Discovering the Man Behind the Camera: Joseph Kosinski
Joseph Kosinski, born on May 3, 1974, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and raised in Marshalltown, Iowa, has come a long way since his humble beginnings. Starting his career in the film industry in 1999, he initially focused on directing commercials. However, in 2010, he made his feature film debut with the Disney Digital 3-D science-fiction film ‘Tron: Legacy.’ Since then, Kosinski has continued to make a name for himself in the world of cinema, with his most recent directorial effort being the 2017 biographical action drama ‘Only the Brave.’ Here are five intriguing facts about this talented filmmaker that you might not know.
1. The Unpublished Graphic Novel That Became ‘Oblivion’
In 2005, Kosinski began writing a film treatment that eventually evolved into an unpublished graphic novel titled ‘Oblivion.’ Initially intended for Radical Comics, Walt Disney Pictures acquired the rights to the novel in 2010. To adapt the novel into a film, William Monahan worked on the screenplay, which was later rewritten by Karl Gajdusek. However, Disney was forced to relinquish the rights as they were unable to maintain a PG rating for the film. Universal Pictures then stepped in, agreeing to work on the film with a PG-13 rating. Released in 2013, ‘Oblivion’ starred Tom Cruise and remains the only movie that Kosinski has written, directed, and produced.
2. A Bright Future with Exciting Projects on the Horizon
Having established himself as a feature film director, Joseph Kosinski is now in high demand and has several future projects in the pipeline, in addition to the highly anticipated ‘Top Gun’ sequel. He is set to direct the movie adaptation of ‘The Twilight Zone,’ although a release date has yet to be announced. Furthermore, he is also writing ‘Archangels’ and ‘Gran Turismo.’
3. Taking the Helm for ‘Top Gun: Maverick’
In 2017, it was announced that Joseph Kosinski would direct the sequel to the iconic ‘Top Gun.’ Titled ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ the film is slated for release in 2019. The original movie’s director, Tony Scott, tragically committed suicide in 2012, which delayed the development of the sequel that had been in active development since 2010. Tom Cruise will reprise his lead role in the upcoming film.
4. A Triple Award-Winning Director
Kosinski has directed numerous commercials, earning him three prestigious ACIP awards. The commercials that garnered these accolades were the ‘Mad World’ commercial for ‘Gears of War,’ Destiny’s ‘Become Legend,’ and Assassin’s Creed’s ‘Unity.’ All three commercials are now part of the Department of Film at the Museum of Modern Art. Other commercials directed by Kosinski include Doom, Apple, Lexus, BMW, and the ‘Starry Night’ commercial for ‘Halo 3.’
5. From Architect to Filmmaker
Interestingly, working in the film industry was not Joseph Kosinski’s initial career choice. In interviews, he has mentioned that he grew up in an environment where he didn’t even know it was an option. Instead, he pursued an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Stanford University, followed by a graduate degree in architecture at Columbia University. Kosinski is an alumnus of the Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation and has also served as a professor of architecture, specializing in graphics and 3D modeling.
There’s no doubt that Joseph Kosinski’s star is on the rise, and he’s seizing every opportunity to make his mark on the cinematic landscape.
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