David Gordon Green

{{Infobox person

| name = David Gordon Green

| image = David Gordon Green at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival (Cropped).jpg

| caption = Green at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|04|09}}

| birth_place = Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.

| other names =

| alma_mater = University of North Carolina School of the Arts

| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|film producer|television producer|screenwriter}}

| years_active = 1997–present

| spouse =

| website =

}}

David Gordon Green (born April 9, 1975) is an American filmmaker. Green began his career in 1997 and gained fame with the independent film George Washington (2000). He directed two additional independent dramas, All the Real Girls (2003) and Snow Angels (2007), as well as the thriller Undertow (2004), all of which he wrote or co-wrote.

In 2008, Green transitioned into Hollywood studio comedies, directing the films Pineapple Express (2008), Your Highness and The Sitter (both 2011). He briefly returned to his dramatic roots with the independent films Prince Avalanche (2013), Joe (2013), and Manglehorn (2014). Following this departure, he returned to studio films with Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) and Stronger (2017). Green directed a trilogy of slasher films for the Halloween franchise: Halloween (2018), Halloween Kills (2021), and Halloween Ends (2022), which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Danny McBride. Most recently, Green directed The Exorcist: Believer (2023) and the Christmas comedy Nutcrackers (2024).

Green has also directed episodes of the comedy series Eastbound & Down (2009–2013), Red Oaks (2014–17), Vice Principals (2016–17), and The Righteous Gemstones (2019–present), on all of which he additionally served as executive producer.

Early life

Green, one of four children, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, and grew up in Richardson, Texas. His mother, Jean Ann (née Hunter), was a Lamaze instructor, and his father, Hubert Gordon Green, Jr., was a medical school dean.{{cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/david-gordon-green-5847/|title=Green, David Gordon|publisher=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=July 31, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731145709/http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=5847&type=race+&item=white&parent=&grandparent=|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.pierces.org/gen/3162.htm |title=Pierces.org |publisher=Pierces.org |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=August 21, 2014 |archive-date=April 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130415184950/http://www.pierces.org/gen/3162.htm |url-status=dead }} Green attended Richardson High School, the University of Texas at Austin, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, where he studied film directing.{{cite web|work=PopMatters|url=http://www.popmatters.com/feature/green-david-gordon/|title=Interview with David Gordon Green and Paul Schneider: All the Real Girls|author=Fuchs, Cynthia|access-date=February 3, 2015|archive-date=August 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814112835/http://www.popmatters.com/feature/green-david-gordon/|url-status=live}} He currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina.{{cite web|url=https://charlestoncitypaper.com/halloween-director-david-gordon-green-talks-anxiety-charleston-and-john-carpenter/|title=Halloween director David Gordon Green talks anxiety, Charleston, and John Carpenter|date=October 24, 2018|website=Charleston City Paper|access-date=December 10, 2021|archive-date=August 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822183147/https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2018/10/24/halloween-director-david-gordon-green-talks-anxiety-charleston-and-john-carpenter/|url-status=live}}

Career

File:David Gordon Green.jpg]]

As a college student, Green made the two short films, Pleasant Grove and Physical Pinball, at the North Carolina School of the Arts prior to his feature film debut in 2000, the critically acclaimed George Washington, which he both wrote and directed. He followed that with All the Real Girls in 2003 and Undertow in 2004. In 2007, he directed Snow Angels, his first adaptation, based on the Stewart O'Nan novel. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival{{cite web |last1=Ramos |first1=Steve |title=REVIEW {{!}} Quiet Anger: David Gordon Green's "Snow Angels" |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2008/03/review-quiet-anger-david-gordon-greens-snow-angels-72836/ |website=IndieWire |access-date=December 10, 2021 |date=March 7, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209040540/http://www.indiewire.com/movies/2007/01/park_city_07_re_3.html |archive-date=February 9, 2007 }} and stars Sam Rockwell and Kate Beckinsale. It was released by Warner Independent Pictures.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wip-turns-green-2-projects-132368/ |title=WIP turns Green with 2 projects |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=March 20, 2007 |access-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-date=August 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822183150/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wip-turns-green-2-projects-132368/ |url-status=live }}

In 2008, Green's career transitioned when he directed the Seth Rogen buddy comedy Pineapple Express, and the HBO series Eastbound & Down, for which he directed twelve episodes and served as a consulting producer. In 2011, he co-created the animated series Good Vibes and directed the comedies Your Highness and The Sitter, both of which received negative reviews.

