Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver

Last updated

Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
BornRick Jaffa
(1956-05-08) May 8, 1956 (age 68)
Dallas County, Texas, U.S.
Amanda Silver
(1963-05-24) May 24, 1963 (age 61)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Screenwriters
  • film producers
Years active1992–present
Children2

Rick Jaffa (born May 8, 1956) and Amanda Silver (born May 24, 1963) are an American husband-and-wife screenwriting and film production duo. [1]

Contents

A married couple since 1989 who have been working together since 1992, they came to prominence for writing and producing the Planet of the Apes reboot Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), co-writing and producing its direct sequel, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), and producing the subsequent sequels War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024). They were also co-writers on Jurassic World (2015), In the Heart of the Sea (2015) and Mulan (2020).

In 2013, the two were announced as co-writers of all four sequels to James Cameron's 2009 film Avatar , starting with Avatar: The Way of Water , [2] which was theatrically released in 2022. [3]

Personal lives

Jaffa and Silver have been married since 1989 and have two children. Silver is the sister of actor Michael B. Silver and the granddaughter of screenwriter and producer Sidney Buchman. [4] In 2015, she was named one of the "Most Influential Women In Hollywood" by Elle Magazine . [5]

Filmography

YearTitleFunctioned asNotes
Writer Producer
1992 The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Yes (Silver)Executive (Jaffa)
1993 Fallen Angels Yes (Silver)NoTV series, episode "Murder, Obliquely"
1996 Eye for an Eye YesNo
1997 The Relic YesNoCo-wrote with Amy Holden Jones and John Raffo
2010 Love Shack NoYesAlso featured in cameos
2011 Rise of the Planet of the Apes YesYes
2014 Dawn of the Planet of the Apes YesYes
2015 Jurassic World YesNoCo-wrote with Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly
In the Heart of the Sea StoryNo
2017 War for the Planet of the Apes NoYes
2020 Mulan YesNoCo-wrote with Lauren Hynek and Elizabeth Martin
2022 Avatar: The Way of Water YesNoCo-wrote with James Cameron, Josh Friedman, and Shane Salerno
2024 Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes NoYes
2025 Avatar: Fire and Ash YesNoPost-production
2029 Avatar 4 StoryNoFilming On Hiatus
2031 Avatar 5 StoryNoIn development

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cameron</span> Canadian filmmaker (born 1954)

James Francis Cameron is a Canadian filmmaker. He is a major figure in the post-New Hollywood era and often uses novel technologies with a classical filmmaking style. He first gained recognition for writing and directing The Terminator (1984), and found further success with Aliens (1986), The Abyss (1989), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), and True Lies (1994), as well as Avatar (2009) and its sequels. He directed, wrote, co-produced, and co-edited Titanic (1997), winning Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Film Editing. He is a recipient of various other industry accolades, and three of his films have been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Wētā FX, formerly known as Weta Digital, is a New Zealand–based digital visual effects and animation company based in Miramar, Wellington. It was founded by Peter Jackson, Richard Taylor, and Jamie Selkirk in 1993 to produce the digital special effects for Heavenly Creatures. The company went on to produce some of the highest-grossing films ever made, such as the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Avatar series. Considered one of the most influential film companies of the 21st century, Wētā FX has won several Academy Awards and BAFTAs. The company is named after the New Zealand wētā, one of the world's largest insects, which was historically featured in the company logo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David S. Goyer</span> American filmmaker, novelist, and comic book writer

David Samuel Goyer is an American filmmaker, novelist and comic book writer. He is best known for writing the screenplays for several superhero films, including Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (1998), the Blade trilogy (1998–2004), Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy (2005–2012), Man of Steel (2013) and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016). He has also directed four films: Zig Zag (2002), Blade: Trinity (2004), The Invisible (2007) and The Unborn (2009). He is the creator of the science fiction television series Foundation which is loosely based upon the Foundation series written by Isaac Asimov.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Landau (film producer)</span> American film producer (1960–2024)

Jon Landau was an American film producer, who won an Academy Award for Best Picture for producing James Cameron's epic romantic disaster film Titanic (1997). He was also nominated for producing Cameron's epic science fiction films Avatar (2009) and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022). As of 2024, these are three of the four highest-grossing films of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josh Friedman</span> American screenwriter

Josh Friedman is an American screenwriter and television producer. He is best known for his work on the science-fiction action genre, including on the series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, the film adaptation of H. G. Wells' War of the Worlds (2005), Terminator: Dark Fate (2019), James Cameron's Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024). He also wrote the neo-noir murder mystery The Black Dahlia (2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shane Salerno</span> American filmmaker and activist

Shane Salerno is an American screenwriter, producer, and Chief Creative Officer of The Story Factory, which has put 32 books on the New York Times bestseller list, with seven books hitting #1. His writing credits include the films Avatar: The Way of Water, Armageddon, Savages,Shaft, and the TV series Hawaii Five-0. He has written, co-written or rewritten six films that debuted at #1 at the box office, two separate films that were the highest grossing film of the year, and the third highest grossing film of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lightstorm Entertainment</span> American production company

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Reeves</span> American filmmaker (born 1966)

Matt Reeves is an American filmmaker who first gained recognition for the WB drama series Felicity (1998–2002), which he co-created with J. J. Abrams. Reeves came to widespread attention for directing the hit monster-film Cloverfield (2008). He also directed the vampire drama Let Me In (2010), and the critically acclaimed science-fiction sequels Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). He directed the superhero film The Batman (2022), which stars Robert Pattinson as the title character.

