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Alex Proyas

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Alex Proyas
Proyas in 2011
Born
Alexander Proyas

(1963-09-23) 23 September 1963 (age 61)
Alexandria, United Arab Republic
Occupations
  • Film director
  • producer
  • screenwriter
Years active1980–present
SpouseCatherine Linsley

Alexander Proyas (/ˈprɔɪəs/ PROY-əs; born 23 September 1963) is an Australian film director. He is known for directing the films The Crow (1994), Dark City (1998), I, Robot (2004) and Knowing (2009).

Early life

[edit]

Alexander Proyas was born in Alexandria (then in the United Arab Republic and now in Egypt) on 23 September 1963, the son of a Greek Cypriot mother and a father from Egypt whose Greek ancestors had moved to Egypt many generations ago.[1]

When he was three years old, the family moved to Australia, where he grew up in the Sydney suburb of Waterloo.[2] He grew up on a housing estate where the main tenants were fellow immigrants and Indigenous Australians, with whom he felt a kinship because they were all often subjected to racism by white Australians.[1]

At age 17, he joined the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and began directing music videos shortly after.[2]

He later moved to Los Angeles to further his career, working on MTV music videos and TV commercials.[2][3]

Career

[edit]

Proyas' first feature film was the independent science fiction thriller Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds, which was nominated for two Australian Film Institute awards in 1988, for costume design and production design[4] and which won a Special Prize at the 1990 Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival.[5]

Next, Proyas directed the 1994 superhero fantasy thriller The Crow starring Brandon Lee. Lee was killed in an accident during filming, only eight days before the completion of the film on 31 March 1993. After Lee's death, Proyas and his producers decided to complete the film, partially rewriting the script and using a stunt double and special effects to film the remaining scenes.[6] The Crow was released in May 1994 and was a box office and critical success.[7]

Proyas then wrote, directed and produced the 1998 science fiction thriller Dark City, which received positive critical reception and won several awards[8] but was a commercial disappointment. In 2004, he directed I, Robot starring Will Smith, a science fiction film suggested by[9] the Isaac Asimov short story compilation I, Robot and was a box office success despite mixed reviews.

Proyas' next film, the thriller Knowing starring Nicolas Cage, began production in Melbourne in March 2008 and opened in North America in March 2009.[10]

Proyas directed Gods of Egypt, starring Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and co-written by Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless. The film was critically panned upon its release in 2016[11] and bombed at the box office.

In 2019, Proyas founded a production company in Sydney called The Heretic Foundation.

In 2021, Proyas announced that he was developing a new video platform named VidiVerse for independent filmmakers as an alternative to YouTube.[3]

In 2024, Proyas began filming R.U.R. a musical adaptation of the play of the same name by Karel Čapek.[12][13]

Unrealized projects

[edit]

• Casper the Friendly Ghost film - Proyas was initially attached to direct a film adaptation of Casper the Friendly Ghost, but on November 28, 1993, Proyas left the film to finish The Crow after Brandon Lee was fatally shot.[14] On October 26, 2008, Proyas admitted that the screenplay was rewritten not to his liking.[15] The film was ultimately directed by Brad Silberling.[16][17]

• The Masque of the Red Death film - On May 7, 1999, it was announced that Proyas would direct a medieval fantasy film adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s story The Masque of the Red Death, with Proyas and Stuart Hazeldine writing a Dirty Dozen-esqe screenplay[18] and producing with Julie Corman and Andrew Mason for Fox 2000.[19]

• Rizen - On May 7, 1999, it was announced that Proyas would direct Rizen, a horror-thriller written by Proyas and Stuart Hazeldine for Universal Pictures.[19] It is unknown if Proyas revised the script to Sister Darkness.[20]

• Untitled time-travel film - On August 24, 1999, it was announced that Proyas would produce and direct a time-travel film based on a pitch he and Jerrold E. Brown came up with for 20th Century Fox, with Brown writing the screenplay after Proyas was impressed by Brown's draft for a comedic Lobo movie.[21]

• Enoch's Portal film - On June 2, 2000, it was announced that Proyas would write and direct the film adaptation of Andy Hill's suspense novel Enoch's Portal for Sean Daniel’s Alphaville Productions.[22]

• Berserker film - On December 11, 2000, it was announced that Proyas would direct a film based on Fred Saberhagen's Berserker series with Jesse Alexander writing the script and New Line Cinema producing the film.[23]

