James Gray (director)

Gray was born in New York City and grew up in the neighborhood of Flushing.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/james-gray-nicolas-winding-refn-more-giving-masterclasses-at-2013-marrakech-international-film-festival-20131105|title=James Gray, Nicolas Winding Refn & More Giving Masterclasses At 2013 Marrakech International Film Festival|work=IndieWire|first=Kevin|last=Jagernauth|date=November 5, 2013|access-date=March 5, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305051858/http://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/james-gray-nicolas-winding-refn-more-giving-masterclasses-at-2013-marrakech-international-film-festival-20131105|archive-date=March 5, 2014|url-status=dead}}Hirschon, Nicholas (December 23, 2011). "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/583044098/ James Gray's Films Explore Underdog Living in Qns.]" Daily News (New York, New York). p. p. 35. He is of Russian Jewish descent,{{Cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-james-gray-immigrant-marion-526204|title=Cannes: James Gray on 'The Immigrant,' Marion Cotillard and Returning to the Fest (Q&A)|last=Kilday|first=Gregg|date=May 21, 2013|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 11, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-lost-city-gray-20161017-snap-story.html|title=Director James Gray goes on his own search while creating 'The Lost City of Z'|access-date=June 11, 2018|date=October 17, 2016|last=Zeitchik|first=Steven|work=Los Angeles Times|quote=And he is. He's also a grade-A kibitzer, a gregarious character, whose chatty and self-effacing wit bespeaks his Queens upbringing and Eastern European-Jewish heritage.}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2017/04/of-immigrants-and-the-city-a-james-gray-retrospect.html|title=Of Immigrants and the City: A James Gray Retrospective|access-date=June 11, 2018|date=April 20, 2017|last=Jeng|first=Jonah|work=Paste Magazine}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/culture/film/james-gray-film-1.435056|title=James Gray: Exploring the dark and personal|access-date=June 11, 2018|date=March 27, 2017|last=Applebaum|first=Stephen|work=The Jewish Chronicle}} with grandparents from Ostropol, Western Ukraine, which at that time was a part of the USSR.{{cite web|url=http://www.flicksandbits.com/2013/05/23/james-gray-interview-for-the-immigrant/48113/|title=James Gray Interview For 'The Immigrant'|publisher=Flicks and Bits|date=May 23, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130619005807/http://www.flicksandbits.com/2013/05/23/james-gray-interview-for-the-immigrant/48113/|archive-date=June 19, 2013}} The original family name was "Grayevsky" or "Greyzerstein."{{cite news | url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/m-le-mag/article/2022/05/19/james-gray-s-new-york-of-underdogs-and-dreamers_5984073_117.html | title=James Gray's New York of underdogs and dreamers | newspaper=Le Monde.fr | date=May 19, 2022 }} His father was once an electronics contractor. Gray attended the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, where his student film, Cowboys and Angels, helped him get an agent and the attention of producer Paul Webster, who encouraged him to write a script which he could produce.[http://finelinefeatures.com/odessa/odtrans.htm Transcript of Online Conference with Little Odessa Writer/Director James Gray], Fine Line Features, 1995, Accessed May 11, 2008.{{Cite book |last=Hanson |first=Peter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mYWCRWWso_cC&dq=Cowboys+and+Angels+James+Gray&pg=PA183 |title=The Cinema of Generation X: A Critical Study of Films and Directors |date=June 28, 2010 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-8078-4 |language=en}}

In 1994, at age 25, Gray made his first feature film Little Odessa, starring Tim Roth as a hit man confronted by his younger brother upon returning to his hometown, "Little Odessa," a section of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=990CE5D6143EF93AA25756C0A963958260|title=Little Odessa (1994) – Film Review; Russian Emigre Family With a Son in the Mob|work=The New York Times|first=Caryn|last=James|date=May 19, 1995}} The film won the Silver Lion at the 51st Venice International Film Festival.{{cite book|editor1-first=George|editor1-last=Anastasia|editor1-link=George Anastasia|editor2-first=Glen|editor2-last=Macnow|title=The Ultimate Book of Gangster Movies|publisher=Running Press|year=2011|pages=293, 294}}

In 1998, Gray began shooting his second film, The Yards, a crime drama set in the commuter rail yards in New York City. The film was released theatrically by Miramax two years later on October 12, 2000.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0138946/locations?ref_=tt_dt_dt The Yards (2000) - Filming & Production - IMDb]

