Neal H. Moritz(born June 6, 1959) is an American film producer and founder ofOriginal Film.He has produced over 70 major motion pictures which have grossed a total of over $12 billion worldwide as of 2021. He is best known for theFast & Furiousfranchise, theJump StreetandSonic the Hedgehogfilms, as well as the television seriesPrison Breakand Emmy-nominatedThe Boys.His early credits includeI Know What You Did Last Summer,Urban LegendandCruel Intentions.
Neal H. Moritz | |
|---|---|
 Moritz at the 2010 San Diego Comic Con | |
| Born | June 6, 1959 |
| Alma mater | USC School of Cinematic Arts |
| Occupation | Film producer |
| Spouse | Sarah Trimble Moritz |
Life
editNeal H. Moritz was born inLos Angeles,California, to Milton Moritz and Barbara (néeLevin). His paternal grandfather, Joseph Moritz, owned movie theaters inPittsburghand was an early investor inAmerican International Pictures(AIP). Milton Moritz was born in Pittsburgh and moved to California after falling ill withrheumatic feverat age eight, when his doctor suggested the family move to a better climate. He was head of marketing at AIP and was later CEO and president of the National Association of Theatre Owners of California/Nevada. Moritz is from aJewishfamily.[2][3][4][5]
Moritz grew up inWestwoodand graduated fromUCLA,where he participated in a Semester at Sea program. When he came back, he gave away several backpacks that were popular with Chinese students. He had so many requests for the backpacks that he and a friend began a company importing purses and bags from Taiwan. He sold the company to an investor, and returned to school.[3]He earned a master's degree from the Peter Stark Producing Program at theUniversity of Southern California'sSchool of Cinema-Televisionin 1985. He is a member of the school's Alumni Development Council. As of 2021, Moritz has been married for 20 years and has two children, aged 19 and 16.
Career
editMoritz has more than 70 films to his credit, includingJuicestarring Tupac Shakur,I Know What You Did Last Summer,the first two films of theUrban Legendfranchise,Cruel Intentions,The Skulls,theFast & Furiousfranchise,Not Another Teen Movie,the first two films of theXXXfilm series, beingXXXandXXX: State of the Union,S.W.A.T.,Evan Almighty,I Am Legend,Made of Honor,Sweet Home Alabama,Total Recalland theJump Streetfilms, being21 Jump Streetand22 Jump Street.
More recent credits includeSonic the Hedgehog,Sonic the Hedgehog 2,Spenser Confidential,Bloodshot,Escape Room,GoosebumpsandGoosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween.
He has also produced the television seriesThe Boys,S.W.A.T.,Preacher,Happy,Prison Break,andThe Big Break.
In September 2017, Moritz andOriginal Filmsigned a first-look deal forParamount Picturesthat began on January 1, 2019, leaving his longtime home,Sony Pictures,after over 20 years. However, he still maintains his overall deal atSony Pictures Television.
In October 2018, Moritz filed a lawsuit against Universal Pictures inLos Angeles County Superior Courtfor breach of oral contract and committing promissory fraud after the distributor removed him as lead producer onHobbs & Shaw.On September 2, 2020, theCalifornia Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate Districtfiled a published opinion affirming the trial court's denial of Universal's motion to compelarbitrationof Moritz's claims.[6]On September 10, 2020, it was reported that the parties had reached an amicable settlement.[7]Moritz went on to receive producer credit for the 2021 filmF9and the 2023 filmFast X.
Filmography
editHe was a producer in all films unless otherwise noted.
