Ivan ReitmanOC(/ˈraɪtmən/;October 27, 1946 – February 12, 2022) was a Canadian film director and producer. He was known for his comedy films, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Reitman was the owner ofThe Montecito Picture Company,founded in 1998.
Ivan Reitman | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | February 12, 2022 | (aged 75)
Resting place | Santa Barbara Cemetery |
Nationality | Canadian |
Alma mater | McMaster University |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1968–2022 |
Spouse |
Geneviève Robert (m.1976) |
Children | 3, includingJasonandCatherine |
Films he directed includeMeatballs(1979),Stripes(1981),Ghostbusters(1984),Twins(1988),Ghostbusters II(1989),Kindergarten Cop(1990),Dave(1993),Junior(1994) andDraft Day(2014). Reitman also served as producer for such films asNational Lampoon's Animal House(1978),Heavy Metal(1981),Space Jam(1996) andPrivate Parts(1997).
Early life
editIvan Reitman was born in the town ofKomárno,Czechoslovakia(nowSlovakia), on October 27, 1946, the son of Klara (Raab) and Ladislav "Leslie" Reitman.[1]Both of Reitman's parents wereJewish-Hungarians;his mother survived theAuschwitz concentration camp,and his father was an underground resistance fighter.[2][3][4]His family arrived in Canada as refugees when Reitman was four years old. Reitman attendedOakwood Collegiatein Toronto and was a member of the Twintone Four singing group.[citation needed]He attendedMcMaster University,[5]receiving a Bachelor of Music in 1969. At McMaster he produced and directed many short films.[6]
Career
editReitman's first producing job was with the then-new stationCITY-TVin Toronto. CITY was also the home of the first announcing job of his later friend and collaboratorDan Aykroyd.However, Reitman's tenure at CITY was short and he was fired during his first year by station ownerMoses Znaimer.[citation needed]
In Toronto, he produced the stage productionSpellbound(1973)[7]which evolved into Broadway productionThe Magic Show.[6]
Reitman's first commercial film ventures were as producer of two films for directorDavid Cronenberg,Shivers(1975) andRabid(1977). His big break came when he producedNational Lampoon's Animal Housein 1978 and directedMeatballsin 1979. From there, he directed and produced a number of comedies includingStripes(1981),Ghostbusters(1984),[8]Legal Eagles(1986),Twins(1988),Ghostbusters II(1989),[9]Kindergarten Cop(1990),Dave(1993),Junior(1994),Six Days, Seven Nights(1998),Evolution(2001),My Super Ex-Girlfriend(2006), andNo Strings Attached(2011).
In the early 1990s, Reitman began to direct fewer films, but increased his role as a producer and executive producer through his company, Northern Lights Entertainment.[10]He helped to produce theanimated filmHeavy Metal(1981), as well as the live-action filmsSpacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone(1983),Beethoven(1992),Beethoven's 2nd(1993),Space Jam(1996),Howard Stern's filmPrivate Parts(1997)
In 1998, Reitman (alongside formerUniversal PictureschairmanTom Pollock) foundedThe Montecito Picture Company,a film production company located just south ofSanta Barbara.[11]In 2007, Reitman was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.[12]
He next produced the comedyI Love You, Man(2009), starringPaul RuddandJason Segel.Also in 2009, he produced theAcademy Award-nominated film,Up in the Air,directed by his sonJason Reitman.Later, Reitman had planned to direct the erotic thrillerChloe(2009) but he couldn't attract the cast he wanted so Reitman decided to only serve as a producer and askedAtom Egoyanto direct the film.[13]Chloehas since enjoyed commercial success and became Egoyan's biggest moneymaker ever.[14]
In his final decade, Reitman also co-produced the biographical filmHitchcock,released on November 23, 2012, directed the 2014 sports dramaDraft Day,starringKevin Costner,and served as executive producer on 2021'sSpace Jam: A New Legacyas he had done for the first film.
