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Shawn Levy

From Wikipedia - Reading time: 14 min
For the writer, see Shawn Levy (writer).

Shawn Levy
Levy in 2024
Born
Shawn Adam Levy[1]

(1968-07-23) July 23, 1968 (age 56)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Citizenship
  • Canada
  • United States
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Southern California (MFA)
Occupations
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • actor
Years active1986–present
SpouseSerena Levy
Children4

Shawn Adam Levy (born July 23, 1968)[2] is a Canadian filmmaker and actor. He is the founder of 21 Laps Entertainment. His work has spanned numerous genres, and his films as a director have grossed a collective $3.5 billion worldwide.[3]

Following early work as a television director, Levy gained recognition in the 2000s for directing comedy films like Big Fat Liar (2002), Just Married (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003) and The Pink Panther (2006). He then found further success as the director of the first three films in the Night at the Museum film franchise (2006–14). In the early 2010s, he directed films including Date Night (2010), Real Steel (2011), and The Internship (2013), developed several comedy television pilots, and executive produced the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing. Levy was a producer on the 2016 sci-fi film Arrival, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture.

Since 2016, Levy has been an executive producer on the Netflix original series Stranger Things. He has directed the third and fourth episodes of each of the show's four seasons.[4] He also directed the Netflix limited series All the Light We Cannot See (2023). Levy has recently collaborated with Ryan Reynolds by directing Free Guy (2021), The Adam Project (2022), and Deadpool & Wolverine (2024), with the latter emerging as his highest-grossing film.[3]

Early life

[edit]

Levy was born to a Jewish family[5] with two siblings, Jodi and Debby, in Montreal, Quebec.[6] As a teenager, he attended St. George's High School in Montreal and trained at the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in New York's Catskills.[7] Pursuing a career in acting, he attended the performing arts program at Yale University, graduating in 1989; during his time there, he became interested in directing and moved to Los Angeles to study film directing.[7] He received an MFA degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1994.[8]

Career

[edit]

1985–1994: Early career and education

[edit]

Levy began his professional career while pursuing his undergraduate and graduate degrees in the mid-1980s through the mid-1990s. While studying performing arts, he made his acting debut in Zombie Nightmare (1987), a low-budget horror film in which he portrayed the character Jim Bratten, the leader of a group of teenagers. The film is best known for being featured in an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. He also appeared in the 1988 film Liberace: Behind the Music.

He pursued his MFA in production, during which time he continued to act with a guest spot on 21 Jump Street and a recurring role on Beverly Hills, 90210. Since this time, he has acted in primary small and cameo roles as well, like on 30 Rock as TV producer Scottie Shofar.

1995–2014: Directorial career and 20th Century Fox

[edit]

Through the end of the 1990s, Levy worked primarily as a television director of teen dramas, like Nickelodeon's The Secret World of Alex Mack and Animorphs. He was the primary director and executive producer (season 3) of the Disney Channel coming-of-age show The Famous Jett Jackson (1998–2002) and its companion film (2001).

Levy in Moscow in 2011.

He made his feature film directorial debut in 1997 with the family films Address Unknown and Just in Time. This was followed by the 2002 teen comedy Big Fat Liar, his first theatrical release, and the 2003 rom com Just Married, which made more than $100 million in the box office. For the remainder of the decade, Levy worked successfully on big-budget family films, namely directing Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Pink Panther (2006), and Night at the Museum franchise (2006–2014)—and produced all of their sequel films. The first Night at the Museum film was Levy's most commercially successful project and one of the highest-grossing films of 2006. During this time he also produced the 2008 films What Happens in Vegas and The Rocker and executive produced The WB dramedy Pepper Dennis (2006).

Levy directed and produced the 2010 comedy Date Night starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey. The same year, he began directing the sci-fi drama Real Steel (2011), starring Hugh Jackman. Executive produced by Steven Spielberg, the film received mixed critical reviews and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.

In the mid-2000s, Levy and his company 21 Laps signed a production deal with 20th Century Fox; it was renewed in 2010.[9] Following this deal, Levy created a new television company with Marty Adelstein at 20th Century Fox TV to develop comedy series.[10][11] Levy and 21 Laps were with the company until 2020.[12][13] Since 2011, he has been the executive producer of the Tim Allen sitcom Last Man Standing.[14] He also executive produced the short-lived ABC sitcoms Cristela (2014–2015) and Imaginary Mary (2017). Film projects with FOX include the 2012 Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill comedy The Watch (directed by Akiva Schaffer), Levy's comedy The Internship (2013), Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (2014), Why Him? (2016), and The Darkest Minds (2018). He produced similar films for Warner Bros.; Levy was initially announced as the director of the film version of Minecraft but has since left the project.[15][16]

Outside of 20th Century Fox, Levy worked to expand 21 Laps' range outside of primarily family-friendly comedies;[17] this included producing the A24 drama The Spectacular Now (2013), the ensemble dramedy This Is Where I Leave You (2014), and the Academy Award-winning sci-fi film Arrival (2016). For his role in Arrival, Levy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.