In March 2006, Gray began production on his third film, We Own the Night, which he had been wanting to shoot since the early 2000s. Set in 1988, it stars Joaquin Phoenix and Mark Wahlberg as two brothers, one a nightclub manager with ties to the mob, and the former a police detective who wages an all-out war on drugs. The film screened in competition at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival in May,{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4430729/year/2007.html|title=Festival de Cannes: We Own the Night|access-date=December 20, 2009|work=festival-cannes.com}} receiving widely divergent reviews from international critics, and was released theatrically in the U.S. in October.[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0498399/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_7 We Own the Night (2007) - IMDb]

After that film's success, Gray was given creative freedom for Two Lovers which was loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s "White Nights".{{cite web |url = http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2563862.htm |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20090823114219/http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s2563862.htm |title = Two Lovers: James Gray Interview |accessdate = August 10, 2009 |archivedate = August 23, 2009 |url-status = dead |date = June 3, 2009 |publisher = At the Movies }} The film made its premiere at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival.

File:The Immigrant Cannes 2013.jpg, Greg Shapiro, Jeremy Renner, Marion Cotillard, Gray and wife Alexandra Dickson at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival]]

Gray co-wrote the screenplay for Guillaume Canet's film Blood Ties, a remake of the French thriller Rivals.{{cite web|url=http://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-latest/blood-ties/5056476.article|title=Blood Ties – Reviews|work=Screen International|first=Fionnuala|last=Halligan|date=May 20, 2013}} This collaboration with Canet led Gray to meeting his partner Marion Cotillard, whom he would cast in his next film The Immigrant.{{cite web|last=Kiang|first=Jessica|title=Marrakech '12: James Gray Still Hoping To Visit 'Lost City of Z,' Talks 'Blood Ties' & Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/marrakech-12-james-gray-still-hoping-to-visit-lost-city-of-z-talks-blood-ties-jeremy-renners-steve-mcqueen-biopic-103118/|website=IndieWire|date=December 10, 2012|access-date=January 31, 2023}} It tells the story of a Polish nurse who is separated from her sister at Ellis Island and forced into prostitution by a theater manager, played by Joaquin Phoenix. The film, which was previously titled Lowlife and The Nightingale, marked Gray's fourth collaboration with Phoenix. It was nominated for the {{Lang|fr|Palme d'Or|italic=no}} at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.{{cite web|url=http://www.festival-cannes.fr/en/article/59652.html |title=2013 Official Selection|date=April 20, 2013|access-date=April 20, 2013|work=Cannes}}

In 2015, Gray directed a television commercial for Chanel men's fragrance, Bleu de Chanel, starring Gaspard Ulliel.{{Cite web |date=February 2, 2015 |title=James Gray directs the latest Chanel Bleu campaign |url=https://us.fashionnetwork.com/news/James-gray-directs-the-latest-chanel-bleu-campaign,532091.html |website=Fashion Network}} It was filmed in Los Angeles and released on February 5, 2015.{{Cite web |date=February 5, 2015 |title=Gaspard Ulliel in a vertigo in the new Bleu De Chanel film |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/gaspard-ulliel-vertigo-new-bleu-de-chanel-film |website=Vogue India}}

In October 2016, Gray's film The Lost City of Z premiered at the New York Film Festival. The film, based on the book by David Grann, depicts the life of explorer Percy Fawcett, played by Charlie Hunnam.[https://www.newyorker.com/culture/richard-brody/the-lost-city-of-z-resuscitates-cinemas-classic-adventure-tale "The Lost City of Z" Resuscitates Cinema's Classic Adventure Tale|The New Yorker]

