Lawrence Kasanoff | |
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Born | Lawrence Alan Kasanoff June 1, 1959 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Other names | Larry Kasanoff |
Education | Cornell University (BA) Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA) |
Occupation | Film producer |
Website | larrykasanoff.com/ |
Lawrence Alan "Larry" Kasanoff (born June 1, 1959) is an American film producer who founded the Vestron Pictures genre subsidiary Lightning Pictures in 1986, [1] Lightstorm Entertainment with James Cameron in 1990, and Threshold Entertainment in 1993.
Kasanoff graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, and later received a Master of Business Administration degree from University of Pennsylvania. [2]
He is known for films such as the Mortal Kombat movie franchise including the 1995 Mortal Kombat , its 1997 sequel Mortal Kombat Annihilation and its spin-off series Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm and Mortal Kombat: Conquest . He became involved with the franchise after working on Terminator 2 with Lightstorm Entertainment, which was overtaken by Mortal Kombat as the most successful arcade game in 1993. His company Threshold Entertainment was started with the purpose of producing the first Mortal Kombat film and other Mortal Kombat media spin-offs. [3] Kasanoff later served as executive producer of the 2021 reboot of Mortal Kombat.
Other films produced by Kasanoff include Blood Diner , Blue Steel , True Lies , and Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers . He also directed and produced the 2012 Threshold Entertainment animated film Foodfight! , which was originally intended to be released in 2003.
In 2023, Kasanoff released a self-help book titled A Touch of the Madness: How to Be More Innovative in Work and Life… by Being a Little Crazy. [4]
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1987 | Party Camp | Executive producer | |
Blood Diner | |||
The Underachievers | Role: Studio Exec | ||
The Beat | |||
1988 | You Can't Hurry Love | ||
Dangerous Curves | |||
1989 | Dream a Little Dream | ||
C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. | |||
Far from Home | |||
She's Back | |||
1990 | Blue Steel | [5] | |
Class of 1999 | |||
A Gnome Named Gnorm | |||
Ghoulies III: Ghoulies Go to College | Direct-to-video | ||
1994 | True Lies | [5] | |
1995 | Mortal Kombat | Producer | [5] |
Mortal Kombat: The Journey Begins | Direct-to-video | ||
Strange Days | Executive producer | [5] | |
1996 | Mortal Kombat: Live Tour | Director | |
1997 | Mortal Kombat Annihilation | Producer, Story | [5] |
1999 | Beowulf | Producer | |
2009 | Bionicle: The Legend Reborn | Executive producer | Direct-to-video |
2011 | Lego: The Adventures of Clutch Powers | ||
2012 | Marvel Super Heroes 4D | Short | |
Foodfight! | Producer, director, screenwriter | Voice of Cheasel T. Weasel [6] | |
2015 | Ocean Quest: The Immersive Adventure | Executive producer | |
Mindfulness: Be Happy Now | Producer, director | Documentary | |
2020 | Bobbleheads: The Movie | Producer | |
2021 | Mortal Kombat | Executive producer |
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | The Making of 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day' | Executive producer | Documentary |
1995 | Mortal Kombat: Behind the Dragon | ||
1996 | Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm | ||
1998–1999 | Mortal Kombat: Conquest | ||
2003 | The Afterlife | TV movie | |
2010 | Lego Atlantis: The Movie | TV Short | |
2011–2013 | Hero Factory | ||
2012 | Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out | TV Short | |
2013 | Rockin' Rounds | ||
3 Rounds With |
Mortal Kombat Annihilation is a 1997 American martial arts fantasy film directed by John R. Leonetti in his directorial debut. Based on the Mortal Kombat video game franchise, it is the second installment in the Mortal Kombat film series and a sequel to the original 1995 film, on which Leonetti served as cinematographer. Largely adapted from the 1995 video game Mortal Kombat 3, Annihilation follows Liu Kang and his allies as they attempt to prevent the malevolent Shao Kahn from conquering Earthrealm. It stars Robin Shou as Liu Kang, Talisa Soto as Kitana, James Remar as Raiden, Sandra Hess as Sonya Blade, Lynn “Red” Williams as Jax and Brian Thompson as Shao Kahn. Only Shou and Soto reprised their roles, with the other characters from the previous film being recast.
Sub-Zero is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A warrior from the fictional Lin Kuei clan, the character is defined by his ability to control ice in many forms. He is the only fighter to appear in every main installment of the series, along with being featured as the protagonist of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997).
Jackson "Jax" Briggs is a fictional character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. Introduced in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as the leader of a Special Forces unit, he became a mainstay of the series, including as the protagonist of the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (2000). The character is distinguished by his metal bionic arms, which he first received in Mortal Kombat 3 (1995), and his abilities are based around his upper-body strength.
Kung Lao is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in Mortal Kombat II (1993) as a Shaolin monk and close friend of series protagonist Liu Kang, and his trademark characteristic is his wide razor-brimmed hat that he uses as a weapon. Kung Lao is depicted as one of the series' primary heroes, including a main role in the action-adventure spin-off Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks (2005).
Mortal Kombat is a 1995 American martial arts fantasy film directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. Based on the video game franchise of the same name, it is the first installment in the Mortal Kombat film series. Starring Linden Ashby, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Robin Shou, Bridgette Wilson, Talisa Soto, and Christopher Lambert, the film follows a group of heroes who participate in the eponymous Mortal Kombat tournament to protect Earth from being conquered by malevolent forces. Its story primarily adapts the original 1992 game, while also using elements from the game Mortal Kombat II (1993).