2015–present: Stranger Things and Netflix

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Levy promoting Stranger Things at the 2017 San Diego Comic-Con

He was announced to be directing the film adaptation of the Uncharted video game series, following David O. Russell and Neil Burger.[18] Joe Carnahan worked with Levy to produce the script for the film,[19] but Levy left the project on December 19, 2018.[20] Levy was attached to produce a film based on the children's series Sesame Street, which will be the show's third motion picture following Sesame Street Presents: Follow That Bird and The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and its first in over two decades.[21][22]

In December 2017, Netflix announced a four-year contract with Levy. Due to the successful seasons of Stranger Things, he will create TV projects exclusively for the streaming entertainment company.[23] In 2020, 21 Laps extended its deal with Netflix and signed a first look deal.[12]

In 2021, Levy produced the film adaptation of the slasher novel There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins under his 21 Laps Entertainment label, alongside James Wan's Atomic Monster studio for Netflix.[24][25][26] Alongside Eric Heisserer, he also executive produced the 2021 Netflix series Shadow and Bone, an adaptation of the fantasy book series The Grisha Trilogy and the Six of Crows Duology starring Jessie Mei Li, under Netflix's deal with 21 Laps.[27] Levy directed The Adam Project for Netflix starring Ryan Reynolds in the lead role.[28]

In February 2022, it was announced that Levy would direct Backwards for Netflix.[29] In March 2022, it was announced that Levy would direct Deadpool & Wolverine for Marvel Studios.[30] In November 2022, Levy entered talks to direct a Star Wars movie for Lucasfilm following the conclusion of his work on Deadpool & Wolverine and the fifth and final season of Stranger Things.[31] In February 2023, it was announced Levy would produce the comedy Boy Band for Paramount Pictures alongside Reynolds, who would also co-write and star in the project.[32] Levy was confirmed as the film's director in February 2024.[33] In December 2023, it was announced Levy would direct and produce an untitled heist comedy film for Netflix, with Reynolds set to star and co-produce.[34]

In August 2023, Levy was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Norman Jewison Award for career achievement at the TIFF Tribute Awards.[35]

Personal life

[edit]

Levy and his wife Serena Levy have four daughters together.[7] He became a U.S. citizen in 2008.[36] Following many years living in Los Angeles, the Levy family moved to Manhattan in the early 2020s.[7][37] Since 2009, he has also maintained a family home in the Hudson Valley community of New Paltz, New York.[37]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Director Producer Writer
1997 Address Unknown Yes No No
Just in Time Yes No No
2002 Big Fat Liar Yes No No
2003 Just Married Yes No No
Cheaper by the Dozen Yes No No
2006 The Pink Panther Yes No No
Night at the Museum Yes Yes No
2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Yes Yes No
2010 Date Night Yes Yes No
2011 Real Steel Yes Yes No
2013 The Internship Yes Yes No
2014 This Is Where I Leave You Yes Yes No
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb Yes Yes No
2021 Free Guy Yes Yes No
2022 The Adam Project Yes Yes No
2024 Deadpool & Wolverine Yes Yes Yes

Producer only

Year Title Director Notes
2001 I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus John Shepphird
2005 Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Adam Shankman
2008 What Happens in Vegas Tom Vaughan
The Rocker Peter Cattaneo
2009 The Pink Panther 2 Harald Zwart Executive producer
2012 The Watch Akiva Schaffer
2013 The Spectacular Now James Ponsoldt
2014 Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Day 		Miguel Arteta
2016 Arrival Denis Villeneuve Nominated – Academy Award for Best Picture
Nominated – AACTA International Award for Best Film
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Film
Why Him? John Hamburg
2017 Fist Fight Richie Keen
Table 19 Jeffrey Blitz
2018 The Darkest Minds Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Kin Jonathan Baker
Josh Baker
2020 The Violent Heart Kerem Sanga
Love and Monsters Michael Matthews
2021 There's Someone Inside Your House Patrick Brice
2022 Cheaper by the Dozen Gail Lerner Executive producer
Rosaline Karen Maine
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again Matt Danner
2023 Crater Kyle Patrick Alvarez
The Boogeyman Rob Savage
2024 Never Let Go Alexandre Aja
TBA Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible,
No Good, Very Bad Road Trip 		Marvin Lemus