In mid-January 2019, news of a newGhostbustersfilm,Ghostbusters: Afterlife,came through with Ivan's sonJason Reitmantaking over as co-writer and director.[15]Ivan remained producer, and stood in for the lateHarold Ramisas Egon Spengler using digital makeup.[16]The film was released on November 19, 2021, marking his final film before his death. However, Reitman received a posthumous producer credit for the sequel toGhostbusters: Afterlife,Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire,which was released on March 22, 2024. The film is also dedicated to his memory.[17]
Unmade projects
editIn the early 1980s,Tom Mankiewiczwrote a script for a film titledThe Batman,with Reitman attached to direct. He planned to castMeatballsstarBill MurrayasBatman,David NivenasAlfred Pennyworth,William Holdenas CommissionerJames Gordon,and singerDavid BowieasJoker.[18]Following the deaths of Holden and Niven and rewrites of the script, Reitman left the project and was replaced byGremlinsdirectorJoe Dante,but the film was never made.
In the mid-1980s, Reitman was in contention to directMemoirs of an Invisible Man,but departed from the project due to creative differences with starChevy Chase.[19]
In February 1996, it was reported that Reitman was planning a remake ofCreature From the Black LagoonatUniversalwith a script byHerschel WeingrodandTimothy Harris,as well as a potentialMarx brothersfeature,[20]but neither materialized.
In April 1996, it was reported that Reitman was attached to produce, and possibly direct, aWonder Womanfilm.[21]However, three years later, he passed the project on to writerJon Cohenand left for unknown reasons.
In 2000, Reitman along withWolfgang Petersen,Rob Reiner,M. Night Shyamalan,Alan Parker,Tim Robbins,Terry Gilliam,Brad SilberlingandPeter Weirwere considered to directHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stonebut the directing job was given toChris Columbusinstead.[22]
In 2001, Reitman revealed he would directMGM's remake ofThe Pink Panther,withMike Myersin the role ofInspector Clouseau.A2006 iterationstarredSteve Martinin the role instead.[23]
In March 2007,New Yorkmagazine, citing no sources, stated thatSony Pictures Entertainmentwanted to replace Reitman onGhostbusters IIIwith a younger director, but that Reitman's original contract precluded this.[24]In early 2010, it appeared as if Reitman would direct the film,[25]but in September 2014, afterHarold Ramis' death,Paul Feigwas officially set to direct anew film,which was released in 2016 as a reboot of the franchise.[26][27]
In March 2012, it was reported that a sequel toTwins,titledTriplets,was in the works, and that Reitman would co-produce the film.[28][29]Deadlinereported in September 2021 that Reitman would both direct and produceTripletsand that shooting was scheduled to begin in January 2022. The status of the film is unclear following Reitman's death,[30]with Arnold Schwarzenegger suggesting that Reitman's son Jason "stopped the project when his father died" and that the younger Reitman "never liked the idea."[31]
In 2013, it was revealed that Reitman had plans to make a sequel toEvolution,[32]but they never came to fruition.
