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James Gray (director)

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James Gray
Gray in 2019
Born(1969-04-14)April 14, 1969(age 55)
New York City, U.S.
Alma materUSC School of Cinematic Arts
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
Years active1994–present
Spouse
Alexandra Dickson
​
(m.2005)​
Children3

James Gray(born April 14, 1969)[1]is an American film director and screenwriter. Since his feature debutLittle Odessain 1994, he has made seven other features includingWe Own the Night(2007),Two Lovers(2008),The Immigrant(2013),The Lost City of Z(2016),Ad Astra(2019), andArmageddon Time(2022). Five of his films have competed for thePalme d'Orat theCannes Film Festival.[2]

Early life[edit]

Gray was born in New York City and grew up in the neighborhood ofFlushing.[3][4]He is ofRussian Jewishdescent,[5][6][7][8]with grandparents fromOstropol,Western Ukraine,which at that time was a part of theUSSR.[9]The original family name was "Grayevsky" or "Greyzerstein."[10]His father was once an electronics contractor. Gray attended theUniversity of Southern CaliforniaSchool of Cinematic Arts,where his student film,Cowboys and Angels,helped him get an agent and the attention of producerPaul Webster,who encouraged him to write a script which he could produce.[11][12]

Career[edit]

1990s[edit]

In 1994, at age 25, Gray made his first feature filmLittle Odessa,starringTim Rothas ahit manconfronted by his younger brother upon returning to his hometown, "Little Odessa," a section ofBrighton Beach,Brooklyn.[13]The film won theSilver Lionat the51st Venice International Film Festival.[14]

In 1998, Gray began shooting his second film,The Yards,a crime drama set in thecommuter railyards inNew York City.The film was released theatrically byMiramaxtwo years later on October 12, 2000.[15]

2000s[edit]

In March 2006, Gray began production on his third film,We Own the Night,which he had been wanting to shoot since the early 2000s. Set in 1988, it starsJoaquin PhoenixandMark Wahlbergas two brothers, one a nightclub manager with ties to the mob, and the former a police detective who wages an all-out war on drugs. The film screened in competition at the2007 Cannes Film Festivalin May,[16]receiving widely divergent reviews from international critics, and was released theatrically in the U.S. in October.[17]

After that film's success, Gray was given creative freedom forTwo Loverswhich was loosely based onFyodor Dostoevsky’s "White Nights".[18]The film made its premiere at the2008 Cannes Film Festival.

2010s[edit]

From left:Anthony Katagas,Greg Shapiro,Jeremy Renner,Marion Cotillard,Gray and wife Alexandra Dickson at the2013 Cannes Film Festival

Gray co-wrote the screenplay forGuillaume Canet's filmBlood Ties,aremakeof the French thrillerRivals.[19]This collaboration with Canet led Gray to meeting his partnerMarion Cotillard,whom he would cast in his next filmThe Immigrant.[20]It tells the story of a Polish nurse who is separated from her sister atEllis Islandand forced intoprostitutionby a theater manager, played byJoaquin Phoenix.The film, which was previously titledLowlifeandThe Nightingale,marked Gray's fourth collaboration with Phoenix. It was nominated for thePalme d'Orat the2013 Cannes Film Festival.[21]

In 2015, Gray directed a television commercial forChanelmen's fragrance,Bleu de Chanel,starringGaspard Ulliel.[22]It was filmed in Los Angeles and released on February 5, 2015.[23]

In October 2016, Gray's filmThe Lost City of Zpremiered at theNew York Film Festival.The film, based on thebookbyDavid Grann,depicts the life of explorerPercy Fawcett,played byCharlie Hunnam.[24]

At the2016 Cannes Film Festival,it was reported that Gray would next direct his long-gestated sci-fi space epicAd Astra.[25]Brad Pittsigned on to star in April 2017 and the rest of the cast joined later that year.Ad Astrapremiered at theVenice Film Festivalon August 29, 2019 and was theatrically released in the United States on September 20, 2019 by20th Century Fox.[26]Gray later stated that the film that was released to theaters was not his cut.[27]

2020s[edit]

On June 17, 2020, it was officially confirmed that his next film, titledArmageddon Time,would be a coming-of-age drama loosely based on Gray's childhood memories, withAnne Hathaway,Anthony HopkinsandJeremy Strongcast in the film.[28]The film had its world premiere at theCannes Film Festivalon May 19, 2022 and was released in the United States on October 28, 2022 byFocus Features.

