Julian Dennison
Julian Dennison | |
---|---|
![]() Dennison in 2016 | |
Born | Lower Hutt,Wellington,New Zealand | 16 October 2002
Education | Hutt International Boys' School[1] |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2013–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
[edit]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
[edit]Film
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]- ^"Big win for Julian Dennison at the NZ Film Festival Awards".hibs.school.nz.
- ^Barlow, Helen (28 January 2016)."Julian Dennison talks working with Taika Waititi".The New Zealand Herald.Retrieved6 April2016.
- ^"NZ Film Awards: Shopping picks up seven Moas".The New Zealand Herald. 10 December 2013.Retrieved6 April2016.
- ^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.
- ^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.
- ^"Meet Julian Dennison, young star of 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'".Metro US.27 June 2016.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^"Blazed - Drug Driving in Aotearoa | Commercial | NZ On Screen".nzonscreen.NZ On Screen.Retrieved18 May2018.
{{cite web}}
:CS1 maint: others (link) - ^"Ryan Reynolds Reveals Why He Cast Julian Dennison AKA Ricky Baker In Deadpool 2 | MTV".Archived fromthe originalon 18 May 2018.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^"Rave reviews for Deadpool 2's 'fantastic' Julian Dennison".NZ Herald.15 May 2018.ISSN1170-0777.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^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.
- ^Manson, Bess (30 September 2023)."'I'm not a kid anymore': Julian Dennison gets serious in leading roles ".The Post.Retrieved30 November2023.
- ^"Credits | Chronesthesia".NZ On Screen.Retrieved18 May2018.
- ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (24 January 2024)."How To Train Your DragonLive-Action Pic Expands Cast ".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved24 January2024.
External links
[edit]Media related toJulian Dennisonat Wikimedia Commons
- Julian DennisononFacebook
- Julian DennisonatIMDb
- Julian DennisonatNZ on Screen