Xavier Gens

Xavier Gens
Xavier Gens at the Teatro Victoria Eugenia in 2011
Born (1975-04-27) 27 April 1975 (age 49)
Dunkirk, France
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1996–present

Xavier Gens (French: [ɡzavje ʒɑ̃s]; born on (1975-04-27)27 April 1975 in Dunkirk, France) is a French film director, screenwriter and producer.[1]

Career

A few weeks before the release of his debut English-language directorial film, Hitman, reports came in that the studio, 20th Century Fox, had turned down the version of the film that Gens submitted to them. Nicolas de Toth was brought in to edit the movie for commercial purposes, and Fox ordered a number of reshoots. While Fox denied claims that Gens had been fired due to the extreme violence in his cut, and insisted that he was still on the project, some reports stated that Gens was not even in the country as these reshoots were being made.[2] Hitman was a success with a gross of $92 million, Gens' most successful film.[3]

He narrated and produced the French zombie film La Horde,[4] directed by Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.[5] The film was released in 2009 and distributed by IFC Films.[6]

Gens directed The Divide (initially titled The Fallout), his second English-language film,[7] which features Michael Biehn in the lead role.[8]

Filmography

Short films

Year Title Director Writer Notes
2000 BTK – Born to Kast Yes Yes [9]
2005 Au petit matin Yes Yes
2006 Sable noir Yes Yes
2012 X Is for XXL Yes No Segment of The ABCs of Death

Feature films

Year Title Director Writer
2007 Frontier(s) Yes Yes
Hitman Yes No
2011 The Divide Yes No
2017 Cold Skin Yes No
The Crucifixion Yes No
Budapest Yes No
2023 Farang Yes Yes
2024 Under Paris Yes Yes

Acting roles

  • Le Bon, la Brute et les Zombies (2004)
  • Lady Blood (2008)
  • La Horde (2009, voice only)

Television

Year Title Notes
2006 Sable noir Episode "Fotografik"
2014 Crossing Lines 3 episodes
2020 Gangs of London 3 episodes
2021 Mortel 3 episodes
2023 Lupin 3 episodes

Other credits

Year Title Role
1996 Maximum Risk Production assistant
Never Ever
1997 Double Team
Madame Jacques sur la Croisette
Le Bossu Production manager
Les Kidnappeurs
1999 The Secret Laughter of Women Production assistant
2000 30 Ans Casting director
Cramps Production assistant
2009 La Horde
2016 Cell

References

  1. ^ "Xavier Gens". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2007. Archived from the original on 3 December 2007.
  2. ^ Jeff Giles. "Timothy Olyphant Addresses Hitman Rumors". Rotten Tomatoes.
  3. ^ "Xavier Gens' Post-Apocalyptic Thriller Drops Title". BloodyDisgusting. 5 February 2010.
  4. ^ "The Horde – New International One-Sheet". DreadCentral. 11 July 2012.
  5. ^ "New International One Sheet for 'The Horde'". BloodyDisgusting. 9 January 2010.
  6. ^ "The Horde – The Dead Bring the Violence in Latest Clip". DreadCentral. 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ "First Look at a Badass Michael Biehn in 'The Divide'". BloodyDisgusting. 17 May 2010.
  8. ^ "OMFG of the Day: Early Teaser for 'The Divide' Promises Everlasting Battle of Man vs Man!". BloodyDisgusting. 22 May 2010.
  9. ^ "AFM 09: Promo Art for Xavier Gens' 'The Fallout'". BloodyDisgusting. 2 November 2009.
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