Gareth Edwards (director)

Gareth James Edwards (born 13 July 1975) is a British filmmaker. He first gained widespread recognition for Monsters (2010), an independent film in which he served as writer, director, cinematographer, and visual effects artist.[1][2] He subsequently directed Godzilla (2014), a reboot[3] of Toho's Godzilla franchise and the first film in Legendary's MonsterVerse, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), the first installment of the Star Wars anthology series and an immediate prequel to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977). He would return to making original films with the science fiction thriller The Creator (2023).

Not to be confused with Gareth Evans (director).

Gareth Edwards
Edwards at the 2023 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1975-07-13) 13 July 1975
Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England
Occupations
  • Visual effects artist
  • screenwriter
  • film director
  • cinematographer
  • production designer
  • film producer
Years active2002–present

Career
Edwards at the 2014 WonderCon

Gareth Edwards was born on 13 July 1975 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. He is of Welsh parentage.[4] Edwards wanted to direct his own films since childhood, stating that "Star Wars is definitely the reason that I wanted to become a filmmaker".[5] He attended Higham Lane School, followed by college at North Warwickshire College of Technology and Art (now NWSLC), completing a BTEC National Diploma in Audio Visual Studies. Edwards studied film and video at the Surrey Institute of Art & Design, University College in Farnham, graduating in 1996. In 2012, he received an honorary Master of Arts from UCA. Edwards got his start in visual effects, creating digital effects for shows including Nova, Perfect Disaster and Heroes and Villains, for which he created 250 visual effects. In 2008 he entered the Sci-Fi-London 48-hour film challenge, for which a movie had to be created start-to-finish in two days and within certain criteria. Edwards won the contest with his short film Factory Farmed and went on to write and direct Monsters, his first feature. Edwards created the visual effects for Monsters using off-the-shelf equipment. Besides the two main actors, the crew consisted of just five people.[6]

Edwards at the 2016 Japan premiere for Rogue One

The success of Monsters brought sufficient awareness in Hollywood to land first major projects. After the film's release, he did interviews in Hollywood with several studios, including Legendary Pictures.[7] In January 2011, Edwards acquired his first major Hollywood feature, as director of the 2014 Godzilla reboot from Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures.[8]

Edwards directed Rogue One, the first Star Wars stand-alone film, written by Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy, based on a story by John Knoll and Gary Whitta, starring Felicity Jones, and released on 16 December 2016.[9][10]

Three of his influences for filmmaking are George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Quentin Tarantino.[11] In May 2016, Edwards exited Godzilla: King of the Monsters in an amicable split with the studio to work on smaller scale projects.[12]

In February 2020, it was reported that Edwards was set to direct and write a film with the working titled True Love for New Regency, with Rogue One co-producer Kiri Hart serving as producer for the project. The movie has since been renamed and released in 2023 as The Creator.[13] The film stars John David Washington.[14] It notably marked his second collaboration with Rogue One cinematographer Greig Fraser and his first collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer.[15][16] It was released on 29 September 2023.[17]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2010 Monsters Yes Yes No Also director of photography, visual effects and production designer
2014 Godzilla Yes No No
2016 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Yes No No Cameo role: Rebel Soldier who uncouples the Tantive IV
2023 The Creator Yes Yes Yes

Short film

Year Title Director Writer Notes
2008 Factory Farmed Yes Yes Also cinematographer and editor

Other credits

Year Title Role Notes
2007 In the Shadow of the Moon Digital rostrum Documentary film
2014 Monsters: Dark Continent Executive producer
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Cameo role: Resistance Trench Soldier

Television

TV movie

Year Title Director Writer
2005 End Day Yes Yes

Documentary series

Year Title Notes
2006 Perfect Disaster Episodes "Super Tornado" and "Solar Storm";
Also visual effects supervisor
2008 Heroes and Villains Episode "Attila the Hun"

Other credits

Year Title Role Notes
2002–2003 Nova Animator Documentary series (2 episodes)
2003 Seven Wonders of the Industrial World Visual effects Documentary series (7 episodes)
2004 Dive to Bermuda Triangle Digital effects Documentary TV movie
2005 Hiroshima Digital artist
Space Race Digital effects designer / Digital effects artist Documentary series (2 episodes)
UFO's: The Secret Evidence Visual effects supervisor Documentary TV movie
TBA Monsters Consulting producer Future series

References
  1. Clarke, Cath (23 September 2010). "First sight: Gareth Edwards". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  2. Davis, Laura (2 December 2010). "Interview with Gareth Edwards, the Director of 'Monsters'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 11 December 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2011.
  3. Saperstein, Pat (6 May 2014). "60 Years of Godzilla: Highlights From Monster's 29-Film Career". Variety. Archived from the original on 21 June 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  4. "Godzilla and Star Wars director Gareth Edwards". Wales Online. 27 May 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014.
  5. Hopkins, Jessica (27 February 2011). "The film that changed my life: Gareth Edwards". The Observer. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  6. Rose, Steve (27 November 2010). "Monsters: the bedroom blockbuster that's the anti-Avatar". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  7. "Godzilla: Meet The Director". YouTube. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  8. Kit, Borys (4 January 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: 'Monsters' Director Stomps to 'Godzilla'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  9. Kit, Borys (22 May 2014). "'Star Wars' Spinoff Hires 'Godzilla' Director Gareth Edwards (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  10. "Rogue One is the first Star Wars standalone film, Rian Johnson to write and direct Star Wars: Episode VIII". Star Wars. 12 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  11. Jagernauth, Kevin (1 May 2014). "Gareth Edwards Names His 3 Filmmaking Heroes Plus New 'Godzilla' Featurette Goes Behind The Scenes". Indie Wire. Archived from the original on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  12. Fleming, Mike Jr. (13 May 2016). "Director Gareth Edwards Exits 'Godzilla 2'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  13. Kroll, Justin (6 February 2020). "'Rogue One' Director Gareth Edwards Sets Sci-Fi Film at New Regency (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  14. Goffe, Nadira (6 May 2021). "John David Washington Cast In Rogue One Director's New Movie". Screen Rant. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  15. https://twitter.com/creatorthefilm/status/1681093685054959617
  16. https://filmmusicreporter.com/2023/07/18/hans-zimmer-scoring-gareth-edwards-the-creator/
  17. D'Alessandro, Anthony (14 June 2022). "Searchlight's See How They Run Gets Fall Release, New Regency Sci-Fi Pic True Love Sets 2023 Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 27 June 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
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