James Bobin
{{Short description|British filmmaker}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| image = James-Bobin Alice Through the Looking Glass premiere.jpg
| name = James Bobin
| caption = Bobin in 2016
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Film director, screenwriter, producer
| years_active = 1998–present
| spouse = Francesca Beauman
| website =
| children = 3
}}
James Bobin is a British filmmaker. He worked as a director and writer on Da Ali G Show and helped create the characters of Ali G, Borat, and Brüno. With Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, he co-created Flight of the Conchords. He directed the feature films The Muppets (2011), Muppets Most Wanted (2014), and Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016) from Disney, and Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019) from Paramount Pictures.
Career
Bobin worked as a director and writer on The 11 O'Clock Show and Da Ali G Show, and helped create the characters of Ali G, Borat, and Brüno.{{cite web|url=https://www.hbo.com/flight-of-the-conchords|title=Flight of the Conchords|publisher=HBO|access-date=26 January 2019|archive-date=23 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123052338/https://www.hbo.com/flight-of-the-conchords|url-status=live}} In 2003 and 2004, he directed and co-wrote all of the 12 episodes of Ali G in da USAiii for HBO.
With Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement, he co-created, wrote and directed Flight of the Conchords, also for HBO. Bobin had previously seen Clement and McKenzie perform and signed on to co-create the show.{{Cite web |url=http://marc-allan.com/633199505751718750.asp |title=Marc Allan – Fasten Your Seat Belts for Flight of the Conchords |access-date=26 December 2007 |archive-date=12 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012100222/http://marc-allan.com/633199505751718750.asp |url-status=live }} In 2011, he signed a deal with HBO.{{Cite web|last=Weisman|first=Jon|date=2011-09-08|title=Bobin inks first-look deal with HBO|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/bobin-inks-first-look-deal-with-hbo-1118042373/|access-date=2020-11-26|website=Variety|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205103219/https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/bobin-inks-first-look-deal-with-hbo-1118042373/|url-status=live}}
His feature film directorial debut, The Muppets, a musical-comedy film written by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller, was released in 2011 and became a critical and commercial hit and won an Oscar for Best Original Song. The film earned him his second BAFTA nomination at the 66th British Academy Film Awards. He wrote (with Nicholas Stoller) and directed a follow-up, Muppets Most Wanted, which was released in 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/new-muppet-movie-in-the-works-but-without-jason-segel.html|title=New Muppets Movie Going Ahead, But Without Jason Segel As a Writer|first=Claude|last=Brodesser-Akner|date=1 March 2012|publisher=Vulture|access-date=18 January 2013|archive-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302173400/http://www.vulture.com/2012/03/new-muppet-movie-in-the-works-but-without-jason-segel.html|url-status=live}} Bobin next directed the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016). In February 2016, it was announced that he would direct a Jump Street-Men in Black crossover film,{{cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/663387-23-jump-street-men-in-black|title=The 23 Jump Street Men in Black Crossover is Happening|date=4 March 2016|website=ComingSoon.net|access-date=26 January 2019|archive-date=26 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126221200/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/663387-23-jump-street-men-in-black|url-status=live}} however plans for the movie fell through.{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/21-jump-street-men-in-black-crossover-is-dead/|title='21 Jump Street' and 'Men in Black' Crossover is Dead|date=12 January 2019|publisher=/Film|access-date=26 January 2019|archive-date=27 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190127034945/https://www.slashfilm.com/21-jump-street-men-in-black-crossover-is-dead/|url-status=live}} In 2011, he signed a first look deal with HBO.{{Cite web|last=Weisman|first=Jon|date=2011-09-08|title=Bobin inks first-look deal with HBO|url=https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/bobin-inks-first-look-deal-with-hbo-1118042373/|access-date=2021-04-19|website=Variety|archive-date=5 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211205103219/https://variety.com/2011/tv/news/bobin-inks-first-look-deal-with-hbo-1118042373/|url-status=live}}
His most recent film, Dora and the Lost City of Gold, is a live-action adaptation of TV series Dora the Explorer with Isabela Moner as the title character. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 9 August 2019, by Paramount Pictures. In 2020, it was announced that Bobin was in talks to direct a remake of Clue.{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2020/02/james-bobin-clue-movie-ryan-reynolds-1202856873/ | title = James Bobin in Talks To Direct 'Clue' Movie at 20th Century | first = Patrick | last = Hipes | date = 10 February 2020 | access-date = 31 July 2020 | publisher = Deadline Hollywood | archive-date = 11 February 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200211172055/https://deadline.com/2020/02/james-bobin-clue-movie-ryan-reynolds-1202856873/ | url-status = live }} In October 2021, it was announced that Bobin would direct and executive produce an adaptation of Percy Jackson & the Olympians for Disney+.{{Cite web|date=2021-10-24|title=Back from LA and into the Deep! {{!}} Rick Riordan|url=https://rickriordan.com/2021/10/back-from-la-and-into-the-deep/|access-date=2022-01-25|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302041751/https://rickriordan.com/2021/10/back-from-la-and-into-the-deep/|url-status=live}}
Awards and nominations
Bobin received his first BAFTA nomination (British Academy of Film and Television Award) for Best Comedy Series in 2000 for his work on The 11 O'Clock Show. He also won an award from the Royal Television Society, as well as a Silver Rose from the Montreux Television Festival. He won a Writers Guild of America Award in 2007.
Bobin was nominated for Outstanding Writing and Directing Emmys for Da Ali G Show in 2003, and again in 2005. In 2008 and 2009, he was nominated for Outstanding Writing, Directing, and Original Music for Flight of the Conchords, and in 2009, also received an Outstanding Comedy Series nomination for his work as executive producer.
In 2011, Bobin's first feature film, The Muppets, won an Oscar for Best Original Song for the song "Man or Muppet" written by Bret McKenzie. Bobin himself was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer.
Reality TV
Bobin appeared as himself in one episode of a British documentary series Modern Times.{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IB8KaJ2d64 |title=Modern Times – 'flatmates' |access-date=28 July 2020 |archive-date=29 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929054409/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IB8KaJ2d64 |url-status=live }} He was one part of a household in search of a flatmate.
Filmography
Short film
- Spyz (2003)
Feature film
- The Muppets (2011)
- Muppets Most Wanted (2014) (Also writer)
- Alice Through the Looking Glass (2016)
- Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)
Television
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! width=65 | Director ! width=65 | Writer ! width=65 | Producer |
|---|
| 1998
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes|Associate}} |
| 2000 (UK) 2003–2004 (US) | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
| 2004
| {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes}} |
| 2007–2009
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes|Executive}} |
| 2011
| {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} |
| 2021
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes|Executive}} |
| 2023
| Percy Jackson and the Olympians | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{yes|Executive}} |
Personal life
In 2005, Bobin married Francesca Beauman,{{Cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/uk-travel/england/london-travel/how-to-be-a-modern-woman-jczs798bg2v|last=Slater |first=Lydia |date=18 August 2007 |title=How to be a Modern Woman |access-date=21 April 2025 |work=The Times}} with whom he has three children. They live in Bath, Somerset.
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|90386|James Bobin}}
- [http://www.hbo.com/conchords/cast/james_bobin.html Biography on HBO.com]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080322235300/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/439095/James-Bobin New York Times bio]
{{James Bobin}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bobin, James}}
Category:British comedy film directors
Category:British fantasy film directors
Category:British film directors
Category:British television directors
Category:Children's and Family Emmy Award winners