Adam Wingard

Early life

Wingard was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and graduated from Full Sail University in 2002.

Career

His first feature, the horror comedy Home Sick, starring Bill Moseley and Tiffany Shepis, was a stepping stone to his second feature, the psychotropic ghost story horror film Pop Skull. Made on a total budget of $2,000, Pop Skull had its international premiere at the Rome Film Festival and its domestic premiere at the AFI Film Festival in 2007. A Horrible Way to Die (2010) and What Fun We Were Having (2011) that followed.

The romantic horror film A Horrible Way to Die premiered at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival in the Vanguard section and was acquired by Starz/Anchor Bay at the festival for a North American theatrical and home media release. What Fun We Were Having: 4 Stories About Date Rape is a 4-part anthology that had its premiere at the 2011 Fantastia Film Festival in Montreal, Canada where Wingard was honored by the festival with his own sidebar section: “Medicated Monsters – A Spotlight on Filmmaker Adam Wingard”.

In 2011, Wingard co-directed Autoerotic with the actor and filmmaker Joe Swanberg. He was selected to direct one chapter of The ABCs of Death, a 26-chapter horror comedy anthology for Drafthouse Films and Magnet. A solo directorial effort, You're Next, a home invasion slasher, premiered at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival as part of the ‘Midnight Madness’ section. The film was acquired by Lionsgate and received a wide release in August 2013 to favorable reviews.

In 2013, Wingard offered the project Peter Jackson, director of the 2005 remake of King Kong and he had been interested in producing a sequel to the film, titled Skull Island, with Wingard as director and Simon Barrett writing it. Jackson had been impressed with Wingard's work in You're Next, and investigated a potential sequel. However, Universal Pictures rights abandoned due to acquired film rights to Warner Bros, which complicated a sequel to an unproduced movie. Wingard pivoted to offering a modern-day sequel, but ultimately nothing came of the proposal.

In 2014, Wingard directed The Guest starring Dan Stevens, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival and Fantastic Fest, receiving wide critical acclaim upon its wider theatrical release in mid-September. Wingard directed the found-footage horror film Blair Witch, based on a script by Simon Barrett. The film is a sequel to the 1999 The Blair Witch Project and received mixed reviews.

In 2015, Wingard signed on to direct a live action American film adaptation of Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata's popular horror crime-thriller manga series Death Note. The neo-noir dark fantasy horror-thriller was released on Netflix on August 25, 2017, to a mixed reception, with criticism aimed at the number of changes from the source material, rushed plot, shallow execution, writing and the pacing while praise was aimed at the visual style, direction, performances of the cast, soundtrack and the dark, macabre sense of humour, along with the attempted unique and distinctive take on the Death Note mythos. Despite the mixed response, the film was considered a sizable enough success for Netflix to develop a sequel in 2018 with Greg Russo writing the script. No word has been made on whether Wingard is set to return as director.

In May 2017, Wingard was announced as the director for Godzilla vs. Kong, which was released in March 2021. In February 2021, it was announced that Wingard would direct and co-write, with Simon Barrett, a sequel to Face/Off. In March 2021, Wingard was announced as the director of ThunderCats, also co-writing it with Barrett. In May 2021, it was announced that Wingard would direct an adaptation of the comic Hardcore by Robert Kirkman. Wingard will also write the screenplay with Will Simmons from a story by Kirkman.

In April 2021, The Hollywood Reporter stated that Legendary was "quietly taking steps" to stretch the MonsterVerse into "one or more installments," while negotiating with Wingard to potentially return to direct. Various ideas were being considered, with Son of Kong being one potential title. In May 2022, it was reported that Wingard would return to direct a sequel to Godzilla vs. Kong, entitled Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Wingard is set to direct an action thriller film entitled Onslaught, which began filming in autumn 2024 and wrapped in early 2025.