Unrealized and upcoming projects[edit]

AfterLittle Odessa,Gray was offered the script forThe Devil's OwnbyBrad Pitt,a friend of his. Gray turned it down and the film was ultimately directed byAlan J. Pakula.[29]He also passed up the opportunity to directGood Will Hunting.

In 1997, Gray was in negotiations with producerArt Linsonto direct thebiopicKiller Spy,aboutCIAagentAldrich Ames,based on the novelBetrayal.[30]Kevin Spaceywas being talked about for the starring role of Ames.

In 1999, Gray was in talks to directBrad PittandJennifer AnistoninWaking Up in RenoforMiramax.The film was made three years later but without the involvement of Gray, Pitt or Aniston.[31]

It was reported in 2000 that Gray would direct and co-writeEdgardo Mortara,a film based on theinfamous 1858 kidnappingof the 6-year-old Jewish boy by thePapal police.[32]Gray was to collaborate with writer Rob Eshman on the screenplay.

In 2003, it was rumored that Gray had written an adaptation ofPhilip K. Dick's novelette "Paycheck".Prior toJohn Woobeing selected,Brett Ratnerwas in talks to direct.[33]Afilmwas released later that year, but Gray had no involvement.

In 2006, Gray was planning to directAlphabet City,based on the 1995 novel bySteven Knight,who also penned the first draft of the script.[34]

In 2010, Gray was hired to rewrite the script of theCharlie Hunnam-scriptedVlad,which would have been a period action film based on the story ofDracula.Anthony Mandlerhad been attached to direct the film.[35]

In January 2011, it was reported that Gray would be directing a film adaptation ofMark Greaney's novelThe Gray Manwritten byAdam Cozad.The project was first set up atNew Regency.[36][37]Brad Pittwas initially cast to star, but by October 2015, he and Gray were no longer involved with the film.

In April 2011,Jeremy Rennerenlisted Gray to write the screenplay for an untitledSteve McQueenbiopic with Renner in the role under his production banner The Combine.[38]"I did it more or less as a favor to Jeremy and to honor Steve McQueen," Gray said.[20]Heavily researched and based on two books byMarshall Terrill,Portrait of an American RebelandThe Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon,the film was initially going to be directed byIvan Zachariáš,although Gray later stated in 2013 that he may end up directing it himself at some point.[39]

In August 2013, it was announced thatWarner Bros.tapped Gray to write and directWhite Devil,a film based on the life ofJohn Willis.[40]

It was reported in April 2015 byVarietythat Gray was to executive produce and serve ascreative consultantonHard Apple,an "adult-skewing"animated seriesinspired by New York-born authorJerome Charyn's Isaac Sidel novels.[41]

In April 2018, MGM closed a deal for Gray to directI Am Pilgrim,an adaptation ofthe espionage novelbyTerry Hayes.[42]He was slated to direct the film after he finished shootingAd Astra.However, Gray confirmed in 2022 that the project is officially dead, and that it had got lost in the "business mess" with studios changing hands.[43]

In April 2022, Gray announced plans to develop alimited seriesabout novelistNorman Mailerbased onJ. Michael Lennon's biographyNorman Mailer: A Double Life.[44]

In October 2022, Gray said he was interested in wrangling back the cast for a semi-sequel toArmageddon Time,to focus solely on his mother, who was portrayed byAnne Hathaway."The story goes in a very unexpected place," said Gray, "Because my father actually did achieve some financial success but wound up getting it all confiscated by the government when he got into legal trouble. At the same time, my mother found out she was dying. And so, it's going to be, I think, something about that period."[45]That same month,Deadlinereported that Gray's next film would be a biopic about a youngJohn F. Kennedythat focused on his time inWorld War IIwhere he saved his crew from a sinking patrol boat.[46][47]The film was titledMayday 109and had been in development for several years before Gray boarded the project.[48]Bill Skarsgårdis attached to star as Kennedy.[49]

