Lee Toland Krieger

Early life

Krieger was born and raised in Los Angeles. He became "hooked" on filmmaking at the age of 13 when his neighbor, film producer Steve Perry, brought him to the set of the 1996 film Executive Decision. Krieger later interned for Perry during high school, and in college he worked for Neil LaBute and his producing partner Gail Mutrux. He graduated from the University of Southern California's School of Cinema and Television in 2005.

Career

Krieger founded a production company, Autumn Entertainment, in 2004, under which his first project was December Ends, a feature film shot on a US$75,000 budget. The film premiered at the 2006 Method Fest, two years after it was shot,

In 2009, Krieger wrote and directed The Vicious Kind, which premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and earned him numerous accolades including the Emerging Filmmaker Award at the Denver Film Festival and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Screenplay. He was later asked by producer Jennifer Todd to direct Celeste and Jesse Forever, based on a script written by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack, which would also premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012. After the success of Celeste and Jesse Forever, he received offers to direct similar scripts, but turned them down in lieu of writing his own material for future projects.

He has also directed many commercials with clients such as Joseph Abboud and AG Jeans, and music videos for Universal Music Group and the Island Def Jam Music Group.

He directed The Age of Adaline, starring Blake Lively and Michiel Huisman. Production started in March 2014, and the film was released in April 2015.

In September 19, 2012, Lionsgate acquired the rights to the script Vanish Man written by Denison Hatch. Later in February 2015, Krieger was set to rewrite and direct the film, which 21 Laps Entertainment would produce.

On February 29, 2016, it was announced that Krieger would direct The Divergent Series: Ascendant, the final film in The Divergent Series. On July 20, 2016, it was announced that the project was put on hold due to Lionsgate's decision to release the final film as a TV movie, mainly because of the third film in the series, Allegiant, underperforming. In December 2018, it was announced that the television movie has been cancelled due to the lack of interest of the cast and network executives.

In August 2022, it was announced that Krieger would executive produce and direct episodes of the show Dead Boy Detectives for Netflix.

In July 2025, after an absence of ten years, it was announced that Krieger will direct the romantic comedy film, Just Picture It, with Millie Bobby Brown and Gabriel LaBelle.

Personal life

Krieger currently lives in Los Angeles. He is the grandson of actor Lee Krieger.

Filmography

Film

Short film

Television

References

References

1. Weiss, Keely. (August 2, 2012). "A Conversation With "Celeste and Jesse Forever" Director Lee Toland Krieger". [[University of Southern California]].
2. Kaufman, Anthony. (July 21, 2012). "'Forever' director wants to write". [[Variety (magazine).
3. (August 4, 2012). "Exclusive: Director Lee Toland Krieger Talks Celeste and Jesse Forever, More". ShockYa.com.
4. (July 26, 2012). "Celeste and Jesse Forever". [[University of Southern California]].
5. Picarella, Michael. (March 23, 2006). "Local director to debut film at Method Fest". The Acorn.
6. (April 8, 2006). ""December Ends" and "Dreamland" Among Type Prize Recipients at Method Fest". [[IndieWire]].
7. Fleming, Mike. (October 16, 2013). "Blake Lively, Ellen Burstyn Set To Star In 'The Age Of Adaline'". [[PMC (company).
8. (September 19, 2012). "Lionsgate nabs assistant's spec 'Vanish Man'". variety.com.
9. (February 10, 2015). "'Age Of Adaline's Lee Toland Krieger To Helm 'Vanish Man' For Lionsgate, 21 Laps".
10. (February 29, 2016). "Ascendant Lands Age of Adaline's Lee Toland Krieger to Direct Divergent Finale".
11. (July 20, 2016). "'Divergent' Finale to Skip Theaters, Launch as a TV Movie and Spinoff Series (EXCLUSIVE)".
12. (December 21, 2018). "Ascendant: Starz No Longer Developing TV Show to Wrap Up Divergent Movie Series".
13. Bradley. "'Dead Boy Detectives' Moving Forward at HBO Max, Filming Schedule Confirmed".
14. Kit, Borys. (July 16, 2025). "Millie Bobby Brown, Gabriel LaBelle to Star in Netflix Romantic Comedy 'Just Picture It' (Exclusive)".