Gerard Johnstone

{{Infobox person

| name = Gerard Johnstone

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Invercargill, New Zealand

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater =

| occupation = {{hlist|Director|writer}}

| years_active = 2008–present

| spouse =

| children = 2

| awards =

| signature =

}}

Gerard Johnstone is a New Zealand screenwriter and director. He is known for the comedy sitcom series The Jaquie Brown Diaries and the horror films Housebound and M3GAN.

Early life

Johnstone was born in Invercargill, New Zealand,{{Cite news |date=1 September 2017 |title=Kiwi director Gerard Johnstone poised to polish Justice League Dark script |work=Stuff |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/96425952/kiwi-director-gerard-johnstone-poised-to-polish-justice-league-dark-script |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/film/96425952/kiwi-director-gerard-johnstone-poised-to-polish-justice-league-dark-script |archive-date=13 January 2023}} where he attended Verdon College.{{Cite web |last=Maka |first=Valu |date=13 January 2023 |title=From meat works to making waves in Hollywood |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/southland/meat-works-making-waves-hollywood |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=Otago Daily Times}}

Career

In the early 2000s, Johnstone and Jaquie Brown worked together at C4. A few years later, they created a production company, Young, Gifted & Brown, to make the New Zealand sitcom The Jaquie Brown Diaries, based on a satirical fictionalised version of Brown. It began airing in 2008 with Johnstone serving as writer and director.{{Cite news |title=Young, gifted and Brown |work=The New Zealand Herald |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/young-gifted-and-brown/LF2AM6REXYTPTPLHRTHRUWDO7M/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/young-gifted-and-brown/LF2AM6REXYTPTPLHRTHRUWDO7M/ |archive-date=13 January 2023}}{{Cite web |title=The Jaquie Brown diaries. Series one [videorecording] / director, Gerard Johnstone ; producer, Hayley Cunningham ; writers, Gerard Johnstone, Jodie Molloy. |url=https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21530411 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://natlib.govt.nz/records/21530411 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=National Library of New Zealand}}

In March 2014, Johnstone made his directorial debut with Housebound at the South by Southwest festival.{{Cite news |last=Whittaker |first=Richard |date=11 March 2014 |title=SXSW Gets Housebound |work=The Austin Chronicle |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sxsw/2014-03-11/sxsw-gets-housebound/ |url-status=live |access-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230112060742/https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/sxsw/2014-03-11/sxsw-gets-housebound/ |archive-date=12 January 2023}} The comedy horror film was released on 17 October 2014 in select theatres and VOD.{{Cite web |last=Dickson |first=Evan |date=6 October 2014 |title=Housebound Movie Clip: Beware the Teddy Bear |url=https://collider.com/housebound-movie-clip/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://collider.com/housebound-movie-clip/ |archive-date=13 January 2023 |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Collider}} The following year, Johnstone approached New Zealand weightlifter Sonia Manaena, who set the world record in 2013 for deadlifting, about directing a film detailing her life being a competitive weightlifter.{{Cite news |last=Salter |first=Caitlin |date=14 May 2015 |title=Film to be made about Southland power lifter Sonia Manaena |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/68552117/film-to-be-made-about-southland-power-lifter-sonia-manaena |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=Stuff |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/culture/68552117/film-to-be-made-about-southland-power-lifter-sonia-manaena |url-status=live }} Filming was scheduled to begin in 2016, but as of 2023 Johnstone said, "It's been cooking in the background for a long time".{{Cite web |last=Connelly |first=Brendon |date=10 January 2023 |title=M3gan interview: Gerard Johnstone on his brilliant career and creating a horror icon |url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/m3gan-interview-gerard-johnstone-on-his-brilliant-career-and-creating-a-horror-icon/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Film Stories |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222455/https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/m3gan-interview-gerard-johnstone-on-his-brilliant-career-and-creating-a-horror-icon/ |url-status=live }}

In 2016, he released Terry Teo, a reboot of the 1985 television series, Terry and the Gunrunners.{{Cite news |last=Johnstone |first=Gerard |date=24 November 2016 |title=Throwback Thursday: The maker of Terry Teo (2016) on Terry Teo (1985) |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/24-11-2016/throwback-thursday-the-maker-of-terry-teo-2016-on-terry-teo-1985 |access-date=13 January 2023 |work=The Spinoffn |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/24-11-2016/throwback-thursday-the-maker-of-terry-teo-2016-on-terry-teo-1985 |url-status=live }} By August 2017, Johnstone was reported to be in the running to direct Warner Bros.' Dark Universe, but instead was hired to polish the script.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=29 August 2017 |title='Justice League Dark' Gets Script Polish From Gerard Johnstone |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/justice-league-dark-new-script-gerard-johnstone-1202542351/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=Variety |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113222446/https://variety.com/2017/film/news/justice-league-dark-new-script-gerard-johnstone-1202542351/ |url-status=live }}

