Tim Miller (director)

Last updated
Tim Miller
Tim Miller by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg
Miller at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con promoting Terminator: Dark Fate
Born
Timothy Miller

(1964-10-10) October 10, 1964 (age 59)
Fort Washington, Maryland, U.S.
Occupations
  • Film director
  • film producer
  • screenwriter
  • visual effects artist
  • animator
Years active1995–present
Known for
Awards See below

Timothy Miller (born October 10, 1964) is an American filmmaker, animator, and visual effects artist. He made his feature-film directing debut with the superhero film Deadpool (2016). He then directed Terminator: Dark Fate (2019), the sixth installment in the Terminator franchise. He is the creator of the animated anthology series Love, Death & Robots (2019-present), for which he has won three Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.

Contents

Miller is the co-founder of the visual effects company Blur Studio. He was nominated Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film as co-story writer and executive producer of the short animated film Gopher Broke (2004). He also designed the title sequences of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Thor: The Dark World (2013).

Early life

Miller was born in Fort Washington, Maryland. [1] He studied illustration and animation in college. [2]

Career

Visual effects and animation

In March 1995, Miller co-founded Blur Studio, a visual effects, animation and design company with David Stinnett and Cat Chapman. [3] Miller and Jeff Fowler were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2005 for the short film Gopher Broke . [4]

In March 2008, Miller was set to produce and direct one of eight animated tales based on the Heavy Metal magazine. David Fincher and Kevin Eastman were also attached to produce and direct a story segment. [5] Miller was set by Legendary Pictures on March 15, 2012 to direct a live-action adaptation of the Warren Ellis comic book series Gravel , from a script by Oliver Butcher and Stephen Cornwell. [6] On November 14, 2012, Sony Pictures set Miller to direct Joe Haldeman's science fiction novella Seasons, which Sebastian Gutierrez was set to adapt and Michael De Luca to produce. [7] Miller and Jeff Fowler are also set to direct and produce the animated film The Goon through their Blur Studio. [8] As of 2024, these films are still in development.

Miller designed the title sequences of the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011), [9] and of the film Thor: The Dark World (2013). The latter was completed in 12 weeks and included 75 shots, most of which were computer-generated. [10]

Director

On April 8, 2011, Miller was hired by 20th Century Fox to direct the feature film Deadpool , based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It was his directorial debut, and was written by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, with Ryan Reynolds starring in the title role. [11] Filming began late March 2015 in Vancouver, and the film was released on February 12, 2016. [12] [13] Miller was set to direct the sequel, Deadpool 2 , released in 2018, [14] but he departed the project due to creative differences with Reynolds. [15] [16]

In January 2017, Deadline reported that Miller was in talks with James Cameron to work on and possibly direct a new Terminator film. [17] Skydance Media confirmed in September 2017 that Miller would direct the next Terminator film. [18] The title of the film was officially announced as Terminator: Dark Fate in 2019. [19] During production of the film, when asked about backlash regarding the female main characters, Miller said that Mackenzie Davis's character Grace would "scare the fuck" out of "closet misogynist[s]." [20] Despite favorable reviews, the film became a box-office bomb, losing upwards of $100 million. [21]

In mid-2017, Miller was hired to direct an adaptation of William Gibson's 1984 science-fiction novel Neuromancer for Fox, which will be produced by Simon Kinberg. [22]

In January 2023, Eli Roth's film Borderlands went through two weeks of reshoots directed by Miller, due to Roth's participation in Thanksgiving , a slasher film that was initially created by Roth as a parody trailer for Grindhouse but has since been promoted to a feature-length film. While Roth was not involved with the reshoots for Borderlands, he remained involved with the movie and gave Miller both his blessing and credit as an executive producer. [23]

Producer

In October 2016, Miller was hired to serve as executive producer for a Sonic the Hedgehog feature film, [24] originally being set to be produced by Sony Pictures, before being acquired by Paramount Pictures. [25] Miller and director Jeff Fowler first created a pitch for a Sonic movie with Ben Schwartz voicing the character. After the movie was green-lighted by Paramount, the two chose to cast Schwartz as the voice of Sonic in the film, having enjoyed his performance in the test reading. [26] The film was released on February 14, 2020, and received a warm critical and commercial reception. [27] [28] [29] [30] Miller returned as executive producer for the film's sequel, released on April 8, 2022. [31]

