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Julian Dennison

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Julian Dennison
Dennison in 2016
Born(2002-10-16)16 October 2002(age 21)
Lower Hutt,Wellington,New Zealand
EducationHutt International Boys' School[1]
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present

Julian Dennison(born 16 October 2002) is a New Zealand actor. He starred in the 2013 filmShopping,for which he won the English Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.[2][3]He is known for his roles as Ricky Baker inHunt for the Wilderpeople(2016), the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history, asRussell "Firefist" CollinsinDeadpool 2(2018), and as Belsnickel inThe Christmas Chronicles 2.He also played Josh Valentine inGodzilla vs. Kong[4]in 2021 and had a leading role in the filmUproar(2023).[5]

Life and career

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Dennison was born and raised inLower Hutt,New Zealand.He is the third of a family of four children, and has a twin brother named Christian. Julian is ofMāoridescent and is a member of theNgāti Hauāiwi(tribe), part of theTainuitribal confederation. He attended Naenae Primary School, where he first auditioned, and got his first part in the 2013 filmShopping,[6]He was then cast in the Australian filmPaper Planes(2015). He later attendedHutt International Boys' SchoolinUpper Hutt.

Dennison continued with acting and was given a role in an advertisement for theNZ Transport Agencyto discourage driving under the influence of drugs. Thepublic service announcement,which became an internet sensation in New Zealand and Australia,[7]was directed byTaika Waititi,who later asked Dennison to star in his filmHunt for the Wilderpeople(2016) without the need to audition. The film went on to become New Zealand's highest-grossing film to date, and was critically acclaimed.

Dennison playedRussell Collins / Firefistin the 2018 filmDeadpool 2.He was cast because of hisWilderpeopleperformance, and the friendship of Waititi withDeadpool's filmmakers.[8][9]In 2020, Dennison co-starred inThe Christmas Chronicles 2,portrayingBelsnickeland also voicing his elf form, and in 2021, he had a large supporting role in the monster sequelGodzilla vs. Kong.[4]In 2023, he was cast in theA24filmY2K.[10]

Dennison played the main role in the filmUproarin 2023. His performance was praised byThe Age,for its "admirable restraint".[5]In an interview forThe Post,Dennison stated that his lead role inUproarwas when "I felt like I was finding my voice."[11] In January 2024, Dennison was announced to play Fishlegs Ingerman in thelive-action remakeofHow to Train Your Dragon.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Shopping Solomon
2015 Paper Planes Kevin
2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ricky Baker
Chronesthesia[12] Beni a.k.a.Love and Time Travel
2018 Deadpool 2 Russell Collins / Firefist
2020 The Christmas Chronicles 2 Belsnickel
2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Josh Valentine
2023 Uproar Josh Waaka
2024 Y2K Danny
2025 How to Train Your Dragon Fishlegs Ingerman Filming[13]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2016 Funny Girls Himself
2019–present The Strange Chores Pierce (voice) Season One only
2024 Star Wars: The Bad Batch Deke, Stak Episode: "Paths Unknown"

References

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  1. ^"Big win for Julian Dennison at the NZ Film Festival Awards".hibs.school.nz.
  2. ^Barlow, Helen (28 January 2016)."Julian Dennison talks working with Taika Waititi".The New Zealand Herald.Retrieved6 April2016.
  3. ^"NZ Film Awards: Shopping picks up seven Moas".The New Zealand Herald. 10 December 2013.Retrieved6 April2016.
  4. ^abMurphy, Charles (1 June 2018)."Exclusive: 'Deadpool 2's' Julian Dennison Joins 'Godzilla vs. Kong'".That Hashtag Show.Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2018.Retrieved1 June2018.
  5. ^abBailey, John (27 November 2023)."The child star who reached a career high, stayed grounded and kept on going".The Age.Archived fromthe originalon 27 November 2023.Retrieved30 November2023.
  6. ^"Meet Julian Dennison, young star of 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'".Metro US.27 June 2016.Retrieved18 May2018.
  7. ^"Blazed - Drug Driving in Aotearoa | Commercial | NZ On Screen".nzonscreen.NZ On Screen.Retrieved18 May2018.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ^"Ryan Reynolds Reveals Why He Cast Julian Dennison AKA Ricky Baker In Deadpool 2 | MTV".Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2018.Retrieved18 May2018.
  9. ^"Rave reviews for Deadpool 2's 'fantastic' Julian Dennison".NZ Herald.15 May 2018.ISSN1170-0777.Retrieved18 May2018.
  10. ^Grobar, Matt (23 March 2023)."A24 Sets Disaster ComedyY2K,To Be Directed BySNLAlum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved23 March2023.
  11. ^Manson, Bess (30 September 2023)."'I'm not a kid anymore': Julian Dennison gets serious in leading roles ".The Post.Retrieved30 November2023.
  12. ^"Credits | Chronesthesia".NZ On Screen.Retrieved18 May2018.
  13. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (24 January 2024)."How To Train Your DragonLive-Action Pic Expands Cast ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved24 January2024.
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