William Wisher Jr.

Last updated

William Wisher Jr.
Occupation Screenwriter

William Howard Peter Wisher Jr. is an American screenwriter, known for his work with long-time friend James Cameron on The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day . [1] [2]

Contents

Career

Wisher has had roles behind and in front of the camera. In the first Terminator film, Wisher has a brief role as 1L19 (real name unknown), an LAPD police officer who is incapacitated next to his own police cruiser by the Terminator, who then steals his vehicle and briefly assumes his identity on the police radio band. He also has a cameo appearance in Terminator 2: Judgment Day; here he plays a man shopping with his girlfriend and takes pictures of Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 Terminator getting back on his feet after being thrown through a store window. He also plays news reporter Bill Tyler in Cameron's 1989 film The Abyss .

Wisher's other screenwriting work includes Judge Dredd , The 13th Warrior and both versions of The Exorcist prequel. He is an uncredited script doctor on two films in the Die Hard series, 1995's Die Hard with a Vengeance and 2007's Live Free or Die Hard (on which he also served as executive producer). [3]

Filmography

YearTitleCreditOther notes
1984 The Terminator Additional Dialoguealso co-wrote the novelization ( ISBN   0-553-25317-4)
1989 Desperado: The Outlaw Wars Teleplay
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Written byCo-Wrote screenplay with James Cameron
1995 Judge Dredd Story, ScreenplayCo-wrote Story with Michael De Luca, Co-wrote Screenplay with Steven E. de Souza
1999 The 13th Warrior ScreenplayCo-wrote screenplay with Warren Lewis
2004 Exorcist: The Beginning StoryCo-wrote Story with Caleb Carr
2005 Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist Written byCo-written with Caleb Carr
2007 Live Free or Die Hard Executive Producer
2016 I.T. Screenplay, Executive ProducerCo-wrote screenplay with Dan Kay [4]
TBAThe EnglishmanScreenplay bybased on the 1997 novel "Once a Pilgrim: The True Story of One Man’s Courage Under Rebel Fire" by Will Scully [5] [6]
Come Hell or High WaterWritten by [7] [8]

Uncredited revisions

Unmade projects

Acting credits

YearFilmRoleNotes
1977The ReunionUnspecified Role
1978 Xenogenesis Raj
1984 The Terminator 1L19 (police officer)Cameo Appearance
1988 Martini Ranch: ReachMusic video
1989 The Abyss Bill Tyler
1991 Terminator 2: Judgment Day Tourist/Photographer in Galleria MallCameo Appearance

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Willis</span> American actor (born 1955)

Walter Bruce Willis is an American retired actor. He achieved fame with a leading role on the comedy-drama series Moonlighting (1985–1989) and has appeared in over a hundred films, gaining recognition as an action hero for his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise (1988–2013).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Lester</span> American film director (born 1932)

Richard Lester Liebman is a retired American film director based in the United Kingdom, famous for his comedic and campy style of shooting movies and for his work in both US and UK cinema.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barry Levinson</span> American filmmaker

Barry Lee Levinson is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. His best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as Diner (1982), The Natural (1984), Good Morning, Vietnam (1987), Bugsy (1991), and Wag the Dog (1997). Levinson won the Academy Award for Best Director for Rain Man (1988). In 2021, he co-executive produced the Hulu miniseries Dopesick and directed the first two episodes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard Donner</span> American film director (1930–2021)

Richard Donner was an American filmmaker and film producer. He directed several financially successful films during the New Hollywood period. Michael Barson, Senior Publicist for Putnam, author of over ten books, wrote, Donner was "one of Hollywood's most reliable makers of action blockbusters." His 50-year career crossed genres and influenced trends among film makers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Friedkin</span> American director and producer (1935–2023)

William David Friedkin was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in documentaries in the early 1960s, he is best known for his crime thriller film The French Connection (1971), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and the horror film The Exorcist (1973), which earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

<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">Paul Fix</span> American film and television character actor, best known for his work in Westerns

Peter Paul Fix was an American film and television character actor who was best known for his work in Westerns. Fix appeared in more than 100 movies and dozens of television shows over a 56-year career between 1925 and 1981. Fix portrayed Marshal Micah Torrance, opposite Chuck Connors's character in The Rifleman from 1958 to 1963. He later appeared with Connors in the 1966 Western film Ride Beyond Vengeance.

Michael Bacall is an American screenwriter and actor, known for having co-written the films Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, 21 Jump Street, and Project X.

<i>Plymouth Adventure</i> 1952 film by Clarence Brown

Plymouth Adventure is a 1952 American Technicolor historical drama film with an ensemble cast starring Spencer Tracy, Gene Tierney, Van Johnson and Leo Genn, made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Clarence Brown, and produced by Dore Schary. The screenplay was adapted by Helen Deutsch from the 1950 novel The Voyage of the Mayflower by Ernest Gébler. The supporting cast includes Barry Jones, Dawn Addams, Lloyd Bridges and John Dehner.