• Drive - On October 18, 2001, it was announced that Proyas would direct and produce a film based on Harlan Ellison's short story Along the Scenic Route entitled Drive with Cyrus Vorris and Ethan Reiff writing the script and Paramount Pictures producing the film.[24]

• Jurassic Park 4 -

Main article: Production of Jurassic World § Development

• Dracula Untold (fka Dracula: Year Zero) - On July 10, 2007, it was announced that Proyas would direct Dracula Year Zero for Universal Pictures, with Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless writing the screenplay.[25] On February 10, 2012, it was reported that Gary Shore would be taking over the film, as Proyas and prospective star Sam Worthington had been let go from the project due to its high budget.[26] The film was eventually retitled Dracula Untold and released in theatres October 10, 2014.[27]

• The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag film - On August 22, 2008, Proyas was set to write and direct the film adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s novella The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag and produce along with Phoenix Pictures.[28] On April 10, 2012, Red Granite Pictures and James Vanderbilt’s Mythology Entertainment were set to produce Proyas' feature film adaptation with Phoenix Pictures.[29]

• The Tripods film franchise - On January 29, 2009, it was announced that Proyas would direct and co-write with Stuart Hazeldine the film adaptation of John Christopher’s The Tripods starting with The White Mountain.[30][31]

• Paradise Lost film - On September 16, 2010, Proyas was set to direct a 3-D film adaptation of John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost for Legendary Entertainment,[32] with Bradley Cooper cast as Lucifer,[33] Benjamin Walker as Michael,[34] Djimon Hounsou as Abdiel,[35] Casey Affleck as Gabriel,[36] Dominic Purcell as Satan,[37] Diego Boneta as Adam,[38] Rufus Sewell as Sammael, Camilla Belle as Eve,[39] Sam Reid as Raphael,[40] and Callan McAuliffe as Uriel.[41] On December 7, 2011, production was halted,[42] and on February 9, 2012, Legendary officially scrapped the film.[43]

• Amped film - On December 1, 2010, Proyas was set to produce and possibly direct the film adaptation of Daniel H. Wilson’s sci-fi thriller novel Amped for Summit Entertainment,[44] and on March 18, 2011, Proyas was confirmed to direct the film adaptation.[45]

• Joe Golem and the Drowning City film - On July 11, 2012, Proyas was set to write and direct the film adaptation of Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden’s comic book Joe Golem and the Drowning City for Constantin Film.[46]

• Evolve TV series - On November 1, 2012, Proyas was set to direct and executive produce Evolve, a crime drama series about a biotoxin threat written by Jamie Paglia and produce for ABC, but the series was ultimately never picked up.[47]

• A New Country - On February 17, 2020, Proyas revealed that he was making A New Country, a sci-fi movie starring Guy Pearce, but it likely fell through during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.[48]

• Dark City TV series - On August 12, 2021, Proyas revealed that he was making a television series of his movie Dark City.[49]

• The Killer's Game - On August 8, 2004, Proyas was one of many directors offered to direct a film adaptation of Jay Bonansinga's novel The Killer's Game, but J. J. Perry ended up directing the feature film adaptation instead.[50]

• Foundation - On January 16, 2009, Proyas was offered to direct a film adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation book series in a rights auction for Warner Bros. Pictures, but Roland Emmerich and Columbia Pictures acquired the rights instead,[51] which lapsed and eventually became a television series on Apple TV+.[52]

• A Nightmare on Elm Street sequel - On February 14, 2021, Proyas revealed on Indie Film Hustle that he was offered to direct a sequel to A Nightmare on Elm Street, but turned it down.[53]

Personal life

[edit]

Proyas has long been married to artist Catherine "Cathy" Linsley, who worked in the art department for his first feature film Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds. She has also worked in various capacities on short films and animations produced or written by Proyas. She was thanked in the credits of his film Knowing.[54]

Filmography

[edit]

Feature film

[edit]
Year Title Director Producer Writer
1989 Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds Yes Yes Yes
1994 The Crow Yes No No
1998 Dark City Yes Yes Yes
2002 Garage Days Yes Yes Yes
2004 I, Robot Yes No No
2009 Knowing Yes Yes No
2016 Gods of Egypt Yes Yes No
TBA R.U.R. Yes Yes Yes

