Paul W. S. Anderson
Encyclopedia
Paul William Scott Anderson (born 4 March 1965), also known as Paul W. S. Anderson or Paul Anderson, is an English film director who regularly works in science fiction movies
and video game adaptations.
, England. Educated at Newlands Preparatory School, Gosforth and later at Newcastle's Royal Grammar School
, Anderson went on to graduate from the University of Warwick
as the youngest student to achieve a BA in Film & Literature. He made his debut as the writer-director of Shopping
, which starred Sean Pertwee
, Jude Law
and Sadie Frost
as thieves who smashed cars into storefronts. When released in the United Kingdom it was banned in some cinemas, and only gained a release in the United States as an edited, direct to video release.
After this, he directed the successful 1995 video game adaptation Mortal Kombat
. While prior video game movies, like Street Fighter
and Super Mario Bros.
, had been all-out disasters, Mortal Kombat was well received by fans, and some critics. He declined to direct the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
, which was not well received by critics or fans. Anderson was asked to direct a third movie, Mortal Kombat: Devastation, but declined again because he was too busy filming Resident Evil.
The success of Mortal Kombat gave Anderson free rein to choose his next project, Soldier
, written by Blade Runner
screenwriter David Webb Peoples. Intended as a "sidequel" to Blade Runner, the movie was set in the same universe (but not the same planet), and contained numerous references to the earlier film. Kurt Russell
was attached to star, but was unavailable at the time, which delayed the production. In the meantime, Anderson made the science fiction horror film Event Horizon
. It was poorly received at the box office, and Anderson blamed the failure on studio-enforced cuts. While not a box-office success, the film gained a small cult following. Soldier was eventually completed and released in 1998, but was a disaster both commercially and critically.
After the poor performance of both Event Horizon and Soldier, Anderson was forced to think smaller. His planned remake of the cult film
Death Race 2000
was put on hold, and he set about writing and directed a TV movie, The Sight, in 2000. It was a minor success, and Anderson returned to cinema screens in 2002 when he wrote and directed an adaptation of the survival horror series Resident Evil
. At that point he began to credit himself as "Paul W. S. Anderson", to avoid confusion with the American director Paul Thomas Anderson
.
Produced on a moderate budget in comparison to his earlier movies, Resident Evil was a commercial success in cinemas and on DVD, prompting Anderson to write (but not direct) the sequels, Resident Evil: Apocalypse
and Resident Evil: Extinction
both were commercially successful but failed critically.
Anderson's next project was the much-anticipated Alien vs. Predator
, a concept hinted at in Predator 2
and later popularized by a series of Dark Horse Comics
. A movie version had been stuck in development hell
for several years despite the franchise crossing into every other form of media, from books to comics
to video games. The film was finally released in August 2004, grossing $172,544,654 internationally on a budget of $60 million, despite his success it received mostly negative reviews. Only one sequel was made, called Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, which Anderson was not involved in. After completing Alien vs. Predator
Anderson rebooted his Death Race 2000
remake and finally got it released as Death Race
in 2008. A prequel was made in 2011, called Death Race 2, which Anderson wrote (but did not direct). In 2010, Anderson wrote and directed the fourth installment in the Resident Evil film franchise
, Resident Evil: Afterlife
.
Anderson directed the 2011 adaptation of The Three Musketeers
, who were played by Logan Lerman
, Matthew Macfadyen
, Ray Stevenson
, and Luke Evans
.
were expecting a baby girl in November 2007. The two met when Anderson directed her in the first Resident Evil. They were engaged in March 2003, and were married on August 22, 2009. Jovovich gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Ever Gabo Anderson, on 3 November 2007 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, California, one day before her due date of November 4.
, who had penned the very first Alien vs. Predator screenplay, disputed some of Anderson's other comments in an online interview, saying Anderson's claim that Briggs' original screenplay was "locked down" was incorrect, and that many elements of Anderson's screenplay were suspiciously similar.
Science fiction film
Science fiction film is a film genre that uses science fiction: speculative, science-based depictions of phenomena that are not necessarily accepted by mainstream science, such as extraterrestrial life forms, alien worlds, extrasensory perception, and time travel, often along with futuristic...
and video game adaptations.
Life and career
Anderson was born in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England. Educated at Newlands Preparatory School, Gosforth and later at Newcastle's Royal Grammar School
Royal Grammar School, Newcastle
Royal Grammar School Newcastle upon Tyne, known locally and often abbreviated as RGS, is a long-established co-educational, independent school in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. It gained its Royal Charter under Queen Elizabeth I...
, Anderson went on to graduate from the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
as the youngest student to achieve a BA in Film & Literature. He made his debut as the writer-director of Shopping
Shopping (film)
Shopping is a 1994 film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson about a group of British teenagers who indulge in joyriding and ramraiding...