John McNamara is an American writer, producer, showrunner and television creator. He attended East Grand Rapids High School located in Michigan and attended the University of Michigan and New York University. While at NYU, he wrote two children's books published by Delacorte Press and a teleplay for the CBS Afternoon Playhouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Batman in film</span> Film adaptations of the DC superhero

The Batman franchise, based on the fictional superhero Batman who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics, has seen the release of various films. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, the character first starred in two serial films in the 1940s: Batman and Batman and Robin. The character also appeared in the 1966 film Batman, which was a feature film adaptation of the 1960s Batman TV series starring Adam West and Burt Ward, who also starred in the film. Toward the end of the 1980s, the Warner Bros. studio began producing a series of feature films starring Batman, beginning with the 1989 film Batman, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton. Burton and Keaton returned for the 1992 sequel Batman Returns, and in 1995, Joel Schumacher directed Batman Forever with Val Kilmer as Batman. Schumacher also directed the 1997 sequel Batman & Robin, which starred George Clooney. Batman & Robin was poorly received by both critics and fans, leading to the cancellation of Batman Unchained.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superman in film</span> Film adaptations of DC Comics Superman franchise

DC Comics's Superman franchise, based on the character of the same name created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in June 1938, has seen the release of various films since its inception. The character debuted in cinemas in a series of animated shorts beginning in 1941, and then was the protagonist of two movie serials in 1948 and 1950. An independent studio, Lippert Pictures, released the first Superman feature film, Superman and the Mole Men, starring George Reeves, in 1951. In 1973, the film rights to the Superman character were purchased by Ilya Salkind, Alexander Salkind, and Pierre Spengler. After numerous scripts and several years in development, Richard Donner was hired as their director, and he shot two films, Superman (1978), and Superman II (1980), at the same time, both starring Christopher Reeve. Donner had already shot eighty percent of Superman II before it was decided to finish shooting the first film. The Salkinds fired Donner after Superman's release and commissioned Richard Lester as the director to finish Superman II. Lester returned to direct Superman III (1983). The Salkinds also produced the related spin-off Supergirl (1984). They then sold the rights to Cannon Films, which produced the poorly reviewed Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987). Ilya Salkind commissioned a fifth Superman script before Warner Bros. acquired the rights entirely in 1993.

Die Hard is an American action film series that originated with Roderick Thorp's 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever. All five films revolve around the main character of John McClane, a police detective who continually finds himself in the middle of a crisis where he is the only hope against disaster. The films have grossed a combined $1.4 billion worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Max Landis</span> American screenwriter and filmmaker

Max Landis is an American filmmaker and the son of director John Landis. He wrote scripts for the films Chronicle (2012), American Ultra (2015), Victor Frankenstein (2015), and Bright (2017). He wrote and directed the film Me Him Her (2015), produced the first two seasons of the Syfy series Channel Zero (2016), and created the series Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016) based on the novel, for BBC America. He has also written limited series published by DC and Image Comics.

John Michael Fasano was an American screenwriter, film producer and director.

<i>A Good Day to Die Hard</i> 2013 action film directed by John Moore

A Good Day to Die Hard is a 2013 American action thriller film and the fifth and final installment in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by John Moore and written by Skip Woods, and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane in his final film in the franchise. The main plot finds McClane traveling to Russia to get his estranged son, Jack, an undercover CIA agent, out of prison. He is soon caught in the crossfire of a global terrorist plot. Alongside Willis, the film also stars Jai Courtney, Cole Hauser, Yulia Snigir, and Sebastian Koch.

<i>China Clipper</i> (film) 1936 film by Ray Enright

China Clipper is a 1936 American drama film directed by Ray Enright, written by Frank Wead and starring Pat O'Brien, Ross Alexander, Beverly Roberts, Humphrey Bogart and, in his final motion-picture appearance, veteran actor Henry B. Walthall. Walthall was gravely ill during production and his illness was incorporated into his character's role. He died during production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DC Extended Universe</span> Shared fictional universe

The DC Extended Universe (DCEU) is an American media franchise and shared universe centered on a series of superhero films produced by DC Studios and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. It is based on characters that appear in American comic books published by DC Comics. The DCEU also includes comic books, short films, novels, and video games. Like the original DC Universe in comic books, the DCEU is established by crossing over common plot elements, settings, cast, and characters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Douglas</span> American actor (1911–1997)

Warren Douglas was an American actor, novelist, lyricist and screenwriter.

<i>The Girl from Montmartre</i> 1926 film by Alfred E. Green

The Girl from Montmartre is a 1926 American silent romantic drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Barbara La Marr in her last film role. It was distributed through First National on the day after La Marr died.

References

  1. "William Wisher Interview; Exclusive and Highly in-Depth Chat with the Legendary Screenwriter and Co-writer of 'Terminator 2'". v13.net. May 31, 2017. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  2. "William Wisher, Screenwriter". radiogabriel.com. April 29, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  3. "The Strange History of the die Hard Movies". December 2019.
  4. "Pierce Brosnan thriller IT finds director". Digital Spy . August 27, 2014.
  5. "Die Hard 5' Director John Moore on Board 'The Englishman' (EXCLUSIVE)". www.variety.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  6. "John Moore Directing The Englishman". www.empireonline.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  7. "John Moore Directing Come Hell Or High Water". www.empireonline.com. August 8, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  8. "John Moore To Direct WWII Biopic 'Come Hell Or High Water'". www.deadline.com. October 29, 2015. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  9. "Writers Bio".
  10. "Confessions from the crypt". www.variety.com. January 9, 2001. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  11. "For new battalion of studio pix, war is swell". www.variety.com. March 25, 1997. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  12. "Combat!". www.scriptshadow.net. December 4, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  13. "Combat Movie". www.jodavidsmeyer.com. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  14. "Fox taps Wisher for 'Clipper'". www.variety.com. June 26, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  15. "T2 Scribe Wisher Plans Escape". www.comingsoon.net. June 27, 2007. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  16. "John Moore Spies A Pilgrim". www.empireonline.com. October 13, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  17. "John Moore to Direct Pilgrim". www.movieweb.com. October 13, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  18. "Par will show 'Remorse". www.variety.com. October 31, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  19. "WB puts 'Superman' into the Wisher well". www.variety.com. June 30, 1999. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
  20. "Warners Pushing Ahead on Superman Lives". www.ign.com. June 22, 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2023.