<i>Planet of the Apes</i> American science fiction media franchise

Planet of the Apes is a science fiction media franchise consisting of films, books, television series, comics, and other media about a post-apocalyptic world in which humans and intelligent apes clash for control as the dominant species. The franchise started with French author Pierre Boulle's 1963 novel La Planète des singes, translated into English as Planet of the Apes or Monkey Planet. Its 1968 film adaptation, Planet of the Apes, was a critical and commercial hit, initiating a series of sequels, tie-ins, and derivative works. Arthur P. Jacobs produced the first five Apes films through APJAC Productions for distributor 20th Century Fox; following his death in 1973, Fox controlled the franchise, before its acquisition by Disney in 2019.

<i>Avatar: The Way of Water</i> 2022 American film by James Cameron

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 epic science fiction film co-produced, co-edited, and directed by James Cameron, who co-wrote the screenplay with Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver from a story the trio wrote with Josh Friedman and Shane Salerno. Distributed by 20th Century Studios, it is the sequel to Avatar (2009) and the second installment in the Avatar film series. It features Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldaña, Stephen Lang, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Giovanni Ribisi, Dileep Rao and Matt Gerald reprising their roles from the first film, with Sigourney Weaver returning in an additional role and Kate Winslet joining the cast. It follows a blue-skinned humanoid Na'vi named Jake Sully (Worthington) as he and his family, under renewed human threat, seek refuge with the aquatic Metkayina clan of Pandora, a habitable exomoon on which they live.

Rupert Wyatt is an English filmmaker. He made his directorial debut with the 2008 film The Escapist, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. His second film was the 2011 blockbuster Rise of the Planet of the Apes. His third film was the 2019 sci-fi film Captive State. He also directed the first two episodes of the television adaptation of The Mosquito Coast in 2021, as well as serving as an executive producer on the series.

<i>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</i> 2011 film by Rupert Wyatt

Rise of the Planet of the Apes is a 2011 American science fiction action film directed by Rupert Wyatt and written by the writing team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. It is a reboot of the Planet of the Apes film series and is the seventh installment overall and the first in the reboot series. The film stars James Franco, Freida Pinto, John Lithgow, Brian Cox, Tom Felton, and Andy Serkis. In the film, Caesar (Serkis), a chimpanzee genetically enhanced and raised by chemist Will Rodman (Franco), goes from living in captivity to eventually leading an ape uprising against the humanity.

<i>Avatar: Fire and Ash</i> Upcoming American film by James Cameron

Avatar: Fire and Ash is an upcoming American epic science fiction film co-produced, co-edited, co-written, and directed by James Cameron. Distributed by 20th Century Studios, it is the sequel to Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and the third installment in the Avatar film series.

<i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i> 2014 American film by Matt Reeves

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes is a 2014 American science fiction action film directed by Matt Reeves and written by Mark Bomback and the writing team of Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. The sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), it is the second installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the eighth film overall. It stars Andy Serkis as Caesar, alongside Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell, and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The film takes place 10 years after the events of Rise and follows a group of human survivors as they battle to stay alive in the wake of a deadly pandemic, while Caesar tries to maintain control over his expanding ape community which could lead to an all-out war between apes and humans.

Avatar is an American epic science fiction media franchise created by James Cameron, which began with the eponymous 2009 film. Produced by 20th Century Studios and distributed by Lightstorm Entertainment, it consists of associated merchandise, video games, and theme park attractions. Avatar is set in the mid-22nd century on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The films' central conflict is between the indigenous Na'vi led by Jake Sully and Neytiri, and humans led by Colonel Miles Quaritch from the Resources Development Administration (RDA), a megacorp which has arrived on Pandora to colonize and pillage it for its natural resources. The title of the series refers to the genetically engineered Na'vi body operated from the brain that humans pilot to interact with on Pandora.

<i>War for the Planet of the Apes</i> 2017 film by Matt Reeves

War for the Planet of the Apes is a 2017 American science fiction action film directed by Matt Reeves, who co-wrote it with Mark Bomback. The sequel to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), it is the third installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the ninth film overall. It stars Andy Serkis as Caesar, alongside Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn. The film takes place two years after the events of Dawn and follows the conflict between apes and humans as it has escalated into full war, while Caesar sets out to avenge those he has lost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Cameron's unrealized projects</span> Unrealized projects by Canadian filmmaker

The following is a list of unproduced James Cameron projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, Canadian film director James Cameron has worked on a number of projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell into development hell or are officially cancelled.

Avatar 4 is an upcoming American epic science fiction film co-written, co-edited, co-produced and directed by James Cameron. Distributed by 20th Century Studios, it will be the sequel to Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025) and the fourth installment in the Avatar film series.

<i>Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes</i> 2024 American film by Wes Ball

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a 2024 American science fiction action film directed by Wes Ball and written by Josh Friedman. It is the fourth installment in the Planet of the Apes reboot film series and the tenth film overall, serving as a standalone sequel to War for the Planet of the Apes (2017). The film stars Owen Teague, Freya Allan, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, and William H. Macy. It takes place many generations after the events of War and follows Noa (Teague), a young chimpanzee hunter who embarks on a journey alongside Mae (Allan), a human woman, to determine the future for apes and humans alike.

References

  1. Interview with Amanda Silver & Rick Jaffa, Media Mikes, August 4, 2011
  2. Fleming, Mike (August 2013). "'Avatar' Sequels Upped To Three; Fox, James Cameron Set Trio of Writers To Spearhead". Deadline. Retrieved October 18, 2013.
  3. McNary, Dave (April 22, 2017). "'Avatar' Sequel Release Dates Set, Starting in December, 2020". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  4. "Amanda Silver". Internet Movie Database . Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  5. "The 50 Women Who Rule Hollywood Now". October 21, 2015.