Acting credits

Year Title Role Notes
1986 Zombie Nightmare Jim Batten
1987 Wild Thing Paul
1988 Liberace: Behind the Music Glenn
The Kiss Terry O'Connell
1991 Our Shining Moment J.J.
1993 Made in America Dwayne
1997 Address Unknown
Just in Time Photographer
2002 Big Fat Liar Wolf Party Guest
2003 Cheaper by the Dozen Press/Room Reporter
2005 Cheaper by the Dozen 2 Hospital Intern
2009 Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Guy in Commercial
2013 The Internship Guy in Nap Pod
2021 All Too Well: The Short Film Her Dad Short film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Director Executive
Producer 		Notes
1996–1998 The Secret World of Alex Mack Yes No 6 episodes
1997–1998 The Journey of Allen Strange Yes No 3 episodes
1998–1999 Lassie Yes No 4 episodes
1998 First Wave Yes No Episode: "Marker 262"
1998–1999 Animorphs Yes No 5 episodes
1998–2001 The Famous Jett Jackson Yes Yes Directed 47 episodes
1999 So Weird Yes No 1 episode
2000 In a Heartbeat Yes No 2 episodes
2001 Jett Jackson: The Movie Yes Yes TV movie
2002 Do Over Yes No Episode: "The Block Party"
Birds of Prey Yes No Episode: "Nature of the Beast"
2006 Pepper Dennis Yes Yes Directed pilot episode
2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Yes No Episode: "Kimmy Drives a Car!"
2016–present Stranger Things Yes Yes Directed 8 episodes,[38][39] including S4 E4: Dear Billy
2017 Imaginary Mary Yes Yes Directed 2 episodes
2023 All the Light We Cannot See Yes Yes Miniseries

Executive producer only

Acting roles

Year Title Role Notes
1989 China Beach Lieutenant Episode: "Dear China Beach"
1989–1990 Tour of Duty SP4 Budd Sills 2 episodes
1990 21 Jump Street Lance Episode: "Awomp-Bomp-Aloobomb, Aloop Bamboom"
Lifestories Luke Conforti Episode: "Art Conforti"
1993 Beverly Hills, 90210 Howard Banchek 2 episodes
Step by Step Daniel Episode: "Way Off-Broadway"
2000 The Famous Jett Jackson Producer 3 episodes
2009 30 Rock Scottie Shofar Episode: "The Problem Solvers"
2016 Stranger Things Morgue Worker Episode: "Chapter Four: The Body"

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Selected awards
Year Ceremony Award Work Result
2016 22nd Critics' Choice Awards Best Drama Series Stranger Things Nominated
2017 74th Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Drama Nominated
28th Producers Guild of America Awards Best Theatrical Motion Pictures Arrival Nominated
Best Episodic Drama Stranger Things Won
89th Academy Awards Best Picture Arrival Nominated
71st BAFTA Film Awards Best Film Nominated
2017 BAFTA Television Awards Best International Programme Stranger Things Nominated
69th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Nominated
2018 75th Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Drama Nominated
29th Producers Guild of America Awards Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Drama Nominated
70th Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Nominated
2020 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Drama Series Nominated
2024 76th Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or TV Film All the Light We Cannot See Nominated