Miller created the upcoming anthology series Secret Level , set to premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 10, 2024. [32] [33]

Filmography

Short films

YearTitleDirectorWriterExecutive
producer		Notes
2002Aunt LuisaYesStoryNoCo-directed with Paul Taylor
2003RockFish [34] YesYesNoAlso animation supervisor
2004 Gopher Broke NoStoryYes
In the RoughNoStoryYes
2006A Gentlemen's DuelNoYesYes

Feature films

YearTitleDirectorExecutive
producer		Notes
2016 Deadpool YesNo
2019 Terminator: Dark Fate YesYesAlso co-creative consultant
2020 Sonic the Hedgehog NoYes
2022 Sonic the Hedgehog 2 NoYes
2024 Borderlands UncreditedYesDirected reshoot
Sonic the Hedgehog 3 NoYes

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterExecutive
producer		CreatorNotes
2019–present Love, Death & Robots YesYesYesYesDirector: "Ice Age"
Director and writer: "The Drowned Giant" & "Swarm"
Story: "Night of the Mini Dead"
2024–present Secret Level TBATBAYesYes

Technical credits

Film

YearTitleRole
1995 Hideaway Visual effects
2001 Soulkeeper Creative supervisor (Blur Studio sequences)
2004 Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas Creative director
2010 Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Creative supervisor (Ninja Ninja sequence)
2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Creative director (Title sequence)
2013 Thor: The Dark World Second unit director (Opening sequence)

Video games

YearTitleRole
2005 Shadow the Hedgehog Visual effects producer
2007 Hellgate: London Visual effects
2010 Mass Effect 2 Visual effects producer
2011 Star Wars: The Old Republic

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2005 77th Academy Awards Best Animated Short Film Gopher Broke Nominated [35]
2008 Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Pre-Rendered Visuals in a Video Game Hellgate: London Nominated [36]
2010Outstanding Visual Effects in a Video Game Trailer Star Wars: The Old Republic Nominated [37]
Mass Effect 2 Nominated
2011Outstanding Animated Commercial Dante's Inferno Nominated [38] [39]
Outstanding Visual Effects in a Video Game TrailerStar Wars: The Old RepublicNominated
2017 69th Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – First-Time Feature Film Deadpool Nominated [40]
Hugo Awards Best Dramatic Presentation Nominated
2019 71st Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Short Form Animated Program Love, Death & Robots Won [41]
2021 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards Won [42]
2022 74th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Won [43]