, which starred Sean Pertwee
Sean Pertwee
Sean Pertwee is an English actor known for his television, film and voice-over work.-Career:In the early 80s, he auditioned for a place at the Surrey County Youth Theatre where he was cast as Captain Fitzpatrick in the play Tom Jones, based on the novel by Henry Fielding...
, Jude Law
Jude Law
David Jude Heyworth Law , known professionally as Jude Law, is an English actor, film producer and director.He began acting with the National Youth Music Theatre in 1987, and had his first television role in 1989...
and Sadie Frost
Sadie Frost
Sadie Frost is an English actress, who currently runs fashion label Frost French and has designed the kitchens for a new development in the East End of London.-Biography:Frost was born Sadie Liza Vaughan in London...
as thieves who smashed cars into storefronts. When released in the United Kingdom it was banned in some cinemas, and only gained a release in the United States as an edited, direct to video release.
After this, he directed the successful 1995 video game adaptation Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (film)
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series...
. While prior video game movies, like Street Fighter
Street Fighter (film)
Street Fighter is a 1994 American action film written and directed by Steven E. de Souza. It is based loosely on the same-titled video games produced by Capcom, and stars Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Raul Julia, along with supporting performances by Byron Mann, Damian Chapa, Kylie Minogue, Ming-Na...
and Super Mario Bros.
Super Mario Bros. (film)
Super Mario Bros. is a 1993 American action film directed by Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel. Based on the Super Mario Bros.video game and its entire franchise, the film features Bob Hoskins, John Leguizamo, Dennis Hopper and Samantha Mathis. It tells the story of the Mario brothers, Mario and...
, had been all-out disasters, Mortal Kombat was well received by fans, and some critics. He declined to direct the sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Mortal Kombat: Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts action film that was the sequel to 1995's Mortal Kombat, and was directed by John R. Leonetti, who had served as the cinematographer for the previous film...
, which was not well received by critics or fans. Anderson was asked to direct a third movie, Mortal Kombat: Devastation, but declined again because he was too busy filming Resident Evil.
The success of Mortal Kombat gave Anderson free rein to choose his next project, Soldier
Soldier (film)
Soldier is a 1998 science fiction-action film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Kurt Russell as Sgt. Todd, a soldier trained from birth...
, written by Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
screenwriter David Webb Peoples. Intended as a "sidequel" to Blade Runner, the movie was set in the same universe (but not the same planet), and contained numerous references to the earlier film. Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
was attached to star, but was unavailable at the time, which delayed the production. In the meantime, Anderson made the science fiction horror film Event Horizon
Event Horizon (film)
Event Horizon is a 1997 science fantasy horror film. The screenplay was written by Philip Eisner and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill...
. It was poorly received at the box office, and Anderson blamed the failure on studio-enforced cuts. While not a box-office success, the film gained a small cult following. Soldier was eventually completed and released in 1998, but was a disaster both commercially and critically.
After the poor performance of both Event Horizon and Soldier, Anderson was forced to think smaller. His planned remake of the cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
Death Race 2000
Death Race 2000
Death Race 2000 is a 1975 cult action film directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine, Simone Griffeth and Sylvester Stallone. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transcontinental Road Race has become a form of national entertainment...
was put on hold, and he set about writing and directed a TV movie, The Sight, in 2000. It was a minor success, and Anderson returned to cinema screens in 2002 when he wrote and directed an adaptation of the survival horror series Resident Evil
Resident Evil (film)
Resident Evil is a British-German 2002 horror film written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, and James Purefoy...
. At that point he began to credit himself as "Paul W. S. Anderson", to avoid confusion with the American director Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson
Paul Thomas Anderson is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has written and directed five feature films: Hard Eight , Boogie Nights , Magnolia , Punch-Drunk Love and There Will Be Blood...
.
Produced on a moderate budget in comparison to his earlier movies, Resident Evil was a commercial success in cinemas and on DVD, prompting Anderson to write (but not direct) the sequels, Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Apocalypse
Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a Canadian-British 2004 science fiction action horror film directed by Alexander Witt, from a screenplay written by producer Paul W.S. Anderson...
and Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Extinction
Resident Evil: Extinction is a Canadian-British 2007 science fiction action horror film also categorized as a doomsday and zombie film, and is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil...
both were commercially successful but failed critically.
Anderson's next project was the much-anticipated Alien vs. Predator
Alien vs. Predator (film)
Alien vs. Predator is a 2004 American science fiction film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson for 20th Century Fox and starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance Henriksen. The film adapts the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint bringing together the eponymous creatures of the Alien and Predator series, a...