In November 2022, Gray revealed in an interview forColliderthat one of his dream projects was an epic about theRussian RevolutioncalledThe Dream of a Thousand Men,but that it was unlikely to be made anytime soon, if at all, due toRussia's 2022 Ukraine invasion.[50]

In March 2023, it was announced Gray would directEzekiel Moss,aDepression-set ghost story written by Keith Bunin, forFocus Features.[51]

In February 2024, Gray replacedNeil Burgeras the director ofSummer Frost,based onBlake Crouch's source material, which had first been announced back in 2020.Zoe Saldanais attached to star in the film.[52]

Gray also turned down the role played byNoah TaylorinWes Anderson'sThe Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.[53]He did, however, appear in a brief cameo in a deleted scene inLove Jones.[54]

Opera[edit]

In 2019, it was reported that Gray was to stageMozart'sThe Marriage of Figaro,his first opera, at theThéâtre des Champs-Élyséesin Paris that November. French fashion designerChristian Lacroixdid the costumes for the production.[55]

Personal life[edit]

Gray married Alexandra Dickson in 2005. The couple have three children.[56]

Favorite films[edit]

In 2022, Gray participated in theSight and Soundfilm polls. Held every ten years to select the greatest films of all time, contemporary directors were asked to select ten films of their choice. Gray chose the following, in no order:[57]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1991 Cowboys and Angels Yes No No Student short film
1994 Little Odessa Yes Yes No
2000 The Yards Yes Yes No Co-written withMatt Reeves
2007 We Own the Night Yes Yes No
2008 Two Lovers Yes Yes Yes Co-written withRichard Menello
2013 Blood Ties No Yes Executive Co-written withGuillaume Canet
The Immigrant Yes Yes Yes Co-written with Richard Menello
2016 The Lost City of Z Yes Yes Yes Based on thebookbyDavid Grann
2019 Ad Astra Yes Yes Yes Co-written withEthan Gross
2022 Armageddon Time Yes Yes Yes

Television[edit]

Year Title Episode
2014 The Red Road "Arise My Love, Shake Off This Dream" (S1 E1)

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Title Result
2000 Cannes Film Festival Palme d'Or The Yards Nominated
2007 We Own the Night Nominated
2008 Two Lovers Nominated
2013 The Immigrant Nominated
2022 Armageddon Time Nominated
2008 César Awards Best Foreign Film We Own the Night Nominated
2009 Two Lovers Nominated
1996 Independent Spirit Awards Best First Feature Little Odessa Nominated
Best First Screenplay Nominated
2010 Best Director Two Lovers Nominated
1994 Venice International Film Festival Golden Lion Little Odessa Nominated
Silver Lion Won
2019 Golden Lion Ad Astra Nominated

References[edit]