In 2013, Green briefly returned to independent film when he directed and co-wrote Prince Avalanche and Joe. He followed these films with Manglehorn (2014), Our Brand Is Crisis (2015), and Stronger (2017).

In 2018, Green directed the horror sequel Halloween, produced by Jason Blum, executive produced by John Carpenter, and co-written by Green and Danny McBride.{{cite web|url=http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3424120/david-gordon-green-danny-mcbride-rebooting-halloween-october-2018/|title=David Gordon Green and Danny McBride Rebooting 'Halloween' for October 2018 - Bloody Disgusting|website=bloody-disgusting.com|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=March 5, 2017|archive-date=February 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210002226/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3424120/david-gordon-green-danny-mcbride-rebooting-halloween-october-2018/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Galluzzo|first1=Rob|title=David Gordon Green, Danny McBride Will Direct/Write The New HALLOWEEN Movie For Blumhouse!|url=http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/02/09/david-gordon-green-danny-mcbride-will-directwrite-the-new-halloween-movie-for-blumhouse/|website=Blumhouse|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211111625/http://www.blumhouse.com/2017/02/09/david-gordon-green-danny-mcbride-will-directwrite-the-new-halloween-movie-for-blumhouse/|url-status=dead}} He also directed its sequels Halloween Kills, released in October 2021, and Halloween Ends, released in October 2022.

In December 2020, it was announced Green will direct a new installment of The Exorcist franchise which will be a direct sequel to William Friedkin's 1973 film adaptation of the 1971 novel.{{cite web |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/exorcist-sequel-in-the-works-with-halloween-director-david-gordon-green |title= 'Exorcist' Sequel in the Works with 'Halloween' Director David Gordon Green |first= Aaron |last= Couch |date= December 20, 2020 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date= December 24, 2020 |archive-date= December 22, 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201222004215/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/exorcist-sequel-in-the-works-with-halloween-director-david-gordon-green |url-status= live }}{{cite web|url= https://observer.com/2020/12/david-gordon-green-exorcist-sequel-blumhouse-info-details/|title= Exclusive: David Gordon Green in Talks to Direct 'Exorcist' Sequel for Blumhouse|first= Brandon|last= Katz|date= December 20, 2020|website= observer.com|access-date= December 24, 2020|archive-date= December 21, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20201221233524/https://observer.com/2020/12/david-gordon-green-exorcist-sequel-blumhouse-info-details/|url-status= live}}{{cite web |url= https://gizmodo.com/blumhouse-is-summoning-another-exorcist-movie-to-the-mo-1845933090 |title= Blumhouse Is Summoning Another Exorcist Movie to the Mortal Plane |first= Charles |last= Pulliam-Moore |date= December 24, 2020 |website= Gizmodo |access-date= December 10, 2021 |archive-date= August 22, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230822183128/https://gizmodo.com/blumhouse-is-summoning-another-exorcist-movie-to-the-mo-1845933090 |url-status= live }} The Exorcist: Believer was released in October 2023.{{Cite magazine |last=Walsh |first=Savannah |date=2023-09-01 |title=The Power of Taylor Swift Compels 'Exorcist: Believer' to Move Release Date |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/09/the-power-of-taylor-swift-compels-exorcist-believer-to-move-release-dates |access-date=2024-10-05 |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US}}

Green subsequently directed the Christmas-set comedy Nutcrackers, which premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2024-07-16 |title=Ben Stiller's 'Nutcrackers' to Open Toronto Film Festival |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/ben-stiller-nutcrackers-2024-toronto-film-festival-1235949097/ |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Of the film, Green stated; "This movie is a lot of things. It's a comedy, it's a drama, it's a horror movie. But for me, it's a reason to dance, you know, I just wanted to start moving, move my body a little bit, and get out to the farm and kick some pig shit."{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/david-gordon-green-luca-guadagnino-nutcrackers-1235044473/|title=David Gordon Green Says Luca Guadagnino Is the Whole Reason 'Nutcrackers' Happened|website=IndieWire|date=September 6, 2024|access-date=October 25, 2024}}

Influences

Green's favorite films are, in order, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, 2001: A Space Odyssey, The Gravy Train, The Bad News Bears, Deliverance, Nashville and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.{{cite web |url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/interview-pineapple-express-director-david-gordon-green/ |title=Interview: Pineapple Express Director David Gordon Green |publisher=Firstshowing.net |date=August 3, 2008 |access-date=December 10, 2021 |archive-date=June 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160601004105/http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/interview-pineapple-express-director-david-gordon-green |url-status=live }}

It has been suggested, even by the director himself, that Green's early films (most notably George Washington) take influence from the works of Terrence Malick.The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, episode aired 2000. Available on George Washington DVD. New York: The Criterion Collection, 2001. Malick himself served as an executive producer of Green's 2004 film Undertow.

