Julian Dennison

Last updated
Julian Dennison
Julian Dennison 2016.jpg
Dennison in 2016
Born (2002-10-26) 26 October 2002 (age 21)
Lower Hutt, Wellington, New Zealand
Education Hutt International Boys' School [1]
OccupationActor
Years active2013–present

Julian Dennison (born 26 October 2002) is a New Zealand actor. He debuted in the 2013 film Shopping, for which he won the English Film and Television Award for Best Supporting Actor. [2] [3] He is known for his roles as Ricky Baker in Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), the highest-grossing New Zealand film in history, as Russell "Firefist" Collins in Deadpool 2 (2018), and as Belsnickel in The Christmas Chronicles 2 . In 2021, Dennison starred as Josh Valentine in Godzilla vs. Kong . [4] and in 2023 he played the lead role in Uproar as Josh Waaka. [5]

Contents

Life and career

Dennison was born and raised in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. He is the third of a family of four children, and has a twin brother named Christian. Julian is of Māori descent and is a member of the Ngāti Hauā iwi (tribe), part of the Tainui tribal confederation. He attended Naenae Primary School, where he first auditioned, and got his first part in the 2013 film Shopping , [6] He was then cast in the Australian film Paper Planes (2015). He later attended Hutt International Boys' School in Upper Hutt.

Dennison continued with acting and was given a role in an advertisement for the NZ Transport Agency to discourage driving under the influence of drugs. The public service announcement, which became an internet sensation in New Zealand and Australia, [7] was directed by Taika Waititi, who later asked Dennison to star in his film Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016) without the need to audition. The film went on to become New Zealand's highest-grossing film to date, and was critically acclaimed.

Dennison played Russell Collins / Firefist in the 2018 film Deadpool 2 . He was cast because of his Wilderpeople performance, and the friendship of Waititi with Deadpool's filmmakers. [8] [9] In 2020, Dennison co-starred in The Christmas Chronicles 2 , portraying Belsnickel and also voicing his elf form, and in 2021, he had a large supporting role in the monster sequel Godzilla vs. Kong . [4] In 2023, he was cast in the A24 film Y2K . [10]

Dennison played the main role in the film Uproar in 2023. His performance was praised by The Age , for its "admirable restraint". [5] In an interview for The Post , Dennison stated that his lead role in Uproar was when "I felt like I was finding my voice." [11] In January 2024, Dennison was announced to play Fishlegs Ingerman in the live-action remake of How to Train Your Dragon .

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013 Shopping Solomon
2015 Paper Planes Kevin
2016 Hunt for the Wilderpeople Ricky Baker
Chronesthesia [12] Benia.k.a.Love and Time Travel
2018 Deadpool 2 Russell Collins / Firefist
2020 The Christmas Chronicles 2 Belsnickel
2021 Godzilla vs. Kong Josh Valentine
2023 Uproar Josh Waaka
2024 Y2K Danny
2025 How to Train Your Dragon Fishlegs IngermanFilming [13]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2016 Funny Girls Himself
2019–present The Strange Chores Pierce (voice)
2024 Star Wars: The Bad Batch Deke, Stak

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cinema of New Zealand</span> Overview of the cinema of New Zealand

New Zealand cinema can refer to films made by New Zealand-based production companies in New Zealand. However, it may also refer to films made about New Zealand by filmmakers from other countries. Due to the comparatively small size of its film industry, New Zealand produces many films that are co-financed by overseas companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cliff Curtis</span> New Zealand actor (born 1968)

Clifford Vivian Devon Curtis is a New Zealand actor. His film credits include Risen,Once Were Warriors (1994), Three Kings (1999), Blow (2001), Training Day (2001), Whale Rider (2002), Collateral Damage (2002), Sunshine, Live Free or Die Hard, Push, Crossing Over, Colombiana (2011), The Dark Horse (2014), for which he won the Asia Pacific Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor, and Doctor Sleep (2019), also portraying James "Mac" Mackreides in The Meg (2018) and Meg 2: The Trench (2023) and Tonowari in Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar 3 (2025). Curtis had television series roles on NBC's Trauma and ABC's Body of Proof and Missing. From 2015 to 2017, he portrayed Travis Manawa on the AMC horror drama series Fear the Walking Dead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand humour</span>

New Zealand humour bears some similarities to the body of humour of many other English-speaking countries. There are, however, several regional differences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern man</span>

In New Zealand, the southern man is a stereotypical male from the more rural South Island, well used to the solitude and conditions of open mountain or hill country, and completely out of his depth in the city. He is usually depicted as wearing an oilskin duster, Swanndri and slouch hat, an image closely related to Kiwi stockmen. This stereotype is closely connected with a common trope in New Zealand fiction, the man alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taika Waititi</span> New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian (born 1975)

Taika David Cohen, known professionally as Taika Waititi, is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. He is known for directing quirky comedy films and has expanded his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects. He has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award and a Grammy Award, as well as two nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2022.

Tammy Davis is a New Zealand actor, best known for his role as Munter on the hit New Zealand comedy-drama Outrageous Fortune. He grew up in Raetihi, New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Neill</span> New Zealand actor (born 1947)

Sir Nigel John Dermot "Sam" Neill is a New Zealand actor. Neill's career has included leading roles in both dramas and blockbusters. Considered an "international leading man", he has been regarded as one of the most versatile actors of his generation.