Short film

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Notes
1980 Neon Yes No Co-directed with Salik Silverstein
Groping Yes No Co-directed with Salik Silverstein; also cinematographer
1981 Strange Residues Yes No Also editor
1987 Spineless Yes No Also actor
1994 Book of Dreams: Welcome to Crateland Yes Yes Also cinematographer
1995 Book of Dreams: Dream 7 – Ruben's Dream Yes Yes
2019 Phobos Yes Yes
2021 Mask of the Evil Apparition Yes Yes Set in the Dark City cinematic universe

Music video

[edit]
Year Title Artist
1980 "Ricky's Hand" Fad Gadget
1983 "Flicker" Fetus Productions
1985 "In Your Eyes" Dropbears
1986 "Kiss the Dirt" INXS
"Don't Dream It's Over" Crowded House
1987 "Holiday" The Other Ones
"Rhythm of Love" Yes
1988 "Better Be Home Soon" Crowded House
"Magic Touch" Mike Oldfield
1989 "Bring Down the Moon" Boy Meets Girl
"Nineteen Forever" Joe Jackson
"Mysteries of Love" Alphaville
1994 "When We Dance" Sting

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
1987 ARIA Music Awards Best Video "Don't Dream It's Over" Won [55]
"Kiss the Dirt" Nominated
1994 Cannes Film Festival Short Film Palme d'Or Book of Dreams: Welcome to Crateland Nominated
Saturn Awards Best Director The Crow Nominated
1998 Imagine Film Festival Silver Scream Award Dark City Won
Bram Stoker Award Best Screenplay Won
Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival Pegasus Audience Award Won [56]
Saturn Awards Best Science Fiction Film Won
Best Director Nominated
Best Writing Nominated
2016 Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Picture Gods of Egypt Nominated
Worst Director Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Kapetopoulos, Fotis (17 February 2020). "Alex Proyas: Looking for a new country in filmmaking". Neos Kosmos. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Lancaster, Kurt; Thomas J. Mikotowicz (2001). Performing the Force: Essays on Immersion into Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Environments. McFarland & Company. p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7864-0895-5.
  3. ^ a b Diana Ringo (25 August 2021). "Interview with Alex Proyas". Indie Cinema Magazine.
  4. ^ "Awards for Spirits of the Air, Gremlins of the Clouds". IMDb. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  5. ^ "Yubari International Fantastic Adventure Film Festival '90". yubarifanta.com. Archived from the original on 7 April 2004. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  6. ^ Ascher-Walsh, Rebecca (13 May 1994). "How Crow Flew". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  7. ^ "The Crow (1994)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  8. ^ "Awards for Dark City". IMDb. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  9. ^ "Full Cast and Crew for I, Robot". IMDb. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  10. ^ Fleming, Michael (10 December 2007). "Cage to star in Proyas' 'Knowing'". Variety. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
  11. ^ "Alex Pyoyas' epic fantasy film project Gods of Egypt". geektyrant.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  12. ^ Proyas, Alex. "RUR day 1". Instagram.
  13. ^ "R.U.R". MoJo Global Arts.
  14. ^ Variety Staff (28 November 1993). "Proyas vanishes from 'Casper' pic". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  15. ^ Khoury, Jorge (26 October 2008). "Talking with Director Alex Proyas". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 16 January 2025. There was a script, but it was one of those situations where things were rewritten at much too late a stage in the whole process.
  16. ^ O'Steen, Kathleen (29 November 1993). "'Casper' taps Silberling". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  17. ^ Ojumu, Akin (16 February 2003). "The family that grieves together..." The Observer. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  18. ^ "Alex Proyas Livestream with special guest UK writer/director Stuart Hazeldine". YouTube. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  19. ^ a b Fleming, Michael (7 May 1999). "Proyas, Hazeldine on Poe tale". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  20. ^ Ritman, Alex (20 May 2022). "'The Crow' Director Alex Proyas Prepping $35M Horror-Thriller 'Sister Darkness'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  21. ^ Petrikin, Chris (24 August 1999). "Fox to time travel with Proyas, Brown". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  22. ^ Variety Staff (2 June 2000). "Proyas preps suspense pic 'Portal'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  23. ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (8 September 2002). "Columbia catches a code". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  24. ^ Claude Brodesser; Cathy Dunkley (18 October 2001). "Scribes take wheel on Par's 'Drive'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  25. ^ Garrett, Diane (10 July 2007). "Proyas to direct Universal's 'Dracula'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  26. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (10 February 2012). "Universal Revives 'Dracula Year Zero' With Director Gary Shore". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  27. ^ "'Dracula Untold' Gets An Extra Week Of Bite Time In Theaters". Deadline Hollywood. 3 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 January 2025. Retrieved 16 January 2025. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 4 September 2014 suggested (help)