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title !width=65\| Director !width=65\| Writer !width=65\| Producer
2000 \| George Washington \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
2003 \| All the Real Girls \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
2004 \| Undertow \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
2007 \| Snow Angels \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
2008 \| Pineapple Express \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}}
rowspan="2"\| 2011 \| Your Highness \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}}
The Sitter \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}}
rowspan="2"\| 2013 \| Prince Avalanche \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
Joe \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{yes}}
2014 \| Manglehorn \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{yes}}
2015 \| Our Brand Is Crisis \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}}
2016 \| Goat \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
2017 \| Stronger \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}}
2018 \| Halloween \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{partial\|Executive}}
2021 \| Halloween Kills \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{partial\|Executive}}
2022 \| Halloween Ends \|{{yes}} \|{{yes}} \|{{partial\|Executive}}
2023 \| The Exorcist: Believer \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{partial\|Executive}}
2024 \| Nutcrackers \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{partial\|Executive}}

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

!width=65| Director

!width=65| Writer

!width=65| Producer

2000

| George Washington

| {{yes}}

2003

| All the Real Girls

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2004

| Undertow

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2007

| Snow Angels

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2008

| Pineapple Express

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

rowspan="2"| 2011

| Your Highness

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

The Sitter

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

rowspan="2"| 2013

| Prince Avalanche

| {{yes}}

Joe

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

2014

| Manglehorn

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

2015

| Our Brand Is Crisis

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2016

| Goat

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2017

| Stronger

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2018

| Halloween

| {{yes}}

| {{partial|Executive}}

2021

| Halloween Kills

| {{yes}}

| {{partial|Executive}}

2022

| Halloween Ends

|{{yes}}

|{{partial|Executive}}

2023

| The Exorcist: Believer

| {{yes}}

| {{partial|Executive}}

2024

| Nutcrackers

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| {{partial|Executive}}

style="width:100%;"

style="vertical-align:top;"

| style="width:40%;"|

Executive producer

The Comedy (2012)
Compliance (2012)
Nature Calls (2012)
See Girl Run (2012)
Camp X-Ray (2014)
Land Ho! (2014)
Booger Red (2015)
Hot Sugar's Cold World (2015)
Donald Cried (2016)
Fraud (2016)
Flower (2017)
Dayveon (2017)
Arizona (2018)
An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn (2018)
The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter (2018)
City of Joel (2018)

| style="width:60%;"|

Producer

| style="width:50%;"|

Actor

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title ! Role
rowspan=2\|2022 \| The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent \| Himself
Bones and All \| Brad
2023 \| I'm a Virgo \| Bartender

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

! Role

rowspan=2|2022

| The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

| Himself

Bones and All

| Brad

2023

| I'm a Virgo

| Bartender

=Television=

class="wikitable"
Year(s) ! Title !width=65\| Director !width=65\| Executive Producer ! Notes
2009-2013 \| Eastbound & Down \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 12 episodes
2011 \| Good Vibes \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|Also writer and co-creator
2014 \| Chozen \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|
2014-2017 \| Red Oaks \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 6 episodes
2016-2017 \| Vice Principals \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 8 episodes
rowspan="2" \| 2017 \| There's... Johnny! \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Episodes "Andy Goes to Hollywood" and "Dog Day Afternoon"
Tarantula \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|
2019-2025 \| The Righteous Gemstones \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 9 episodes
2019 \| Dickinson \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|Episodes "Because I could not stop" and "I have never seen 'Volcanoes'"
2020 \| Mythic Quest: Raven's Banquet \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|Episodes "Pilot", "The Casino" and "The Convention"
2021 \| The Sex Lives of College Girls \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|Episode: "Welcome to Essex"
2023 \| Telemarketers \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \|
2025 \| Scarpetta \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|

class="wikitable"

Year(s)

! Title

!width=65| Director

!width=65| Executive
Producer

! Notes

2009-2013

| Eastbound & Down

| {{yes}}

| 12 episodes

2011

| Good Vibes