William Brent Bell

Life and career

Bell was born in Lexington, Kentucky. Along with writing partner Matthew Peterman, Bell sold screenplay Mercury to Universal Studios with Gale Anne Hurd producing. Bell and Peterman set up studio projects such as Ignition at Warner Bros. with Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn producing and Illusion at Walt Disney Pictures. The duo created several one-hour TV series including Eye to Eye with Warner Bros. Television and McG, Worthy and McGraw with ABC Television and Tim Minear as well as The Fix with Sarah Timberman and Sony Television. They also developed a number of videogames including Master Thief, with John Woo.

Bell's first horror project was as co-writer and director of Stay Alive, produced with McG and Peter Schlessel and financed by Spyglass Entertainment. Stay Alive was distributed domestically by Buena Vista Pictures and internationally by Universal Pictures. His second horror film was The Devil Inside, co-written and produced by Peterman and Morris Paulson. The film stars Fernanda Andrade, Simon Quarterman, Evan Helmuth, and Suzan Crowley, and was released by Paramount Pictures. The film topped the US box office on its opening weekend, becoming a record-breaking commercial success and grossing over $100 million.

In 2013, Bell shot his third horror film, Wer which was released by Focus Features. Nav Qateel of Influx Magazine called Wer, "the best Werewolf film I've seen in years, or perhaps, ever." Epic Horror Review wrote, "Wer not only redefines the werewolf movie but also saves it." Wer would go on to be described by horrornews.net as, "One of the best films I've seen so far this year and a must to watch." and "a film that you want to not only watch but add to your collection" by wickedchannel.com

In 2014, Bell sold his pilot Posthuman to USA Network and Universal Cable Productions with Jason Blum producing. In 2015, Bell set up a series at Fox entitled Haunted with Chris Morgan of the Fast & Furious franchise. This 20th Century Fox Television production was loosely based on The Demon of Brownsville Road: A Pittsburgh Family's Battle with Evil.

In 2015, Bell would direct The Boy, which Tom Rosenberg and Gary Lucchesi produced through Lakeshore Entertainment with Roy Lee. The script was written by Stacey Menear and starred Lauren Cohan, Jim Norton, Diana Hardcastle, Ben Robson, Rupert Evans, and James Russell. STX Entertainment released The Boy on January 22, 2016, and it went on to gross a worldwide total of $77 million, against a budget of just $8 million. Chris Alexander of ShockTilYouDrop called it "one of the best contemporary wide release horror movies I've seen in years." Joe Leydon criticized the story line as average in Variety and commented, "Despite game efforts by the cast, this tepid horror opus is never scary enough to overcome its silly premise." In 2017, GQ Magazine called the film, "the most underrated horror movie of 2016."

In 2019 Bell directed the sequel Brahms: The Boy II, starring Katie Holmes, Ralph Ineson, Christopher Convery and Owain Yeoman. It was written by Stacey Menear and released in 2020. Later that year, Bell directed and produced Separation based on a screenplay by Nick Amadeus and Josh Braun, starring Rupert Friend, Violet McGraw, Mamie Gummer, Madeline Brewer and Brian Cox. In March 2021, Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment released the film.

In 2021, Bell directed Orphan: First Kill from a screenplay by David Coggeshall, a prequel to the 2009 film Orphan. David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick served as executive producer. Isabelle Fuhrman reprises her role as Esther, with Julia Stiles also starring. Paramount Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, Orphan: First Kill was released on August 19, by Paramount Players in select theatres, digital, and streaming via Paramount+. , the $8 million Orphan: First Kill has grossed a total of $44.5 million worldwide. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 72% based on 137 reviews

In 2023, Bell produced and directed Lord of Misrule, a folk horror film starring Tuppence Middleton, Ralph Ineson, Evie Templeton, and Matt Stokoe. Lord of Misrule was released by Magnolia Pictures and Magnet Releasing in select theatres, digital, and streaming via Hulu in 2024. The film currently holds an approval rating of 63% with an audience rating of 80% on Rotten Tomatoes Lord of Misrule was included on the Hollywood Reporter list of "Best Horror Films of 2023."

Bell's latest film is Orphans, the prequel to Orphan: First Kill, for Dark Castle. Orphans will be released in 2026 domestically by Paramount Pictures via Republic Pictures and internationally by Lionsgate.

Filmography

References

References

1. "'Mercury' Rises For Valhalla, Digital Domain".
2. (March 2016)
3. "William Brent Bell". Hollywood.com.
4. Heath, Paul. (July 28, 2015). "What are the most profitable films of the last 5 years?". The Hollywood News.
5. (October 19, 2009). "'Stay Alive' Duo Reteam for Doc-Style 'The Devil Inside'". BloodyDisgusting.
6. Qateel, Nav. "Influx Magazine Wer Review". influxmagazine.com.
7. (May 31, 2014). "Epic Horror Review Wer". epichorrorblog.blogspot.com.
8. (June 26, 2015). "Film Review: Wer (2014)". horrornews.net.
9. (May 5, 2014). "Horror Review: Wer".
10. Andreeva, Nellie. (November 19, 2015). "'Haunted' Horror Drama Produced By Chris Morgan In Works At Fox". Deadline.
11. "The Boy 2016 Re-release". boxofficemojo.com.
12. Alexander, Chris. (January 23, 2016). "The Boy is an Atmospheric, Wildly Gothic Gem". shocktilyoudrop.com.
13. Leydon, Joe. (January 22, 2016). "'The Boy' Review: A Tepid Horror Movie". Variety.com.
14. Phillip, Tom. (May 31, 2017). "This Week, Watch The Most Underrated Horror Movie of 2016". gq.com.
15. Fleming, Mike Jr.. (March 1, 2021). "Open Road & Briarcliff Land 'Separation', Set April Wide Release For William Brent Bell-Helmed Horror Film With Brian Cox & Rupert Friend".
16. Kit, Borys. (September 9, 2021). "Paramount Picks Up Horror Thriller 'Orphan: First Kill' From eOne, Dark Castle (Exclusive)".
17. "Orphan: First Kill (2022)".
18. "Orphan: First Kill (2022)".
19. (October 25, 2021). "Tuppence Middleton & Ralph Ineson Set For Folk Horror 'Lord Of Misrule' From 'The Boy' Director William Brent Bell; Filming Underway In UK".
20. "Lord of Misrule (2023)".
21. Newby, Richard. (December 21, 2023). "The Best Horror Movies of 2023". hollywoodreporter.com.