Awards and nominations

Wingard's film Pop Skull won the Best Feature Film award at the Indianapolis International Film Festival and the Jury award at the Boston Underground Film Festival. Wingard's A Horrible Way to Die won Best Screenplay (Simon Barrett), Best Actor (A.J. Bowen) and Best Actress (Amy Seimetz) at the 2010 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas. Wingard's You're Next won Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay (Simon Barrett), and Best Actress (Sharni Vinson) at the 2011 Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas.

Filmography

Film

Director

Director of photography

• Blackmail Boys (2010)
• Caitlin Plays Herself (2011)
• Art History (2011)
• The Zone (2011)
• Marriage Material (2012)

Editor

• The Last Survivors (2014)

Acting roles

Television

Short films

References

References

1. Walters, Mark. (2013-08-23). "YOU'RE NEXT interview with director Adam Wingard at South by Southwest 2013". bigfanboy.
2. Champane, Jimmy. (2016-07-26). "SDCC2016 - Blair Witch Interview with Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett". Bloody Disgusting.
3. (2014). "Adam Wingard". [[The New York Times]].
4. (August 26, 2008). "Home Sick Comes Home Today!". Dreadcentral.com.
5. (February 4, 2015). "'Guest' Director Adam Wingard Goes Back to Horror with 'The Woods' (Exclusive)".
6. Pearson, Ben. (2021). "'Godzilla vs. Kong' Director Adam Wingard Was Once Hand-Picked By Peter Jackson to Make a Sequel to 2005's 'King Kong'".
7. Kaye, Don. (2021). "Godzilla vs. Kong Director Almost Made a Sequel to Peter Jackson's King Kong".
8. (February 5, 2015). "Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett Take a Trip into The Woods - Dread Central".
9. (February 5, 2015). "Adam Wingard Heads Into 'The Woods' - Bloody Disgusting".
10. [https://www.slashfilm.com/adam-wingard-death-note/ Adam Wingard to Direct ‘Death Note’]. [[/Film]], April 28, 2015.
11. (August 22, 2018). "When Will Netflix Movies Finally Be Ready for Their Close-Up?".
12. Kit, Borys. (June 12, 2020). "'Godzilla vs. Kong' Shifts to 2021; 'Matrix 4' Moves Nearly a Year to 2022". Hollywood Reporter.
13. Mike Fleming Jr.. (February 11, 2021). "'Face/Off' Facelift To Be Delivered By 'Godzilla Vs Kong' Director Adam Wingard At Paramount". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
14. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (2021-03-29). "'Godzilla Vs. Kong' Director Adam Wingard To Helm 'ThunderCats' Movie For Warner Bros".
15. Donnelly, Matt. (2021-05-24). "'Godzilla vs. Kong' Filmmaker Adam Wingard to Direct Comic Adaptation 'Hardcore' at Universal".
16. Borys Kit. (April 27, 2021). "'Godzilla vs. Kong' Director Adam Wingard In Talks for Legendary's Next MonsterVerse Film (Exclusive)". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
17. (May 12, 2022). "''Godzilla vs. Kong 2'': Dan Stevens Reunites With ''The Guest'' Director Adam Wingard On Legendary Sequel". [[Penske Media Corporation]].
18. Kroll, Justin. (2024-05-02). "A24 Lands Hot Package 'Onslaught' From 'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' Director Adam Wingard".
19. (September 15, 2008). "Review of Adam Wingard's brilliant POP SKULL". Quietearth.com.
20. Brown, Todd. (December 9, 2007). "News: Adam Wingard Convinces Me I've Wasted My Life. Trailer And Stills From POP SKULL". Twitchfilm.com.
21. Koehler, Robert. (November 21, 2007). "Variety Reviews – Pop Skull – Film Reviews – AFI".
22. "indyfilmfest". Indianapolis International Film Festival.
23. Everleth, Mike. (March 28, 2008). "2008 Boston Underground Film Festival: Award Winners". Underground Film Journal.
24. "FANTASTIC FEST 2011 ANNOUNCES THE FANTASTIC FEST AWARDS". Fantastic Fest.
25. "FANTASTIC FEST 2010 ANNOUNCES THE FANTASTIC FEST AWARDS". Fantastic Fest.