Joseph Eggleston Johnston II[1][non-primary source needed] (born May 13, 1950)[1] 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); Jumanji (1995); Jurassic Park III (2001); The Rocketeer (1991); The Wolfman (2010); and Captain America: The First Avenger (2011).
Joe Johnston | |
|---|---|
 Johnston at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International | |
| Born | Joseph Eggleston Johnston II May 13, 1950 Austin, Texas, U.S. |
| Education | ArtCenter College of Design |
| Alma mater | California State University |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Notable work | |
Early lifeEdit
Johnston was born in Austin, Texas,[2] and attended California State University, Long Beach, and Pasadena's Art Center College of Design.
CareerEdit
Design and visual effectsEdit
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, co-created the design of Boba Fett in The Empire Strikes Back,[3] 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.[4] Johnston continued to work on many films as an effects expert.
He was also associate producer on fantasy Willow, and production designer on two mid-80s 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; ISBN 0-394-86568-5, ISBN 0-394-96568-X).[5]
In 1984, Lucas gave Johnston a sabbatical, with salary, and paid his tuition to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[6] Johnston left after a year, saying he "was asked not to return" because he "broke too many rules".[7]
DirectingEdit
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.[8]
Johnston was set to direct Hulk,[9] 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,[10] the film stars Chris Evans as the comic book hero and Hugo Weaving as his archenemy the Red Skull. In 2012, Johnston directed the thriller Not Safe for Work for Blumhouse Productions.
On December 12, 2017, The Hollywood Reporter reported that Johnston would helm 32 days of reshoots on the film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms due to its director Lasse Hallström being unavailable.[11]
On December 5, 2019, it was reported that Joe Johnston was in negotiations with Disney to direct Shrunk, a legacy sequel to Honey, I Shrunk The Kids.[12][13]
FilmographyEdit
DirectorEdit
Film
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Honey, I Shrunk the Kids | Directorial debut |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | |
| 1994 | The Pagemaster | Live-action sequences |
| 1995 | Jumanji | |
| 1999 | October Sky | |
| 2001 | Jurassic Park III | |
| 2004 | Hidalgo | |
| 2010 | The Wolfman | |
| 2011 | Captain America: The First Avenger | Also executive producer |
| 2014 | Not Safe for Work | |
| 2018 | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | Director of reshoots and oversaw post-production[14] / Received co-director credit along with Lasse Hallström[15] |
Television
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Episode: "Princeton, February 1916" |
| 2015 | Lumen | TV film; also executive producer |
Other creditsEdit
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Star Wars | George Lucas | Visual effects artist / Cameo as "Death Star Trooper" |
| 1980 | The Empire Strikes Back | Irvin Kershner | Visual effects artist and art director / Cameo as "Captain Shawn Valdez" |
| 1981 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | Steven Spielberg | Visual effects artist and art director |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Richard Marquand | Art director |
| 1984 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | Steven Spielberg | |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Willard Huyck | Ultralight sequence designer |
| 1987 | Batteries Not Included | Matthew Robbins | Second unit director and production manager |
| 1988 | Willow | Ron Howard | Associate producer |
| 1989 | Always | Steven Spielberg | Aerial sequence designer |
| 1999 | The Iron Giant | Brad Bird | Designer of the Iron Giant |
| 2014 | The Lawful Truth | Mollie Fitzgerald | Cameo as "Captain Waters" |
Television
| Year | Title | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| 1978–1979 | Battlestar Galactica | Effects illustration and design |
| 1984 | The Ewok Adventure | Production designer; TV film |
| 1985 | Ewoks: The Battle for Endor | |
| 1985–1986 | Star Wars: Droids – The Adventures of R2-D2 and C-3PO | Screenwriter (episode: "Coby and the Starhunters") / Design consultant (special: ''The Great Heep") |
| 2017 | The Creeps | Executive producer; TV short |
| 2020 | Prop Culture | Himself, Episode: "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" |
| 2022 | Light & Magic | Himself, 5 episodes |
Books writtenEdit
- 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
- 2014 : Franklin
- 2014 : Necessary Evil: Settling Missouri with a Rope and a Gun
- 2015 : It's End Here: Missouri's Last Vigilante
AccoladesEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ^ a b "Texas Birth Index, 1903–1997".
- ^ Diaz, Victor. "Austin-born Oscar winner directs 'Captain America'" Archived March 31, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Austin.YNN.com, July 22, 2011.
- ^ EMPIRE AT 40 | DESIGNING AN ICON: JOE JOHNSTON ON THE JOURNEY TO CREATE BOBA FETT
- ^ Buchanan, Jason. "Film > Film Biography > Joe Johnston", AllMovie.com, n.d.
- ^ Joe Johnston (1984). The Adventures of Teebo. OpenLibrary.org. OL 22325365M. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ "2004 interview with Joe Johnston. Retrieved 12 August 2012". Articles.baltimoresun.com. March 8, 2004. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ "2001 filmschoolrejects website interview with Joe Johnston. Retrieved 12 August 2012". Filmschoolrejects.com. July 18, 2011. Archived from the original on July 22, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- ^ "Jumanji (1995) – Box Office Mojo". boxofficemojo.com.
- ^ Michael Fleming (April 14, 1997). "A Mania For Marvel". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
- ^ Nicholson, Amy. "Exclusive: 'Captain America' & 'JP4' News" Archived March 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Boxoffice, January 13, 2010
- ^ Kit, Borys (December 12, 2017). "Joe Johnston to Direct Disney's 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Reshoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (December 5, 2019). "'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids' Director in Talks to Return for Reboot Starring Josh Gad (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 12, 2020). "Rick Moranis Closes Deal To Return To 'Honey, I Shrunk The Kids' Franchise With 'Shrunk' At Disney". Deadline Hollywood.
As previously reported, the pic's original director Joe Johnston will be back
- ^ Kit, Borys (December 12, 2017). "Joe Johnston to Direct Disney's 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Reshoots (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 13, 2017.
- ^ Kit, Borys (July 5, 2018). "Lasse Hallstrom, Joe Johnston to Share Director Credit on 'Nutcracker and the Four Realms' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
External linksEdit
- Joe Johnston at IMDb