Johnstone directed episodes of the first season of The New Legends of Monkey, airing in 2018.{{Cite web |title=Gerard Johnstone |url=https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/gerard-johnstone/screenography |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=NZ On Screen |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113225147/https://www.nzonscreen.com/profile/gerard-johnstone/screenography |url-status=live }} That same year, he signed on to direct the comedy horror film, M3GAN.{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=18 July 2018 |title=Jason Blum, James Wan Team for Horror-Thriller 'M3GAN' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jason-blum-james-wan-team-horror-film-m3gan-1128040/ |access-date=13 January 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |archive-date=2 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230102154058/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jason-blum-james-wan-team-horror-film-m3gan-1128040/ |url-status=live }} Producer James Wan chose Johnstone for the job after admiring his ability to balance horror and comedy elements in Housebound.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=8 January 2023 |title=How 'M3GAN' Boogied Her Way To The Box Office Via TikTok; Sequel Already In Works |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/m3gan-box-office-sequel-tiktok-marketing-1235214229/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108230331/https://deadline.com/2023/01/m3gan-box-office-sequel-tiktok-marketing-1235214229/ |url-status=live }} M3GAN was released on 6 January 2023 to commercial and critical success. It grossed over $30 million on its opening weekend and garnered positive reviews.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=8 January 2023 |title='M3GAN' Slays With $30M+ Opening; 'Avatar: The Way Of Water' Hits Half Billion Faster Than 'Top Gun 2', 'Rogue One – Sunday AM Box Office Update |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/box-office-m3gan-avatar-the-way-of-water-1235212918/ |access-date=8 January 2023 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US |archive-date=8 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230108015724/https://deadline.com/2023/01/box-office-m3gan-avatar-the-way-of-water-1235212918/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title= M3GAN (2022) |url= https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/m3gan |website= Rotten Tomatoes |access-date= 9 January 2023 |archive-date= 4 February 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230204045119/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/m3gan |url-status= live }} He returned to direct the sequel, M3GAN 2.0, scheduled for release June 27, 2025.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2024-07-16 |title=M3GAN 2.0 Rolls Cameras With Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, Jemaine Clement & More |url=https://deadline.com/2024/07/m3gan-2-0-jemaine-clement-tim-sharpp-aristotle-athari-1236011524/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Personal life

Johnstone is married.{{Cite news |last=Lyon |first=Joshua |date=12 January 2023 |title=For a Deadly Doll, a Killer Wardrobe |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/style/m3gan-movie-costume-design.html |access-date=14 January 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113231631/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/style/m3gan-movie-costume-design.html |url-status=live }} He has two sons, born in 2012 and 2014.{{Cite web |last=Colangelo |first=B. J. |date=6 January 2023 |title=M3GAN Director Gerard Johnstone On How To Balance Comedy With Creepiness [Exclusive Interview] |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1159043/m3gan-director-gerard-johnstone-on-how-to-balance-comedy-with-creepiness-exclusive-interview/ |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=/Film |language=en-US |archive-date=13 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113223027/https://www.slashfilm.com/1159043/m3gan-director-gerard-johnstone-on-how-to-balance-comedy-with-creepiness-exclusive-interview/ |url-status=live }}

Filmography

Film

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title !width="65"\|Director !width="65"\|Writer !width="65"\|Executive Producer ! Notes
2014 \| Housebound \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| Also editor
2022 \| M3GAN \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{No}} \|
2025 \| M3GAN 2.0 \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \|

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

!width="65"|Director

!width="65"|Writer

!width="65"|Executive Producer

! Notes

2014

| Housebound

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| Also editor

2022

| M3GAN

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

2025

| M3GAN 2.0

| {{Yes}}

Television

class="wikitable"
Year ! Title !width="65"\|Director !width="65"\|Writer !width="65"\|Executive Producer ! Notes
2008–2009 \| The Jaquie Brown Diaries \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| Creator Edited 6 episodes
2016 \| Terry Teo \| {{Yes}} \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| Directed 6 episodes, wrote 4 episodes
2018 \| The New Legends of Monkey \| {{Yes}} \| {{No}} \| {{Yes}} \| 6 episodes

class="wikitable"

Year

! Title

!width="65"|Director

!width="65"|Writer

!width="65"|Executive Producer

! Notes

2008–2009

| The Jaquie Brown Diaries

| {{Yes}}

| {{No}}

| Creator
Edited 6 episodes