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Shawn Adam Levy — The Guild / Members". Directors Guild of America. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  2. ^ "Shawn Levy — Biography and Filmography - 1968". hollywood.com. February 20, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Shawn Levy - Box Office". The Numbers. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "'Stranger Things' Season 3 Starts Filming Monday". Collider. April 21, 2018.
  5. ^ Nate Bloom (February 13, 2017). "The tribe goes to the Oscars". J. The Jewish News of Northern California.
  6. ^ Durocher, Sophie (January 25, 2017). "Villeneuve est enfin "arrivé"". Le Journal de Montréal (in French). Retrieved February 17, 2017. Un des producteurs de L'Arrivée, Shawn Levy, est un «ptit gars de Montréal»
  7. ^ a b c d Siegel, Tatiana (August 5, 2021). "The Low-Key Hustle of 'Free Guy' Filmmaker Shawn Levy: "I'm Willing to Outwork Anybody"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  8. ^ "Shawn Levy Gets "Real"". USC Cinematic Arts. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  9. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 5, 2010). "20th Century Fox Re-Ups Comedy Helmer". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (June 18, 2010). "Shawn Levy And Marty Adelstein Form TV Company, Sign With 20th Century Fox TV And Tap Becky Clements As Prez". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 29, 2010). "Marty Adlestein And Shawn Levy Set Up Projects At Fox & CBS". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  12. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (November 19, 2020). "Shawn Levy And His 21 Laps Sign Overall Netflix Film Deal And Expand TV Pact In Nine-Figure Tie-Up". Deadline. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  13. ^ Ford, Rebecca (July 21, 2016). "Executive Suite: Inside Shawn Levy's 21 Laps Entertainment Office". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Berkshire, Geoff (July 22, 2016). "'Stranger Things': Shawn Levy on Directing Winona Ryder, Netflix's Viral Model". Variety.
  15. ^ Kroll, Justin (October 16, 2014). "Warner Bros. Taps Shawn Levy for 'Minecraft' Movie". Variety. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  16. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 19, 2014). "Shawn Levy Leaves Warner Bros.' 'Minecraft' Film". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2016.
  17. ^ Barnes, Brooks (November 26, 2016). "A Filmmaker's Belief in Himself Pays Off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  18. ^ Fleming, Mike (October 25, 2016). "Shawn Levy To Direct Uncharted Movie". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  19. ^ Fleming, Mike (October 25, 2016). "Shawn Levy To Direct 'Uncharted'; PlayStation Vidgame Movie On Fast Track". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
  20. ^ Wade, Jessie (December 19, 2018). "Director Shawn Levy Steps Away from Tom Holland Uncharted Movie". IGN. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  21. ^ Evans, Alan (November 10, 2016). "Sesame Street movie is in the works". The Guardian.
  22. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 28, 2018). "'Sesame Street' Movie Taps 'Portlandia' Co-Creator Jonathan Krisel as Director (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  23. ^ Cynthia, Littleton (December 6, 2017). "Netflix Sets Massive Overall Deal With 'Stranger Things' Producer Shawn Levy". Variety.
  24. ^ Squires, John (August 23, 2021). "'Creep' Director Patrick Brice's New Movie 'There's Someone Inside Your House' Crashes Netflix in October". BloodyDisgusting. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  25. ^ Miska, Brad (March 18, 2019). "Netflix and James Wan Joining Forces for Slasher 'There's Someone Inside Your House'!". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  26. ^ Kit, Borys (August 14, 2019). "Shawn Levy-James Wan's Horror 'There's Someone Inside Your House' Sets Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2019.
  27. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (January 10, 2019). "Netflix Orders Shadow And Bone Series Based On Leigh Bardugo's Grishaverse Novels From Eric Heisserer & Shawn Levy". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  28. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 23, 2020). "Ryan Reynolds-Shawn Levy Time Travel Project Shifts From Paramount To Netflix". Deadline. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  29. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 9, 2022). "Netflix Lands De-Aging Father-Daughter Tale 'Backwards' For Shawn Levy To Direct; 21 Laps & Safehouse Producing". Deadline Hollywood.
  30. ^ Parker, Ryan (March 11, 2022). "'Deadpool 3': Shawn Levy to Direct Ryan Reynolds in Marvel Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 11, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  31. ^ Kroll, Mike (November 8, 2022). "Shawn Levy In Talks To Direct A 'Star Wars' Film After 'Deadpool 3' & 'Stranger Things' Final Eps". Deadline. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  32. ^ Kit, Borys (February 23, 2023). "Ryan Reynolds to Star In, Produce Comedy 'Boy Band' for Paramount (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  33. ^ Lang, Brent (February 8, 2024). "Ryan Reynolds' Maximum Effort Productions and Paramount Pictures Extend First-Look Deal". Variety. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 14, 2023). "'Deadpool 3's Shawn Levy Boards Ryan Reynolds Heist Comedy As Director & Producer At Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  35. ^ Jeremy Kay, "Shawn Levy to receive inaugural TIFF Norman Jewison Career Achievement Award". Screen Daily, August 16, 2023.
  36. ^ Kilday, Gregg (September 3, 2014). "Toronto: Shawn Levy on His Jason Bateman-Tina Fey Dramedy, Entering R-Rated Territory and Robin Williams' Death". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
  37. ^ a b Cannell, Michael (August 1, 2012). "Film Director Shawn Levy's House in New York". Architectural Digest. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  38. ^ "Stranger Things Director Reveal Series Superstition That Continues in Season 4". Horror. August 22, 2021. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  39. ^ "Stranger Things season 4 confirmed for summer 2022 as new episode titles revealed". Radio Times. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
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