Carthew Neal is an Academy nominated film, television and interactive producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rachel House (actress)</span> New Zealand actress and director

Rachel Jessica Te Ao Maarama House is a New Zealand actress and director. She has received numerous accolades including an Arts Laureate, NZ Order of Merit, 'Mana Wahine' from WIFT NZ and Te Waipuna a Rangi for her contributions as an actor and director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaeden Martell</span> American actor (born 2003)

Jaeden Martell is an American actor. He played the role of Bill Denbrough in the 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King's novel It and reprised the role in the film's 2019 sequel. He also appeared in the mystery film Knives Out (2019) and starred in the miniseries Defending Jacob (2020).

<i>Godzilla vs. Kong</i> 2021 American film by Adam Wingard

Godzilla vs. Kong is a 2021 American monster film directed by Adam Wingard. Produced by Legendary Pictures and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, it is a sequel to Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019), and is the fourth film in the MonsterVerse. It is also the 36th film in the Godzilla franchise, the 12th film in the King Kong franchise, and the fourth Godzilla film to be completely produced by an American film studio. The film stars Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, and Demián Bichir. Brown and Chandler reprise their roles from the previous Godzilla film. In the film, Kong clashes with Godzilla after humans move the ape from Skull Island to the Hollow Earth, homeworld of the monsters known as "Titans", to retrieve a power source for a secret weapon intended to stop Godzilla's mysterious attacks.

<i>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</i> 2016 New Zealand film by Taika Waititi

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 New Zealand adventure comedy-drama film written and directed by Taika Waititi, whose screenplay was based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump. Sam Neill and Julian Dennison play "Uncle" Hector and Ricky Baker; a father figure and foster son who become the targets of a manhunt after fleeing into the New Zealand bush. Carthew Neal, Leanne Saunders, Matt Noonan, and Waititi produced the film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alastair Riddell</span> New Zealand singer

Alastair Riddell is a New Zealand singer-songwriter.

The 21st San Diego Film Critics Society Awards were announced on December 12, 2016.

Piki Films is a New Zealand film and video production and distributing company based in Auckland. Piki Films is known for producing Jojo Rabbit, Hunt for the Wilderpeople, The Breaker Upperers, Baby Done, and Red, White & Brass. The name "Piki" means "jump" or "climb over" in the Māori language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taika Waititi filmography</span>

Taika Waititi is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor and comedian. Waititi began his film career in the early 2000s by directing short films. His short film Two Cars, One Night (2003) got him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. His first feature film, Eagle vs Shark, was released in 2007. Waititi's second film, Boy (2010) premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.

<i>Deadpool and Korg React</i> 2021 American short film

Deadpool and Korg React is a 2021 American superhero promotional short film featuring the Marvel Comics characters Deadpool and Korg. The film was written and directed by Ryan Reynolds, with him and Taika Waititi respectively starring as Deadpool and Korg. In Deadpool and Korg React, Wade Wilson and Korg react to the trailer of Free Guy (2021) before discussing the possibility of joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). Reynolds reprises his role from the X-Men film series, while Waititi reprises his role from the MCU films Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Y2K is a 2024 American disaster comedy film directed by Kyle Mooney, written by Mooney and Evan Winter, and starring Jaeden Martell, Julian Dennison and Rachel Zegler.

<i>Uproar</i> (film) 2023 film directed by Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett

Uproar is a 2023 New Zealand coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Paul Middleditch and Hamish Bennett, and starring Julian Dennison, Rhys Darby and Minnie Driver. The screenplay was written by Bennett and Sonia Whiteman. It relates the story of a 17-year-old boy who is forced to clamber off the fence he has actively sat on all his life to stand up for himself, his family and his future. Uproar was released to critical acclaim.

References

  1. ↑ "Big win for Julian Dennison at the NZ Film Festival Awards". www.hibs.school.nz.
  2. ↑ Barlow, Helen (28 January 2016). "Julian Dennison talks working with Taika Waititi". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "NZ Film Awards: Shopping picks up seven Moas". The New Zealand Herald. 10 December 2013. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 Murphy, Charles (1 June 2018). "Exclusive: 'Deadpool 2's' Julian Dennison Joins 'Godzilla vs. Kong'". That Hashtag Show. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  5. 1 2 Bailey, John (27 November 2023). "The child star who reached a career high, stayed grounded and kept on going". The Age . Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  6. ↑ "Meet Julian Dennison, young star of 'Hunt for the Wilderpeople'". Metro US. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  7. ↑ "Blazed - Drug Driving in Aotearoa | Commercial | NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. NZ On Screen. Retrieved 18 May 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  8. ↑ "Ryan Reynolds Reveals Why He Cast Julian Dennison AKA Ricky Baker In Deadpool 2 | MTV". Archived from the original on 18 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  9. ↑ "Rave reviews for Deadpool 2's 'fantastic' Julian Dennison". NZ Herald. 15 May 2018. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  10. ↑ Grobar, Matt (23 March 2023). "A24 Sets Disaster Comedy Y2K, To Be Directed By SNL Alum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  11. ↑ Manson, Bess (30 September 2023). "'I'm not a kid anymore': Julian Dennison gets serious in leading roles". The Post . Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  12. ↑ "Credits | Chronesthesia". NZ On Screen . Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  13. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (24 January 2024). "How To Train Your Dragon Live-Action Pic Expands Cast". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 24 January 2024.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.