At the 2016 Cannes Film Festival, it was reported that Gray would next direct his long-gestated sci-fi space epic {{Lang|la|Ad Astra}}.{{cite news|last1=Lang|first1=Brent|title=Cannes: James Gray Making Sci-Fi Epic 'Ad Astra'|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/news/cannes-james-gray-making-sci-fi-epic-ad-astra-1201772539/|access-date=June 24, 2017|work=Variety|publisher=Variety Media, LLC|date=May 12, 2016}} Brad Pitt signed on to star in April 2017 and the rest of the cast joined later that year. {{Lang|la|Ad Astra}} premiered at the Venice Film Festival on August 29, 2019 and was theatrically released in the United States on September 20, 2019 by 20th Century Fox.{{cite news |last1=Pallotta |first1=Frank |title='Ad Astra' could be the hit that 20th Century Fox desperately needs |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/20/media/ad-astra-box-office/index.html |access-date=October 21, 2019 |publisher=CNN |date=September 20, 2019}} Gray later stated that the film that was released to theaters was not his cut.{{Cite web |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |date=2022-11-03 |title='It's Unbelievably Difficult to Act Brilliantly' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/11/jeremy-strong-james-gray-armageddon-time.html |access-date=2024-10-05 |website=Vulture}}

On June 17, 2020, it was officially confirmed that his next film, titled Armageddon Time, would be a coming-of-age drama loosely based on Gray's childhood memories, with Anne Hathaway, Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Strong cast in the film.{{Cite web|date=October 12, 2021|title=Anthony Hopkins and Jeremy Strong Join 'Armageddon Time'|url=https://www.thewrap.com/anthony-hopkins-jeremy-strong-armageddon-time-james-gray/|access-date=January 15, 2022|language=en-US}} The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2022 and was released in the United States on October 28, 2022 by Focus Features.

After Little Odessa, Gray was offered the script for The Devil's Own by Brad Pitt, a friend of his. Gray turned it down and the film was ultimately directed by Alan J. Pakula.{{cite web|last=Davis|first=Edward|title=James Gray Says He Turned Down 'Goodwill Hunting' & Explains Why He'd Be Interested In Doing A 'Batman' Film|url=https://theplaylist.net/james-gray-turned-down-goodwill-hunting-explains-why-interested-batman-film-20221205/|website=ThePlaylist.net|date=December 5, 2022|access-date=April 7, 2023}} He also passed up the opportunity to direct Good Will Hunting.

In 1997, Gray was in negotiations with producer Art Linson to direct the biopic Killer Spy, about CIA agent Aldrich Ames, based on the novel Betrayal.{{cite magazine|last=Busch|first=Anita M.|url=https://variety.com/1997/film/news/gray-in-talks-to-helm-fox-s-ames-pic-1116680078/|title=Gray in talks to helm Fox's Ames pic|magazine=Variety|date=June 2, 1997|access-date=September 14, 2023}} Kevin Spacey was being talked about for the starring role of Ames.

In 1999, Gray was in talks to direct Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston in Waking Up in Reno for Miramax. The film was made three years later but without the involvement of Gray, Pitt or Aniston.{{cite web|author1=Petrikin, Chris|author2=Fleming, Michael|title=Pitt, Aniston may be 'Waking Up in Reno'|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/pitt-aniston-may-be-waking-up-in-reno-1117502236/|website=Variety|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=May 19, 1999}}

It was reported in 2000 that Gray would direct and co-write Edgardo Mortara, a film based on the infamous 1858 kidnapping of the 6-year-old Jewish boy by the Papal police.{{cite web|last=Lyons|first=Charles|title=Gray's papal project|url=https://variety.com/2000/film/news/gray-s-papal-project-1117786528/|website=Variety|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=September 18, 2000}} Gray was to collaborate with writer Rob Eshman on the screenplay.

In 2003, it was rumored that Gray had written an adaptation of Philip K. Dick's novelette "Paycheck". Prior to John Woo being selected, Brett Ratner was in talks to direct.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2002/film/markets-festivals/ratner-collecting-his-paycheck-1117866314/|title=Ratner collecting his 'Paycheck'|publisher=Variety|access-date=July 19, 2021}} A film was released later that year, but Gray had no involvement.

In 2006, Gray was planning to direct Alphabet City, based on the 1995 novel by Steven Knight, who also penned the first draft of the script.{{cite magazine|last=Green|first=Willow|url=https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/james-gray-headed-alphabet-city/|title=James Gray Headed To Alphabet City|magazine=Empire|date=August 9, 2006|access-date=September 6, 2023}}

In 2010, Gray was hired to rewrite the script of the Charlie Hunnam-scripted Vlad, which would have been a period action film based on the story of Dracula. Anthony Mandler had been attached to direct the film.{{cite web|last=Dang|first=Simon|url=https://theplaylist.net/james-gray-rewriting-charlie-hunnams-dracula-actioner-script-vlad-20101019/|title=James Gray Rewriting Charlie Hunnam's Dracula Actioner Script 'Vlad'|website=ThePlaylist.net|date=October 19, 2010|access-date=September 14, 2023}}