Film
editNBCUniversal
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Skulls | Rob Cohen | UnderUniversal Pictures |
| 2001 | The Fast and the Furious | ||
| 2003 | 2 Fast 2 Furious | John Singleton | |
| 2006 | The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift | Justin Lin | |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | Tom Shadyac | |
| 2009 | Fast & Furious | Justin Lin | |
| 2011 | Fast Five | ||
| The Change-Up | David Dobkin | ||
| 2013 | Fast & Furious 6 | Justin Lin | |
| R.I.P.D. | Robert Schwentke | ||
| 2014 | Search Party | Scot Armstrong | UnderFocus World |
| 2015 | Furious 7 | James Wan | UnderUniversal Pictures |
| 2017 | The Fate of the Furious | F. Gary Gray | |
| 2021 | F9 | Justin Lin | |
| 2023 | Fast X | Louis Leterrier |
Sony Pictures
editParamount Global
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Juice | Ernest R. Dickerson | UnderParamount Pictures |
| 2020 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Jeff Fowler | |
| 2022 | Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | ||
| 2024 | Sonic the Hedgehog 3 |
Lionsgate
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The Stoned Age | James Melkonian | UnderTrimark Pictures |
| 1999 | Held Up | Steve Rash | |
| 2001 | Soul Survivors | Stephen Carpenter | UnderArtisan Entertainment |
| 2011 | The Music Never Stopped | Jim Kohlberg | UnderLionsgate FilmsandRoadside Attractions |
| 2018 | Hunter Killer | Donovan Marsh | Under Lionsgate Films andSummit Premiere |
The Walt Disney Studios
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Volcano | Mick Jackson | Under20th Century Fox |
| 2002 | Sweet Home Alabama | Andy Tennant | UnderTouchstone Pictures |
| 2019 | The Art of Racing in the Rain | Simon Curtis | Under 20th Century Fox |
| 2022 | The Princess | Le-Van Kiet | Under20th Century StudiosandHulu |
Warner Bros Pictures
edit| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Torque | Joseph Kahn | UnderWarner Bros. |
| 2007 | I Am Legend | Francis Lawrence | |
| 2013 | Jack the Giant Slayer | Bryan Singer | Under Warner Bros. andNew Line Cinema |
Other studios
edit| Year | Film | Director | Studio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Out of Time | Carl Franklin | MGM Distribution Co. |
| 2013 | Dead Man Down | Niels Arden Oplev | FilmDistrict |
| 2020 | Spenser Confidential | Peter Berg | Netflix |
| TBA | Afterburn | J.J. Perry | Black Bear Pictures |
Direct-to-video
edit- Cruel Intentions 2(2000)
- The Skulls II(2002) (Executive producer)
- The Skulls III(2004)
- Cruel Intentions 3(2004)
- Devour(2005)
- I'll Always Know What You Did Last Summer(2006)
- S.W.A.T.: Firefight(2011)
- S.W.A.T.: Under Siege(2017)
Television
editAll works, he was executive producer unless otherwise noted
- Shasta McNasty(1999)
- Still Life(2003)
- Greg the Bunny(2002–04)
- Tru Calling(2003–05)
- Point Pleasant(2005–06)
- The Big C(2010–13)
- Save Me(2013)
- Prison Break(2005–17)
- Happy!(2017–19)
- The Boys(2019–present)
- Fast & Furious Spy Racers(2019–2021)
- Preacher(2016–19)
- S.W.A.T.(2017–present)
- I Know What You Did Last Summer(2021)
- The Boys Presents: Diabolical(2022)
- Gen V(2023–present)
- Goosebumps(2023–present)
- Knuckles(2024)
Pilots
- Mr. Ed(2004)
- UntitledDave Caplanpilot (2008)
- Cruel Intentions(2016)
- Roadside Picnic(2017)
TV movies
- Framed(1990)
- Blind Justice(1994)
- The Rat Pack(1998)
- Monster!(1999)
- Cabin by the Lake(2000)
- Hendrix(2000)
- Electra's Guy(2000)
- Class Warfare(2001)
- Return to Cabin by the Lake(2001)
- Shotgun Love Dolls(2001)
- The Pool at Maddy Breaker's(2003)
- Vegas Dick(2003)
- Not Another High School Show(2007)
- SIS(2008)
- Prison Break: The Final Break(2009)
Other credits
editActing roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Fast and the Furious | Ferrari Driver |
| 2003 | 2 Fast 2 Furious | Swerving Cop |
| S.W.A.T. | Luxury Car Driver |
Special thanks
- My Trip to the Dark Side(2011)
References
edit- ^"Neal H Moritz, Born 06/06/1959 in California".CaliforniaBirthIndex.org.
- ^Shollar, Masha (August 3, 2016)."Native son recalls hand in 'Golden Age' of B movies".The Jewish Chronicle.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
- ^ab"'B.S. Pod': The History of the 'Fast & Furious' Franchise With Neal Moritz ".The Ringer.April 11, 2017.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
- ^"Neal Moritz, a producer with his finger on the pulse of the populace".Los Angeles Times.March 14, 2011.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
- ^Goldstein, Patrick (March 9, 1999)."Moritz Makes His 'Intentionsxxx' Clear".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedApril 14,2017.
- ^Cullins, Ashley (September 3, 2020)."'Fast & Furious' Spinoff Fight to Remain in L.A. Court ".The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^Patten, Dominic (September 10, 2020)."Universal & 'Fast & Furious' Producer Neal Moritz Settle 'Hobbs & Shaw' Legal Drag Race".Deadline Hollywood.
External links
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