In June 2016, it was reported that Reitman would produce a prospective animated seriesGhostbusters: Ecto Force.[33]In July 2017, Reitman stated thatEcto Forcehad been postponed to focus on an animatedGhostbustersfilm that he would produce and co-direct alongside Fletcher Moules.[34]
Personal life and death
editReitman married Geneviève Robert in 1976. He had two daughters and a son,Jason,who is a film director best known for his filmsJuno,Thank You for Smoking,Up in the AirandGhostbusters: Afterlife.His daughterCatherineis the creator, executive producer, writer and star of the CBC comedy seriesWorkin' Moms.His other daughter, Caroline, is a nurse in San Diego, California. He and his French-Canadian wife, who converted toJudaism,brought up their children in the same tradition.[35]
In 2009, he was made an Officer of theOrder of Canada"for his contributions as a director and producer, and for his promotion of the Canadian film and television industries".[36]In April 2011, he received the Mayor's Prize at his native city ofKomárno,Slovakia.[37]He received theQueen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medalin 2012.[38]
In 2014, he said "I've always been something of aconservative-slash-libertarian."[39]Reitman had previously appeared in the 2004 documentary,Rated R: Republicans in Hollywood.[40]
Reitman died in his sleep at home inMontecito, California,on February 12, 2022, at the age of 75.[41]
Filmography
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2022) |
Film
editShort film
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1968 | Orientation | Yes | Yes | Also writer, editor, cinematographer and composer |
Feature film
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1971 | Foxy Lady | Yes | Yes | Also editor and composer |
1973 | Cannibal Girls | Yes | Executive | Also story writer |
1979 | Meatballs | Yes | No | Golden Reel Award |
1981 | Stripes | Yes | Yes | |
1984 | Ghostbusters | Yes | Yes | |
1986 | Legal Eagles | Yes | Yes | Also story writer |
1988 | Twins | Yes | Yes | |
1989 | Ghostbusters II | Yes | Yes | |
1990 | Kindergarten Cop | Yes | Yes | |
1993 | Dave | Yes | Yes | |
1994 | Junior | Yes | Yes | |
1997 | Fathers' Day | Yes | Yes | |
1998 | Six Days, Seven Nights | Yes | Yes | |
2001 | Evolution | Yes | Yes | |
2006 | My Super Ex-Girlfriend | Yes | No | |
2011 | No Strings Attached | Yes | Yes | |
2014 | Draft Day | Yes | Yes |
Acting roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Ghostbusters | Zuul / Slimer | Voice role |
1989 | Ghostbusters II | "Man Walking Outside Firehouse / Slimer" | |
2011 | No Strings Attached | "Secret High" director | Cameo |
2021 | Ghostbusters: Afterlife | Egon Spangler's ghost | Motion capture body double |
Executive producer only
- Rabid(1977) (Also music supervisor)
- Blackout(1978)
- The Magic Show(1973)
- Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone(1983)
- Big Shots(1987)
- Casual Sex?(1988)
- Feds(1988)
- Beethoven(1992)
- Beethoven's 2nd(1993)
- Commandments(1997)
- Road Trip(2000)
- Killing Me Softly(2002)
- Old School(2003)
- EuroTrip(2004)
- Trailer Park Boys: The Movie[46](2006)
- Disturbia(2007)
- Hotel for Dogs[47](2009)
- The Uninvited(2009)
- I Love You, Man(2009)
- Godmothered[48](2000)
- Space Jam: A New Legacy(2021)
Producer only
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1969 | The Columbus of Sex | Also cinematographer |
1975 | Shivers | Also music supervisor |
1976 | Death Weekend | |
1977 | Ilsa, the Tigress of Siberia | As "Julian Parnell" |
1978 | Animal House | |
1981 | Heavy Metal[49] | |
1992 | Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot | |
1996 | Space Jam | |
1997 | Private Parts | |
2009 | Post Grad | |
Up in the Air | Nominated-Academy Award for Best Picture | |
Chloe | ||
2012 | Hitchcock | |
2016 | Ghostbusters | |
2017 | Baywatch | |
Father Figures | ||
2020 | A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting | |
2021 | Ghostbusters: Afterlife | [50][51] |
2024 | Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Posthumous credit; dedication[17] |
Television
editYear | Title | Director | Writer | Executive producer |
Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1997 | Metropolitan Hospital[52] | No | Creator | Yes | Unsold pilot |
2004 | Cooking Lessons[53] | Yes | No | No | TV movie |
Executive producer only
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1979 | Delta House[54] | 13 episodes |
1994 | Beethoven | 13 episodes |
1996 | The Late Shift | TV movie |
1997 | Mummies Alive! | 42 episodes |
1999 | The First Gentleman | TV movie |
2001–02 | Alienators: Evolution Continues | 13 episodes |
2006 | That Guy | TV movie |
Producer
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | That Guy | TV movie |
2008 | Atom TV | 5 episodes (segments "Border Patrol" ) |
Music video
editYear | Title | Artist |
---|---|---|
1984 | ' "Ghostbusters"[55] | Ray Parker Jr. |
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- ^Kohn, Eric (November 14, 2007)."Director Shows His 'Stripes'".Forward.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^"Ivan Reitman Biography (1946-)".filmreference.