  1. ^Tatiana Siegel (May 20, 2007)."Dialogue: James Gray".Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
  2. ^CANNES 2000: Embracing Indiewood, Cannes 2000 Lineup Selected from Nearly 1,400 Films; 15 Countries|IndieWire
  3. ^Jagernauth, Kevin (November 5, 2013)."James Gray, Nicolas Winding Refn & More Giving Masterclasses At 2013 Marrakech International Film Festival".IndieWire.Archived fromthe originalon March 5, 2014.RetrievedMarch 5,2014.
  4. ^Hirschon, Nicholas (December 23, 2011). "James Gray's Films Explore Underdog Living in Qns."Daily News(New York, New York). p. p. 35.
  5. ^Kilday, Gregg (May 21, 2013)."Cannes: James Gray on 'The Immigrant,' Marion Cotillard and Returning to the Fest (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
  6. ^Zeitchik, Steven (October 17, 2016)."Director James Gray goes on his own search while creating 'The Lost City of Z'".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJune 11,2018.And he is. He's also a grade-A kibitzer, a gregarious character, whose chatty and self-effacing wit bespeaks his Queens upbringing and Eastern European-Jewish heritage.
  7. ^Jeng, Jonah (April 20, 2017)."Of Immigrants and the City: A James Gray Retrospective".Paste Magazine.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
  8. ^Applebaum, Stephen (March 27, 2017)."James Gray: Exploring the dark and personal".The Jewish Chronicle.RetrievedJune 11,2018.
  9. ^"James Gray Interview For 'The Immigrant'".Flicks and Bits. May 23, 2013. Archived fromthe originalon June 19, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 5,2013.
  10. ^"James Gray's New York of underdogs and dreamers".Le Monde.fr.May 19, 2022.
  11. ^Transcript of Online Conference with Little Odessa Writer/Director James Gray,Fine Line Features, 1995, Accessed May 11, 2008.
  12. ^Hanson, Peter (June 28, 2010).The Cinema of Generation X: A Critical Study of Films and Directors.McFarland.ISBN978-0-7864-8078-4.
  13. ^James, Caryn (May 19, 1995)."Little Odessa (1994) – Film Review; Russian Emigre Family With a Son in the Mob".The New York Times.
  14. ^Anastasia, George;Macnow, Glen, eds. (2011).The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies.Running Press.pp. 293, 294.
  15. ^The Yards (2000) - Filming & Production - IMDb
  16. ^"Festival de Cannes: We Own the Night".festival-cannes.RetrievedDecember 20,2009.
  17. ^We Own the Night (2007) - IMDb
  18. ^"Two Lovers: James Gray Interview".At the Movies.June 3, 2009. Archived fromthe originalon August 23, 2009.RetrievedAugust 10,2009.
  19. ^Halligan, Fionnuala (May 20, 2013)."Blood Ties – Reviews".Screen International.
  20. ^abKiang, Jessica (December 10, 2012)."Marrakech '12: James Gray Still Hoping To Visit 'Lost City of Z,' Talks 'Blood Ties' & Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic".IndieWire.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  21. ^"2013 Official Selection".Cannes.April 20, 2013.RetrievedApril 20,2013.
  22. ^"James Gray directs the latest Chanel Bleu campaign".Fashion Network.February 2, 2015.
  23. ^"Gaspard Ulliel in a vertigo in the new Bleu De Chanel film".Vogue India.February 5, 2015.
  24. ^"The Lost City of Z" Resuscitates Cinema's Classic Adventure Tale|The New Yorker
  25. ^Lang, Brent (May 12, 2016)."Cannes: James Gray Making Sci-Fi Epic 'Ad Astra'".Variety.Variety Media, LLC.RetrievedJune 24,2017.
  26. ^Pallotta, Frank (September 20, 2019)."'Ad Astra' could be the hit that 20th Century Fox desperately needs ".CNN.RetrievedOctober 21,2019.
  27. ^Ruimy, Jordan (October 18, 2022)."James Gray Finally Admits His Cut of 'Ad Astra' Was" Taken "From Him During The Edit".World of Reel.RetrievedFebruary 3,2023.
  28. ^"Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Strong Join 'Armageddon Time'".October 12, 2021.RetrievedJanuary 15,2022.
  29. ^Davis, Edward (December 5, 2022)."James Gray Says He Turned Down 'Goodwill Hunting' & Explains Why He'd Be Interested In Doing A 'Batman' Film".ThePlaylist.net.RetrievedApril 7,2023.
  30. ^Busch, Anita M. (June 2, 1997)."Gray in talks to helm Fox's Ames pic".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 14,2023.
  31. ^Petrikin, Chris; Fleming, Michael (May 19, 1999)."Pitt, Aniston may be 'Waking Up in Reno'".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  32. ^Lyons, Charles (September 18, 2000)."Gray's papal project".Variety.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  33. ^"Ratner collecting his 'Paycheck'".Variety.RetrievedJuly 19,2021.