, a concept hinted at in Predator 2
Predator 2
Predator 2 is a 1990 science fiction action film starring Danny Glover, Gary Busey, María Conchita Alonso, Rubén Blades, and Bill Paxton. Written by Jim and John Thomas and directed by Stephen Hopkins, the film is a sequel to 1987's Predator, with Kevin Peter Hall again playing the role of the...
and later popularized by a series of Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics
Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent American comic book and manga publisher.Dark Horse Comics was founded in 1986 by Mike Richardson in Milwaukie, Oregon, with the concept of establishing an ideal atmosphere for creative professionals. Richardson started out by opening his first comic book...
. A movie version had been stuck in development hell
Development hell
In the jargon of the media-industry, "development hell" is a period during which a film or other project is trapped in development...
for several years despite the franchise crossing into every other form of media, from books to comics
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
to video games. The film was finally released in August 2004, grossing $172,544,654 internationally on a budget of $60 million, despite his success it received mostly negative reviews. Only one sequel was made, called Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, which Anderson was not involved in. After completing Alien vs. Predator
Alien vs. Predator (film)
Alien vs. Predator is a 2004 American science fiction film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson for 20th Century Fox and starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance Henriksen. The film adapts the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint bringing together the eponymous creatures of the Alien and Predator series, a...
Anderson rebooted his Death Race 2000
Death Race 2000
Death Race 2000 is a 1975 cult action film directed by Paul Bartel, and starring David Carradine, Simone Griffeth and Sylvester Stallone. The film takes place in a dystopian American society in the year 2000, where the murderous Transcontinental Road Race has become a form of national entertainment...
remake and finally got it released as Death Race
Death Race (film)
Death Race is a 2008 action film produced, written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Jason Statham. Though referred to as a remake of the 1975 film Death Race 2000 in reviews and marketing materials, director Paul W.S. Anderson stated in an interview and the DVD commentary that he...
in 2008. A prequel was made in 2011, called Death Race 2, which Anderson wrote (but did not direct). In 2010, Anderson wrote and directed the fourth installment in the Resident Evil film franchise
Resident Evil (film series)
Resident Evil is a film series loosely based upon the Capcom video games of the same name. Constantin Film bought rights to the first film in January 1997 with Alan B. McElroy and George A. Romero as potential writers. In 2001, Sony acquired distribution rights to the film and hired Paul W.S....
, Resident Evil: Afterlife
Resident Evil: Afterlife
Resident Evil: Afterlife is a 2010 Canadian-German 3D science-fiction horror action film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe, and Wentworth Miller. The film marks Anderson's second time to direct in...
.
Anderson directed the 2011 adaptation of The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers (2011 film)
The Three Musketeers is a 2011 3D action-adventure film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson which is a reinterpretation of the novel of the same title by Alexandre Dumas, the film was released in Germany, Austria, France & Switzerland on September 1, 2011, and in the U.S...
, who were played by Logan Lerman
Logan Lerman
Logan Wade Lerman is an American actor, known for playing the title role in the 2010 fantasy-adventure Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. He appeared in commercials in the mid 1990s, before starring in the series Jack & Bobby , and the movies The Butterfly Effect and Hoot...
, Matthew Macfadyen
Matthew Macfadyen
David Matthew Macfadyen is an English actor, known for his role as MI5 intelligence officer Tom Quinn in the BBC television drama series Spooks and for starring as Fitzwilliam Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.In June, 2010 Macfadyen won a British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting...
, Ray Stevenson
Ray Stevenson (actor)
George Raymond "Ray" Stevenson is a Northern Irish-born English film and television actor. He is known for playing Titus Pullo in the BBC/HBO television series Rome , and in film as Dagonet in King Arthur and as Frank Castle/The Punisher in Punisher: War Zone and The Super Hero Squad Show...
, and Luke Evans
Luke Evans (actor)
Luke Evans is a Welsh theatre and film actor. He is known to theatregoers for his stage roles in Rent, Miss Saigon Small Change and Piaf, and to filmgoers for his roles in The Three Musketeers, Clash of the Titans, and Tamara Drewe.-Early life:Luke Evans was born and raised in Aberbargoed, a small...
.
Personal life
In April 2007, People Magazine announced that he and actress Milla JovovichMilla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich December 17, 1975)is an American model, actress, musician, and fashion designer. Over her career, she has appeared in a number of science fiction and action-themed films, for which music channel VH1 has referred to her as the "reigning queen of kick-butt".Milla Jovovich began...
were expecting a baby girl in November 2007. The two met when Anderson directed her in the first Resident Evil. They were engaged in March 2003, and were married on August 22, 2009. Jovovich gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Ever Gabo Anderson, on 3 November 2007 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles, California, one day before her due date of November 4.
Criticism
Screenwriter Peter BriggsPeter Briggs
Peter Briggs is a British born and based director, producer, screenwriter, and concept artist; hired generally by overseas Hollywood motion picture studios. Although having worked in the motion picture industry for close to 20 years, he is best known for his work on the acclaimed film Hellboy...