In January 2011, it was reported that Gray would be directing a film adaptation of Mark Greaney's novel The Gray Man written by Adam Cozad. The project was first set up at New Regency.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr |date=January 14, 2011 |title=James Gray To Direct 'The Gray Man' |url=https://deadline.com/2011/01/james-gray-to-direct-the-gray-man-96500/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420182129/https://deadline.com/2011/01/james-gray-to-direct-the-gray-man-96500/ |archive-date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2020 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}{{Cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr|date=August 15, 2011|title=Brad Pitt To Star In Regency's 'The Gray Man'|url=https://deadline.com/2011/08/brad-pitt-in-talks-for-foxs-the-gray-man-157998/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420182131/https://deadline.com/2011/08/brad-pitt-in-talks-for-foxs-the-gray-man-157998/|archive-date=April 20, 2021|access-date=July 17, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood}} Brad Pitt was initially cast to star, but by October 2015, he and Gray were no longer involved with the film.

In April 2011, Jeremy Renner enlisted Gray to write the screenplay for an untitled Steve McQueen biopic with Renner in the role under his production banner The Combine.{{cite web|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Jeremy Renner Developing Steve McQueen Biopic As Star Vehicle, James Gray To Write The Script|url=https://theplaylist.net/jeremy-renner-developing-steve-mcqueen-biopic-as-star-vehicle-james-gray-to-write-the-script-20110428/|website=ThePlaylist.net|date=April 28, 2011|access-date=January 31, 2023}} "I did it more or less as a favor to Jeremy and to honor Steve McQueen," Gray said. Heavily researched and based on two books by Marshall Terrill, Portrait of an American Rebel and The Life and Legend of a Hollywood Icon, the film was initially going to be directed by Ivan Zachariáš, although Gray later stated in 2013 that he may end up directing it himself at some point.{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|title=James Gray May Direct Jeremy Renner's Steve McQueen Biopic; Calls 'Lost City Of Z' Epic & Hallucinogenic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/10/james-gray-may-direct-jeremy-renners-steve-mcqueen-biopic-calls-lost-city-of-z-epic-hallucinogenic-92815/|website=IndieWire|date=October 9, 2013|access-date=January 31, 2023}}

In August 2013, it was announced that Warner Bros. tapped Gray to write and direct White Devil, a film based on the life of John Willis.{{Cite web |last=Fleming |first=Mike Jr. |url=https://deadline.com/2013/08/warner-bros-sets-james-gray-for-boston-crime-thriller-white-devil-561098/ |title=Warner Bros Sets James Gray For Boston Crime Thriller 'White Devil' |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 9, 2013 |access-date=June 5, 2023}}

It was reported in April 2015 by Variety that Gray was to executive produce and serve as creative consultant on Hard Apple, an "adult-skewing" animated series inspired by New York-born author Jerome Charyn's Isaac Sidel novels.{{cite web|title=Canal Plus Bites Into 'Hard Apple' With James Gray (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/canal-plus-bites-into-hard-apple-with-james-gray-1201468379/|website=Variety|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=April 8, 2015}}

In April 2018, MGM closed a deal for Gray to direct I Am Pilgrim, an adaptation of the espionage novel by Terry Hayes.{{cite web|title=James Gray To Direct MGM's 'I Am Pilgrim' Spy Franchise From Terry Hayes Novel|url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/james-gray-i-am-pilgrim-mgm-spy-franchise-ad-astra-terry-hayes-1202365552/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 17, 2018|date=April 16, 2018}} He was slated to direct the film after he finished shooting {{Lang|la|Ad Astra}}. However, Gray confirmed in 2022 that the project is officially dead, and that it had got lost in the "business mess" with studios changing hands.{{cite web|last=Ford|first=Rebecca|title=The Vulnerability of James Gray's Armageddon Time|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/11/james-gray-interview-armageddon-time-awards-insider|website=Vanity Fair|access-date=June 14, 2023|date=November 22, 2022}}