  34. ^Green, Willow (August 9, 2006)."James Gray Headed To Alphabet City".Empire.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.
  35. ^Dang, Simon (October 19, 2010)."James Gray Rewriting Charlie Hunnam's Dracula Actioner Script 'Vlad'".ThePlaylist.net.RetrievedSeptember 14,2023.
  36. ^Fleming, Mike Jr (January 14, 2011)."James Gray To Direct 'The Gray Man'".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on April 20, 2021.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
  37. ^Fleming, Mike Jr (August 15, 2011)."Brad Pitt To Star In Regency's 'The Gray Man'".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on April 20, 2021.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
  38. ^Jagernauth, Kevin (April 28, 2011)."Jeremy Renner Developing Steve McQueen Biopic As Star Vehicle, James Gray To Write The Script".ThePlaylist.net.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  39. ^Perez, Rodrigo (October 9, 2013)."James Gray May Direct Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic; Calls 'Lost City Of Z' Epic & Hallucinogenic".IndieWire.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  40. ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 9, 2013)."Warner Bros Sets James Gray For Boston Crime Thriller 'White Devil'".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedJune 5,2023.
  41. ^"Canal Plus Bites Into 'Hard Apple' With James Gray (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.April 8, 2015.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  42. ^"James Gray To Direct MGM's 'I Am Pilgrim' Spy Franchise From Terry Hayes Novel".Deadline Hollywood.April 16, 2018.RetrievedApril 17,2018.
  43. ^Ford, Rebecca (November 22, 2022)."The Vulnerability of James Gray'sArmageddon Time".Vanity Fair.RetrievedJune 14,2023.
  44. ^"James Gray To Write & Direct Drama Series About Norman Mailer".Deadline Hollywood.April 4, 2022.RetrievedSeptember 22,2022.
  45. ^Perez, Rodrigo (October 19, 2022)."James Gray Wants To Do An 'Armageddon Time' Sequel Focusing On Anne Hathway's Character".ThePlaylist.net.RetrievedFebruary 3,2023.
  46. ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 28, 2022)."'Armageddon Time's James Gray To Direct Biopic Of Young John F Kennedy For MadRiver Pictures ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedFebruary 2,2023.
  47. ^Chapman, Wilson (October 28, 2022)."James Gray to Direct John F. Kennedy Biopic".IndieWire.RetrievedFebruary 2,2023.
  48. ^McNary, Dave (October 20, 2015)."JFK World War II Drama 'Mayday 109' in the Works".Variety.RetrievedOctober 29,2023.
  49. ^Franklin, Garth (December 21, 2023)."Bill Skarsgard To Play A Young JFK".Dark Horizons.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
  50. ^Jones, Tamera (November 4, 2022)."'Armageddon Time' Director James Gray on Filming His Own Coming-of-Age Story and Being Honest With His Audience ".Collider.RetrievedDecember 21,2022.
  51. ^Kroll, Justin (March 31, 2023)."James Gray to Direct 'Ezekiel Moss' For Focus Features".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedApril 2,2023.
  52. ^Ruimy, Jordan (February 15, 2024)."James Gray to Direct Sci-Fi Movie 'Summer Frost,' With Zoe Saldana".World of Reel.RetrievedFebruary 19,2024.
  53. ^Heller, Nathan (September 9, 2019)."James Gray's Journey from the Outer Boroughs to Outer Space".The New Yorker.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  54. ^Jagernauth, Kevin (February 16, 2018)."Cinephile Trivia: James Gray Had His Role Cut From 'Love Jones'".ThePlaylist.net.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  55. ^"'Hollywood's James Gray to direct first opera in Paris'".The Jakarta Post.March 26, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 31,2023.
  56. ^"Cannes: James Gray on 'The Immigrant,' Marion Cotillard and Returning to the Fest (Q&A)".The Hollywood Reporter.May 21, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 5,2013.
  57. ^Ruimy, Jordan (December 7, 2022)."S&S Directors' Individual Lists: Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Del Toro, Aster, Eggers, Safdie, Inarritu, Gray, Guadagnino, Bong, Mann… [Final Update]".World of Reel.RetrievedDecember 19,2022.

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