, who had penned the very first Alien vs. Predator screenplay, disputed some of Anderson's other comments in an online interview, saying Anderson's claim that Briggs' original screenplay was "locked down" was incorrect, and that many elements of Anderson's screenplay were suspiciously similar.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Writer | Producer | ||
| 1994 | Shopping Shopping (film) Shopping is a 1994 film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson about a group of British teenagers who indulge in joyriding and ramraiding... |
|||
| 1995 | Mortal Kombat Mortal Kombat (film) Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American action and adventure film directed by Paul Anderson. Based on the Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, the film was the first part of the Mortal Kombat film series... |
|||
| 1997 | Event Horizon Event Horizon (film) Event Horizon is a 1997 science fantasy horror film. The screenplay was written by Philip Eisner and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. The film stars Laurence Fishburne and Sam Neill... |
|||
| 1998 | Soldier Soldier (film) Soldier is a 1998 science fiction-action film directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Kurt Russell as Sgt. Todd, a soldier trained from birth... |
|||
| 2000 | The Sight | |||
| 2002 | Resident Evil Resident Evil (film) Resident Evil is a British-German 2002 horror film written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, and James Purefoy... |
|||
| 2004 | Alien vs. Predator Alien vs. Predator (film) Alien vs. Predator is a 2004 American science fiction film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson for 20th Century Fox and starring Sanaa Lathan and Lance Henriksen. The film adapts the Alien vs. Predator crossover imprint bringing together the eponymous creatures of the Alien and Predator series, a... |
|||
| Resident Evil: Apocalypse Resident Evil: Apocalypse Resident Evil: Apocalypse is a Canadian-British 2004 science fiction action horror film directed by Alexander Witt, from a screenplay written by producer Paul W.S. Anderson... |
||||
| 2005 | The Dark The Dark (film) The Dark is a 2005 horror film, based on the novel Sheep by Simon Maginn.- Plot :While in Wales visiting her husband James , Adele tries to fix her relationship with her obnoxious and volatile pre-teen daughter Sarah... |
|||
| 2007 | DOA: Dead or Alive DOA: Dead or Alive DOA: Dead or Alive is a 2006 ensemble martial arts film loosely based on the Tecmo/Team Ninja fighting game series of the same name. Directed by Corey Yuen and written by J. F. Lawton, Adam and Seth Gross.... |
|||
| Resident Evil: Extinction Resident Evil: Extinction Resident Evil: Extinction is a Canadian-British 2007 science fiction action horror film also categorized as a doomsday and zombie film, and is the third installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil... |
||||
| 2008 | Death Race Death Race (film) Death Race is a 2008 action film produced, written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson and starring Jason Statham. Though referred to as a remake of the 1975 film Death Race 2000 in reviews and marketing materials, director Paul W.S. Anderson stated in an interview and the DVD commentary that he... |
|||
| 2009 | Pandorum Pandorum Pandorum is a 2009 German-British science fiction thriller film written by Travis Milloy, directed by Christian Alvart and produced by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster. Filming began in Berlin in August 2008. Pandorum was released on September 25, 2009 in the United... |
|||
| 2010 | Resident Evil: Afterlife Resident Evil: Afterlife Resident Evil: Afterlife is a 2010 Canadian-German 3D science-fiction horror action film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It stars Milla Jovovich, Ali Larter, Kim Coates, Shawn Roberts, Spencer Locke, Boris Kodjoe, and Wentworth Miller. The film marks Anderson's second time to direct in... |
|||
| 2011 | The Three Musketeers The Three Musketeers (2011 film) The Three Musketeers is a 2011 3D action-adventure film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson which is a reinterpretation of the novel of the same title by Alexandre Dumas, the film was released in Germany, Austria, France & Switzerland on September 1, 2011, and in the U.S... |
|||
| 2011 | Death Race 2 | |||
| 2012 | Resident Evil: Retribution Resident Evil: Retribution Resident Evil: Retribution is an upcoming 2012 3D science-fiction action horror film written and directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. It is the fifth installment in the Resident Evil film series, which is based on the Capcom survival horror series Resident Evil.The film has many returning actors and... |
|||
| TBA | Pompeii | |||
External links
- Paul W. S. Anderson at Rotten TomatoesRotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
- Paul Anderson at The Numbers
- Paul W. S. Anderson at Box Office MojoBox Office MojoBox Office Mojo is a website that tracks box office revenue in a systematic, algorithmic way. Brandon Gray started the site in 1999. In 2002, Gray partnered with Sean Saulsbury and they grew the site to nearly two million readers when, in July 2008, the company was purchased by Amazon.com through...
- Paul W. S. Anderson interview at JoBlo.com
- Paul W. S. Anderson Unofficial Fansite
- Paul WS Anderson Interview on TheCinemaSource for Resident Evil: Afterlife