- ^Bloom, Nate (January 21, 2011)."Jewish Stars 1/21".Cleveland Jewish News.
- ^"McMaster University Alumni".RetrievedJanuary 10,2007.
- ^ab"McMaster University Alumni Community".Archived fromthe originalon August 11, 2013.
- ^"Spellbound".Variety.273(6): 43. December 19, 1973.ISSN0011-5509– via archive.org.
- ^Barton, Steve (January 13, 2010)."Ghostbusters 3 Director Confirmed!".DreadCentral.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^"Ivan Reitman Verbally Confirms He'll Direct 'Ghostbusters 3'".January 13, 2010.
- ^Britton, Bonnie. "Director of 'Junior' has delivered plenty of hits."The Indianapolis Star(November 25, 1994).
- ^Madigan, Nick (February 17, 1998)."PFE adds to stable".Variety.RetrievedAugust 4,2023.
- ^"Canada's Walk of Fame: Ivan Reitman".canadaswalkoffame.Archived fromthe originalon October 30, 2006.
- ^Warner, Andrea (March 24, 2010)."Atom Egoyan lets 'Chloe' put words in his mouth".thewriterlylife.blogspot.hk.
- ^Pevere, Geoff (December 7, 2010)."The Digital Revolution: Part 1".The Star.
- ^Roffman, Michael (January 18, 2019)."Ernie Hudson on new Ghostbusters movie:" Everybody is in "".Consequence.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^"Original Ghostbusters director stood in as Egon Spengler in Afterlife".Ghostbusters News.November 25, 2021.Archivedfrom the original on November 26, 2021.RetrievedNovember 26,2021.
- ^abGrobar, Matt (January 9, 2024)."'Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire's Release Date Pushed Forward By Sony ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJanuary 9,2024.
- ^"10 Batman films that almost happened".Batman News.July 5, 2013.
- ^"Exit Line".Los Angeles Times.June 12, 1988. p. K33.
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- ^Brodesser-Akner, Claude."Reitman Foils Studio's Ghostbusters Reboot Plans",Vulture,March 17, 2010. Retrieved February 13, 2022
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- ^Kit, Borys (August 2, 2014)."'Ghostbusters 3' Targets Paul Feig as Director ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^Squires, John (March 10, 2015)."Latest on New Ghostbusters Movie Universe; Chris Pratt in the Mix? Four Films?!".Dread Central.
- ^"'Twins' Sequel 'Triplets' in the Works for Arnold, DeVito...and Eddie Murphy (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.March 29, 2012.
- ^Red Carpet News TV (January 22, 2013)."Arnold Schwarzenegger Confirms Terminator 5, Conan and Twins Sequels"– via YouTube.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 14, 2021)."'Twins' Sequel 'Triplets' Set: Tracy Morgan Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito & Director Ivan Reitman In Hot Toronto Package ".Deadline.RetrievedNovember 13,2021.
- ^De La Paz, Maggie (May 18, 2023)."Triplets Update: Arnold Schwarzenegger Reveals Disappointing News on Twins Sequel".Coming Soon.RetrievedJune 8,2023.
- ^"Are there any plans to make a sequel to the film Evolution (2001)".Movies & TV Stack Exchange.
- ^Brennan, Colin (June 21, 2016)."Original Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman to produce futuristic Ghostbusters cartoon".Consequence.RetrievedFebruary 13,2022.
- ^Takao (August 7, 2017)."Ghostbusters: Ecto Force postponed for new film".ToonBarn.Archivedfrom the original on February 24, 2020.RetrievedAugust 16,2017.
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- ^"Primátor ocenil osobnosti mesta Komárno".komarno.sk(in Slovak). Archived fromthe originalon August 20, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 23,2020.
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- ^Konrad, Jeremy (February 11, 2022)."Heavy Metal Comes To 4K Blu-ray On April 19th".Bleeding Cool.RetrievedFebruary 14,2022.
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- ^Inguanzo, Ozzy (November 2021).Ghostbusters: Afterlife: The Art and Making of the Movie(First ed.). London: Titan Books. p. 191.ISBN9781789096521.
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