakes, and was the highest rated episode of the series. Olson is also one of the writers of a segment of the six-story "Batmanime," Gotham Knight, along with David Goyer, Brian Azarello and others, contributing the script for "Have I Got A Story For You."
Olson optioned the Dennis Lehane
short story Until Gwen, and has adapted it to direct himself.
After New Line Cinema
acquired the rights of Naoki Urasawa
's Monster
, the Hollywood film studio has hired Olson to write an English language
live action
film adaptation of the manga
. So far, there isn't any recent news around the project.
In 2007, Olson wrote an article called "The Life And Death Of Jesse James: An internet love mystery" about the alleged dating fraud activities of a woman named Janna St. James Priggie. The story is real and a civil action (still pending as of October 2011) was filed by the victim.
He wrote the screenplay for a Warner Brothers' sequel to The Wizard of Oz
, titled Oz: The Return to Emerald City and scheduled for release in 2012, based on his original pitch, based partially on the original Oz books by L. Frank Baum
.
He was the first writer on One Shot
, for Paramount Pictures
, based on the best-selling novel, part of the Jack Reacher
series by Lee Child
. The film is currently in production, starring Tom Cruise
, Robert Duvall
, and Werner Herzog
. It is being directed by Christopher McQiarrie.
In 2009, he wrote an article called "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script" on the blog of The Village Voice
.
He is currently writing a feature film whose working title is "Tabloid" for Mick Jagger
.
Masters of the Universe (film)
Masters of the Universe is a 1987 science-fiction fantasy film based on the toy line by the same name. The movie stars Dolph Lundgren as He-Man and Frank Langella as Skeletor...
. In 2006, he was nominated for the British Academy Award, the Writer's Guild Award, the USC Scriptor award and the Academy Award for his adapted screenplay for A History of Violence
A History of Violence (film)
A History of Violence is a 2005 American crime thriller film directed by David Cronenberg and written by Josh Olson. It is an adaptation of the 1997 graphic novel of the same name by John Wagner and Vince Locke...
.
Olson was the most recent writer on the postponed Halo film project, which was being produced by Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson, KNZM is a New Zealand film director, producer, actor, and screenwriter, known for his The Lord of the Rings film trilogy , adapted from the novel by J. R. R...
.
In 2006, Olson was invited by author Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison
Harlan Jay Ellison is an American writer. His principal genre is speculative fiction.His published works include over 1,700 short stories, novellas, screenplays, teleplays, essays, a wide range of criticism covering literature, film, television, and print media...
to collaborate with Ellison on an adaptation of the author's short story "The Discarded" for ABC's series, "Masters of Science Fiction." The episode stars Brian Dennehy and John Hurt, and was directed by Jonathan Frakes, and was the highest rated episode of the series. Olson is also one of the writers of a segment of the six-story "Batmanime," Gotham Knight, along with David Goyer, Brian Azarello and others, contributing the script for "Have I Got A Story For You."
Olson optioned the Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane
Dennis Lehane is an American author. He has written several award-winning novels, including A Drink Before the War and the New York Times bestseller Mystic River, which was later made into an Academy Award-winning film. Another novel, Gone, Baby, Gone, was also adapted into an Academy...
short story Until Gwen, and has adapted it to direct himself.
After New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
acquired the rights of Naoki Urasawa
Naoki Urasawa
is a Japanese manga artist.-Early life:He graduated from Meisei University with a degree in economics. In 2008, Urasawa had a guest teaching post at Nagoya Zokei University, where he taught classes on manga.-Manga career:...
's Monster
Monster (manga)
is a seinen manga written and illustrated by Naoki Urasawa, published by Shogakukan in Big Comic Original between 1994 and 2001, and reprinted in 18 tankōbon volumes. It was adapted by Madhouse as a 74-episode anime TV series, which aired on NTV from April 7, 2004 to September 28, 2005...
, the Hollywood film studio has hired Olson to write an English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
live action
Live action
In filmmaking, video production, and other media, the term live action refers to cinematography, videography not produced using animation...
film adaptation of the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
. So far, there isn't any recent news around the project.
In 2007, Olson wrote an article called "The Life And Death Of Jesse James: An internet love mystery" about the alleged dating fraud activities of a woman named Janna St. James Priggie. The story is real and a civil action (still pending as of October 2011) was filed by the victim.
He wrote the screenplay for a Warner Brothers' sequel to The Wizard of Oz
The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)
The Wizard of Oz is a 1939 American musical fantasy film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed primarily by Victor Fleming. Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson and Edgar Allan Woolf received credit for the screenplay, but there were uncredited contributions by others. The lyrics for the songs...
, titled Oz: The Return to Emerald City and scheduled for release in 2012, based on his original pitch, based partially on the original Oz books by L. Frank Baum
L. Frank Baum
Lyman Frank Baum was an American author of children's books, best known for writing The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...
.
He was the first writer on One Shot
One Shot (2013 film)
One Shot is an upcoming film adaptation of the 2005 novel of the same name by Lee Child. The film is scheduled to enter production in September 2011.-Plot:A city is thrown into chaos following a shooting that leaves five dead...
, for Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
, based on the best-selling novel, part of the Jack Reacher
Jack Reacher
Jack Reacher is a fictional character created by British author Jim Grant who writes under the pen name of Lee Child.-Biographical information:...
series by Lee Child
Lee Child
Jim Grant , better known by his pen name Lee Child, is a British thriller writer. His wife Jane is a New Yorker, and they currently live in New York state. His first novel, Killing Floor, won the Anthony Award for Best First Novel....
. The film is currently in production, starring Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
, Robert Duvall
Robert Duvall
Robert Selden Duvall is an American actor and director. He has won an Academy Award, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and a BAFTA over the course of his career....
, and Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog
Werner Herzog Stipetić , known as Werner Herzog, is a German film director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and opera director.He is often considered as one of the greatest figures of the New German Cinema, along with Rainer Werner Fassbinder, Margarethe von Trotta, Volker Schlöndorff, Werner...
. It is being directed by Christopher McQiarrie.
In 2009, he wrote an article called "I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script" on the blog of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
.
He is currently writing a feature film whose working title is "Tabloid" for Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
Sir Michael Philip "Mick" Jagger is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and a founding member of The Rolling Stones....
.