Jonathan Mostow

Jonathan Mostow
Born (1961-11-28) November 28, 1961 (age 63)
Woodbridge, Connecticut, U.S.
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer
SpouseLaurie Sandell (2018–present)[1]
FatherGeorge Mostow

Jonathan Mostow (born November 28, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He has directed films such as Breakdown (1997), U-571 (2000), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), and Surrogates (2009).[2]

Early life

Mostow was born in Woodbridge, Connecticut.[3] His father George Daniel Mostow was a mathematician, and his mother is a social worker.[1] He graduated from Harvard University.[4] He also trained at the American Repertory Company and the Lee Strasberg Institute.[5] He grew up in a Conservative Jewish household.[6]

Career

In 1989, Mostow directed a direct-to-video horror comedy, Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers.[4]

Mostow was originally attached to direct The Game (1997), with Kyle MacLachlan and Bridget Fonda for the lead roles.[7] However, he ended up being an executive producer of the David Fincher-directed film.[7] In 1997, he directed Breakdown, a thriller film starring Kurt Russell.[8] Around the same time, he signed a deal with Universal Pictures.[9] Both Mostow and Lieberman received a TV deal, via his Mostow/Lieberman Productions company to Studios USA.[10]

In 2000, Mostow directed a World War II-era submarine film, U-571.[11] He assembled a cast including Matthew McConaughey, Bill Paxton, Harvey Keitel, TC Carson, and Jon Bon Jovi.[12] The film topped the U.S. box office chart.[13]

In 2003, Mostow directed the third installment of the Terminator film series, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, which starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.[14][15]

Mostow co-wrote a comic book series, The Megas, with John Harrison.[16] Illustrated by Peter Rubin, it was published on Virgin Comics in 2008.[16]

Mostow returned to direct another film, Surrogates, in 2009.[17] Based on the comic book series, it starred Bruce Willis.[18]

In 2017, Mostow directed The Hunter's Prayer, an action thriller film starring Sam Worthington.[19]

Personal life

On October 7, 2018, Mostow married writer Laurie Sandell.[1] The two met through JDate in 2014.[1]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1985 Fright Show Yes Yes Yes Segment "Dr. Dobermind"
1989 Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers Yes Story Yes Role: Cryonics Lab Technician; direct-to-video
1997 Breakdown Yes Yes No
2000 U-571 Yes Yes No
2003 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Yes No No
2009 Surrogates Yes No No
2012 House at the End of the Street No Story No
Playing for Keeps No No Yes
2017 The Hunter's Prayer Yes No No

Executive producer

Television

Year(s) Title Director Executive
Producer 		Notes
1998 From the Earth to the Moon Yes No Episode "Le Voyage Dans La Lune"
2014–2015 The Last Ship Yes Yes Episode "Phase Six"
2023-2024 Accused Yes No Episode: "Danny's Story"

TV movies

Year(s) Title Director Executive
Producer 		Writer
1991 Flight of Black Angel Yes No Story
2021 Them Yes Yes No

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Laurie Sandell, Jonathan Mostow". The New York Times. October 7, 2018. p. ST14. Archived from the original on August 22, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  2. ^ Horn, John (September 24, 2009). "Can Bruce Willis regain star power with 'Surrogates'?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  3. ^ "Jonathan Mostow". AlloCiné. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  4. ^ a b Sragow, Michael (May 4, 2000). "Mission from Mostow". Salon. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  5. ^ Murphy, Jay David (August 27, 2009). "Interview with Surrogates Director Jonathan Mostow". Digital Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Mostow Terminates Fans' 'T3' Fears".
  7. ^ a b Wright, Benjamin (September 20, 2012). "5 Things You Might Not Know About David Fincher's Criterion Approved 'The Game'". IndieWire. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Lee, Benjamin (January 8, 2016). "Kurt Russell: five best moments". The Guardian. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  9. ^ Fleming, Michael (June 30, 1997). "MOSTOW INKS DEAL AT U". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  10. ^ Adalian, Josef (February 18, 2000). "Mostow, Lieberman ink TV deal". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  11. ^ Murphy, Bill Scanlan (June 28, 2000). "'U-571' should be diving for deep cover". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  12. ^ von Tunzelmann, Alex (February 25, 2009). "U-571: You give historical films a bad name". The Guardian. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  13. ^ Hayes, Dade (April 30, 2000). "Rookies torpedoed". Variety. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  14. ^ Hayes, Dade (August 7, 2003). "The candid candidate". Variety. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  15. ^ Fleming, Michael (June 19, 2003). "Mostow makes most of 'T3' opportunity". Variety. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  16. ^ a b Kit, Borys (February 27, 2008). "Mostow coronates his 'Megas'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  17. ^ Brew, Simon (February 26, 2009). "Underappreciated directors: Jonathan Mostow". Den of Geek. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  18. ^ Thill, Scott (July 21, 2009). "Surrogates' Sci-Fi Crime Drama Stays True to Comic's Roots". Wired. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  19. ^ Douglas, Edward (June 8, 2017). "Film Review: The Hunter's Prayer". Film Journal International. Retrieved December 25, 2018.