In April 2022, Gray announced plans to develop a limited series about novelist Norman Mailer based on J. Michael Lennon's biography Norman Mailer: A Double Life.{{cite web|title=James Gray To Write & Direct Drama Series About Norman Mailer|url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/james-gray-to-write-direct-drama-series-norman-mailer-1234992217/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 22, 2022|date=April 4, 2022}}

In October 2022, Gray said he was interested in wrangling back the cast for a semi-sequel to Armageddon Time, to focus solely on his mother, who was portrayed by Anne Hathaway. "The story goes in a very unexpected place," said Gray, "Because my father actually did achieve some financial success but wound up getting it all confiscated by the government when he got into legal trouble. At the same time, my mother found out she was dying. And so, it's going to be, I think, something about that period."{{cite web|last=Perez|first=Rodrigo|title=James Gray Wants To Do An 'Armageddon Time' Sequel Focusing On Anne Hathway's Character|url=https://theplaylist.net/james-gray-wants-to-do-an-armageddon-time-sequel-focusing-on-anne-hathaways-character-20221019/|website=ThePlaylist.net|date=October 19, 2022|access-date=February 3, 2023}} That same month, Deadline reported that Gray's next film would be a biopic about a young John F. Kennedy that focused on his time in World War II where he saved his crew from a sinking patrol boat.{{cite web|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title='Armageddon Time's James Gray To Direct Biopic Of Young John F Kennedy For MadRiver Pictures|url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/armageddon-times-james-gray-to-direct-biopic-of-young-john-f-kennedy-for-madriver-pictures-1235157375/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=February 2, 2023|date=October 28, 2022}}{{cite web|last=Chapman|first=Wilson|title=James Gray to Direct John F. Kennedy Biopic|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2022/10/james-gray-john-f-kennedy-biopic-1234777245/|website=IndieWire|access-date=February 2, 2023|date=October 28, 2022}} The film was titled Mayday 109 and had been in development for several years before Gray boarded the project.{{cite magazine|last=McNary|first=Dave|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/mayday-109-jfk-world-war-ii-1201622443/|title=JFK World War II Drama 'Mayday 109' in the Works|magazine=Variety|date=October 20, 2015|access-date=October 29, 2023}} Bill Skarsgård was attached to star as Kennedy.{{cite web|last=Franklin|first=Garth|url=https://www.darkhorizons.com/bill-skarsgard-to-play-a-young-jfk/|title=Bill Skarsgard To Play A Young JFK|website=Dark Horizons|date=December 21, 2023|access-date=February 19, 2024}}

In November 2022, Gray revealed in an interview for Collider that one of his dream projects was an epic about the Russian Revolution called The Dream of a Thousand Men, but that it was unlikely to be made anytime soon, if at all, due to Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion.{{cite web|last=Jones|first=Tamera|title='Armageddon Time' Director James Gray on Filming His Own Coming-of-Age Story and Being Honest With His Audience|url=https://collider.com/armageddon-time-director-james-gray-interview/|website=Collider|access-date=December 21, 2022|date=November 4, 2022}}

In March 2023, it was announced Gray would direct Ezekiel Moss, a Depression-set ghost story written by Keith Bunin, for Focus Features.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/james-gray-ezekiel-moss-focus-1235314355/|title=James Gray to Direct 'Ezekiel Moss' For Focus Features|date=March 31, 2023|access-date=April 2, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood}}

In February 2024, Gray replaced Neil Burger as the director of Summer Frost, based on Blake Crouch's source material, which had first been announced back in 2020. Zoe Saldana is attached to star in the film.{{cite web|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/2/14/sqjlm0fejxzyvv4mk1vrh5hyl41xjo|title=James Gray to Direct Sci-Fi Movie 'Summer Frost,' With Zoe Saldana|website=World of Reel|date=February 15, 2024|access-date=February 19, 2024}}