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References

  1. ↑ "Tim Miller". AlloCiné . Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  2. ↑ Frei, Vincent (March 1, 2016). "Deadpool: Tim Miller (Director & Founder), Pauline Duvall (VFX Supervisor) & Franck Balson (Previsualization Supervisor) – Blur Studio". The Art of VFX. Archived from the original on December 16, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  3. ↑ Intergraph Computer Systems (February 12, 1997). "Intergraph Workstations Play Starring Role in "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" at Blur Studio". Business Wire. The Free Library. Archived from the original on December 3, 2018. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  4. ↑ "The 77th Academy Awards (2005) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on August 14, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  5. ↑ Stephenson, Hunter (March 14, 2008). "David Fincher to Produce and Co-Direct Animated Heavy Metal Film". slashfilm.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  6. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 15, 2012). "VFX Wiz Tim Miller Digs In To Helm 'Gravel' For Legendary Pictures". deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 28, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  7. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 14, 2012). "Sony Acquires Joe Haldeman Sci-Fi Novella 'Seasons' For Tim Miller To Direct". deadline.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  8. ↑ Amidi, Amid (October 19, 2012). "Blur's Tim Miller Responds To "The Goon" Kickstarter Controversy". cartoonbrew.com. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  9. ↑ Semigran, Aly (February 21, 2012). "Oscars 2012 Behind the Scenes: How the hypnotizing 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' opening credits came to be". ew.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Tim Miller and Blur create prologue for 'Marvel's Thor: The Dark World'". PostPerspective.com. 19 November 2013. Archived from the original on July 3, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  11. ↑ McClintock, Pamela (April 8, 2011). "Fox Sets Tim Miller to Direct 'Deadpool'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 2, 2017. Retrieved March 7, 2015.
  12. ↑ Perry, Spencer (December 4, 2014). "Deadpool Set to Begin Production in March as Ryan Reynolds Signs on to Return". Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  13. ↑ McNary, Dave (September 18, 2014). "X-Men Spinoff 'Deadpool' to Hit Theaters Feb. 12, 2016". Variety . Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  14. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 9, 2016). "'Deadpool' Sequel Already in the Works". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
  15. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 22, 2016). "Deadpool Director Tim Miller Exits Sequel Disagreements Ryan Reynolds". Deadline.com. Archived from the original on August 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ Gonzalez, Umberto; Maglio, Tony (October 22, 2016). "'Deadpool 2' Drama: Here's What Ryan Reynolds and Director Tim Miller Clashed Over (Exclusive)". TheWrap.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 20, 2017). "He's Back! James Cameron To Godfather 'Terminator' With 'Deadpool' Helmer Tim Miller". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 21, 2017. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ ""Terminator 6" Is a go! Tim Miller Will Officially Direct!". Skynet's Army. September 12, 2017. Archived from the original on September 29, 2017.
  19. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 19, 2019). "Paramount Titles James Cameron Produced 'Terminator' Sequel; Pic Will Stay Put On Nov. 1 Against 'Charlie's Angels'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  20. ↑ Donnelly, Matt (July 10, 2019). "'Terminator: Dark Fate' Director: Why Mackenzie Davis Will 'Scare the F— Out of' Misogynists". Variety. Archived from the original on July 10, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  21. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (November 3, 2019). "Box Office Bomb: 'Terminator: Dark Fate' Could Lose Over $100 Million". Variety . Archived from the original on November 3, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
  22. ↑ Couch, Aaron (August 9, 2017). "'Deadpool' Director Tim Miller to Adapt 'Neuromancer' for Fox". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  23. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 7, 2023). "Tim Miller Steps In For Eli Roth To Handle 'Borderlands' Reshoot As Roth Cooks Up Feature Version Of 'Grindhouse' Trailer 'Thanksgiving'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on January 8, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  24. ↑ Kit, Borys (October 31, 2016). "'Deadpool' Director Shifts to Sony's 'Sonic the Hedgehog' Movie (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2017.
  25. ↑ McNary, Dave (October 2, 2017). "'Sonic the Hedgehog' Movie Lands at Paramount". Variety . Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  26. ↑ "Ben Schwartz talks starring role in 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie". Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Archived from the original on January 14, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  28. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  29. ↑ "Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on August 7, 2020. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  30. ↑ "Sonic The Hedgehog (2020)". The Numbers . Archived from the original on December 6, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2020.
  31. ↑ Kroll, Justin (May 28, 2020). "'Sonic the Hedgehog' Sequel in the Works". Variety.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  32. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 14, 2024). "Prime Video Orders Animated Video Game Anthology Series Secret Level From Love, Death & Robots Creator". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 20, 2024). "Prime Video's Animated Anthology Series Secret Level Reveals Full List Of Featured Games, Including Pac-Man & D&D, Gets Premiere Date & Teaser". Deadline Hollywood . Penske Media Corporation . Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  34. ↑ Rockfish at IMDb
  35. ↑ "The 77th Academy Awards (2005) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  36. ↑ "6th Annual VES Awards". Visual Effects Society. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  37. ↑ "8th Annual VES Awards". visual effects society. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  38. ↑ "9th Annual VES Awards". visual effects society. Archived from the original on March 31, 2019. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  39. ↑ "Visual Effects Society Announces Winners of 9th Annual VES Awards". studiodaily.com. February 2, 2011. Archived from the original on December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  40. ↑ "69th Annual DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America. Archived from the original on August 4, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Nominees/Winners". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  42. ↑ "73rd Emmy Awards Complete Nominations List" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
  43. ↑ Moreau, Jordan (July 12, 2022). "Emmys 2022: Complete Nominations List". Variety . Archived from the original on July 12, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
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