  28. ^ Hewitt, Chris (22 August 2008). "Alex Proyas To Adapt Heinlein Novella". Empire. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  29. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (10 April 2012). "Alex Proyas Tackles Robert Heinlein's 'The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  30. ^ Tenney, Brandon (29 January 2009). "Alex Proyas Moving Forward with Dracula Year Zero and The Tripods". FirstShowing.net. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  31. ^ Reynolds, Simon (9 October 2009). "Stuart Hazeldine gives 'Tripods' update". Digital Spy. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  32. ^ Snieder, Jeff (16 September 2010). "Alex Proyas to Direct 'Paradise Lost' for Legendary Pictures". The Wrap. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  33. ^ Graser, Marc; Sneider, Jeff (4 May 2011). "Bradley Cooper in talks for 'Paradise Lost'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  34. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (3 August 2011). "Alex Proyas Setting Benjamin Walker To Play Archangel Michael In 'Paradise Lost'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  35. ^ Chitwood, Adam (28 August 2011). "Djimon Hounsou is the Angel of Death in PARADISE LOST Opposite Bradley Cooper, Tom Wilkinson Joins LITTLE BOY". Collider. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  36. ^ Jeff Sneider; Justin Kroll (22 September 2011). "Casey Affleck is Gabriel in 'Paradise Lost'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  37. ^ Fernadaz, Jay (7 October 2011). "Dominic Purcell Joins Satan in 'Paradise Lost' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  38. ^ Chitwood, Adam (10 October 2011). "Diego Boneta in Talks to Play Adam in Alex Proyas' PARADISE LOST". Collider. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  39. ^ Chitwood, Adam (7 November 2011). "Casting Call: Rufus Sewell Joins PARADISE LOST; Keira Knightley in Talks to Star as Effie Gray in UNTOUCHED". Collider. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  40. ^ Bettinger, Brendan (22 October 2011). "Tyler Perry Casts Kim Kardashian in THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR; Sam Reid Joins PARADISE LOST". Collider. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  41. ^ Radish, Christina (28 November 2011). "Callan McAuliffe Talks THE GREAT GATSBY and PARADISE LOST". Collider. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  42. ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (12 December 2011). "STUNNER! Legendary Pictures Postpones January Start Of Alex Proyas-Directed 'Paradise Lost'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  43. ^ Fleming Jr., Michael (9 February 2012). "Bradley Cooper-Starrer 'Paradise Lost' Scrapped By Legendary Pictures". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  44. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (1 December 2010). "Summit 'AMPS' Book Deal For Alex Proyas". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  45. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (11 March 2011). "Summit's Post-'Twilight' Chapter To Be Underwritten By Book Adaptations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  46. ^ Fleming Jr., Mike (11 July 2012). "Comic-Con: Alex Proyas and 'Hellboy' Creator Mike Mignola Team On 'Joe Golem And The Drowning City'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  47. ^ Hipes, Patrick (25 January 2017). "Alex Proyas To Produce & Direct ABC Drama Project From 'Eureka' Co-Creator". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  48. ^ Kapetopoulos, Fotis (17 February 2020). "Alex Proyas: Looking for a new country in filmmaking". Neos Kosmos. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  49. ^ Squires, John (12 August 2021). "Alex Proyas Reveals That He's Developing a 'Dark City' Series!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  50. ^ Dave McNary (8 August 2004). "'Game' now in Par's crosshairs". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  51. ^ Fleming, Michael (16 January 2009). "Roland Emmerich finds 'Foundation'". Variety. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  52. ^ Hibberd, James (22 July 2021). "Apple TV Ordered Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' After Hearing This One-Sentence Pitch". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  53. ^ "Alex Proyas with Alex Ferrari (Full Interview)". YouTube. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
  54. ^ Cathy Linsley: Thanks (1 credit) 2009 Knowing (the producers wish to thank from IMDb Accessed 30 April 2019
  55. ^ ARIA Award previous winners. "Winners by Award – Artisan Awards – Best Video". Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  56. ^ "Awards for Alex Proyas". IMDb. Retrieved 28 December 2007.
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