In September 2024, in an interview for France Inter, Gray teased a project he was developing that "[would] be about my family, but not [told] from my perspective, maybe about 5 or 10 years after Armageddon Time took place."{{cite video|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=3CJvwOgm-RQ&si=imcYAUmxspOvZ0PV|title=James Gray : "Si je refais sans arrêt le même film, il ne va pas s'améliorer à chaque fois"|publisher=France Inter|via=YouTube|date=September 15, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2025|language=fr}} Later that year, in November, it was reported that Gray had set his next film, Paper Tiger, described as a "blue chip crime-drama-thriller" with Adam Driver, Jeremy Strong and Anne Hathaway cast to star. Based on Gray's original screenplay, the premise follows two brothers who, while in pursuit of the American Dream, become "entangled in a scheme that turns out to be too good to be true." Filming was initially scheduled for the first quarter of 2025, with financing from Leone Film Group.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/11/adam-driver-jeremy-strong-anne-hathaway-james-gray-paper-tiger-hot-project-afm-1236164974/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=1 November 2024|title=Adam Driver, Jeremy Strong & Anne Hathaway Set For James Gray Crime-Thriller 'Paper Tiger'; The Veterans & CAA Media Finance Launch Hot Project For AFM|first=Andreas|last= Wiseman|date=November 1, 2024}}

In 2025, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Julia Roberts would be teaming with Gray for an adaptation of Peter Swanson's forthcoming Kill Your Darlings, a murder mystery "told in reverse."{{cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/julia-roberts-james-gray-kill-your-darlings-1236128125/|title=Julia Roberts, James Gray Tackling Unique Murder Mystery 'Kill Your Darlings' for Amazon MGM, UA (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 5, 2025|access-date=February 3, 2025}}

Gray also turned down the role played by Noah Taylor in Wes Anderson's The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.{{cite magazine|last=Heller|first=Nathan|title=James Gray's Journey from the Outer Boroughs to Outer Space|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/16/james-grays-journey-from-the-outer-boroughs-to-outer-space|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=September 9, 2019}} He did, however, appear in a brief cameo in a deleted scene in Love Jones.{{cite web|last=Jagernauth|first=Kevin|title=Cinephile Trivia: James Gray Had His Role Cut From 'Love Jones'|url=https://theplaylist.net/james-gray-cut-love-jones-20180216/|website=ThePlaylist.net|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=February 16, 2018}}

In 2019, it was reported that Gray was to stage Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro, his first opera, at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris that November. French fashion designer Christian Lacroix did the costumes for the production.{{cite web|title='Hollywood's James Gray to direct first opera in Paris'|url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2019/03/26/hollywoods-james-gray-to-direct-first-opera-in-paris.html|website=The Jakarta Post|access-date=January 31, 2023|date=March 26, 2019}}

File:James Gray & Wife Premiere of The Lost City of Z at Zoo Palast Berlinale 2017.jpg

Gray married Alexandra Dickson in 2005. The couple have three children.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cannes-james-gray-immigrant-marion-526204|title=Cannes: James Gray on 'The Immigrant,' Marion Cotillard and Returning to the Fest (Q&A)|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 21, 2013|access-date=September 5, 2013}}

In 2022, Gray participated in the Sight and Sound film polls. Held every ten years to select the greatest films of all time, contemporary directors were asked to select ten films of their choice. Gray chose the following, in no order:{{cite web |last=Ruimy |first=Jordan |date=December 7, 2022 |title=S&S Directors' Individual Lists: Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Del Toro, Aster, Eggers, Safdie, Inarritu, Gray, Guadagnino, Bong, Mann … [Final Update] |url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2022/12/8ac360v6wlga1zf2dfozjfs5r7oihc?format=amp |access-date=December 19, 2022 |website=World of Reel}}

{{div col | colwidth=25em}}

• 2001: A Space Odyssey (USA/UK, 1968)
• Citizen Kane (USA, 1941)
• The Godfather (USA, 1972)
• 8½ (Italy, 1963)
• The Leopard (Italy, 1963)
• Ordet (Denmark, 1955)
• PlayTime (France, 1967)
• Raging Bull (USA, 1980)
• Tokyo Story (Japan, 1953)
• Vertigo (USA, 1958)

{{div col end}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|James Gray (film director)}}

• {{IMDb name|0336695|James Gray}}
• [https://vimeo.com/223289212 James Gray - Chiaroscuro posted by KINO on Vimeo]
• [https://www.allmovie.com/artist/james-gray-p28366 James Gray on AllMovie]

{{James Gray}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gray, James}}

Category:1969 births

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent

Category:Film directors from New York City

Category:Jewish American screenwriters

Category:Living people

Category:People from Flushing, Queens

Category:Screenwriters from New York City

Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni

Category:Writers from Queens, New York

Category:American science fiction film directors

Category:Film producers from New York City

Category:Mass media people from Queens, New York