Scorpion is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. A ninja dressed in yellow, his primary weapon is a kunai rope dart, which he uses to harpoon opponents. Since his debut in the original 1992 game, Scorpion has appeared as a playable character in every main installment except Mortal Kombat 3 (1995).
Reptile is a character in the Mortal Kombat fighting game franchise by Midway Games and NetherRealm Studios. He debuted in the original 1992 game as a hidden opponent, establishing him as the first secret character in fighting game history. Reptile became playable in the follow-up Mortal Kombat II (1993) and has remained a mainstay of the franchise. As implied by his name, he is a Saurian, a fictional species of reptilian humanoids. One of the last surviving members of his race, he aligns himself with the series' primary villains in the hope his service will lead to the Saurians' revival.
Foodfight! is a 2012 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Threshold Entertainment and directed by Lawrence Kasanoff. The film features the voices of Charlie Sheen, Wayne Brady, Hilary Duff, Eva Longoria, Larry Miller, and Christopher Lloyd. Foodfight! takes place in the "Marketropolis" supermarket, which, after closing time, transforms into a city inhabited by "Ikes", personifications of well-known food mascots. The story follows a cereal brand mascot, Dex Dogtective, who, along with his best friend Daredevil Dan, join forces with their fellow "Ikes" to fight against the forces of the evil Brand X, who threaten to take over the entire supermarket.
Vestron Video was the main subsidiary of Vestron, Inc., a home video company based in Stamford, Connecticut, that was active from 1981 to 1993, and is considered to have been a pioneer in the home video market.
Mortal Kombat is an American media franchise centered on a series of fighting video games originally developed by Midway Games in 1992.
Threshold Entertainment Group, also known as Threshold Entertainment, is an intellectual property company. Its animation subsidiary, Threshold Animation Studios, produces films. Larry Kasanoff is the company's chief executive officer (CEO) after previously serving as president for Lightstorm Entertainment, a company he co-founded with entrepreneur and filmmaker James Cameron.
Lightstorm Entertainment, Inc. is an American independent production company founded in 1990 by filmmaker James Cameron and producer Lawrence Kasanoff. The majority of its films have been distributed and owned by 20th Century Fox, now known as 20th Century Studios. It has produced several films including Terminator 2: Judgment Day, True Lies, Titanic, Alita: Battle Angel and the Avatar film series; Cameron has employed other filmmakers to produce and direct films under the Lightstorm banner.
Vestron Pictures Inc. was an American film studio and distributor, a former division of Austin O. Furst, Jr.'s Vestron Inc., that is best known for their 1987 release of Dirty Dancing.
Mortal Kombat is a 1992 fighting game developed and published by Midway. It is the first entry in the Mortal Kombat series and was subsequently released by Acclaim Entertainment for nearly every home platform at that time. The game focuses on several characters of various intentions who enter a martial arts tournament with worldly consequences. It introduced many key aspects of the Mortal Kombat series, including the unique five-button control scheme and gory finishing moves called Fatalities.
First Independent Films was a British film distributor and home video company that replaced Vestron Video International's UK operations.
The Mortal Kombat series of fighting games, created by Ed Boon and John Tobias, has been the subject of various controversies since its creation in 1992. In particular, Mortal Kombat has often been criticised from a broad spectrum of politicians and other critics for its unrestrained use of graphic and bloody violence, both in the game's regular combat scenes and its Fatalities—finishing moves which allow the player to kill or otherwise maim the defeated opponents.
Mortal Kombat is an American series of martial arts action films based on the fighting video game series of the same name by Midway Games. The first film was produced by Lawrence Kasanoff’s Threshold Entertainment.
Mortal Kombat is a 2021 American martial arts fantasy film co-produced and directed by Simon McQuoid from a screenplay by Greg Russo and Dave Callaham, based on the video game series created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film serves as a reboot of the Mortal Kombat film series and is the third film in the franchise. It stars Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Josh Lawson, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Max Huang, Joe Taslim, and Hiroyuki Sanada. The film follows Cole Young, a washed-up mixed martial arts fighter who is unaware of his hidden lineage or why the assassin Sub-Zero is hunting him down. Concerned for the safety of his family, he seeks out a clique of fighters that were chosen to defend Earthrealm against Outworld.
Mortal Kombat 2 is an upcoming American martial arts fantasy film co-produced and directed by Simon McQuoid and written by Jeremy Slater, based on the video game series created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. The film serves as a sequel to Mortal Kombat (2021) and is the fourth film in the Mortal Kombat franchise. It stars returning cast members Lewis Tan, Jessica McNamee, Tadanobu Asano, Mehcad Brooks, Ludi Lin, Chin Han, Joe Taslim, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Damon Herriman with Karl Urban, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Martyn Ford, Desmond Chiam, Ana Thu Nguyen, and CJ. Bloomfield joining the cast.
Greg Russo is an American screenwriter and director. He is best known for writing the 2021 film adaptation of Mortal Kombat. He is also set to write a sequel to the 2017 film Death Note, adaptations of F.E.A.R., Saints Row, Space Invaders and System Shock, which he will also direct.