Jaume Collet-Serra

{{short description|Spanish-American film director and producer (born 1974)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jaume Collet-Serra

| image = Jaume Collet-Serra (cropped).jpg

| caption = Collet-Serra in June 2015

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|3|23|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Sant Iscle de Vallalta, Barcelona, Spain

|alma mater = Columbia College Hollywood

| years_active = 1998{{endash}}present

| spouse =

|website = {{URL|http://www.jaumecolletserra.com/|jaumecolletserra.com}}

}}

Jaume Collet-Serra ({{IPA|ca|ˈʒawmə kuˈʎɛt ˈsɛrə|lang}}; born 23 March 1974) is a Spanish-American film director and producer. He directed the horror films House of Wax (2005), Orphan (2009), and The Shallows (2016), and is known for his collaborations with Liam Neeson on the thriller films Unknown (2011), Non-Stop (2014), Run All Night (2015) and The Commuter (2018), and Dwayne Johnson on the blockbuster films Jungle Cruise (2021) and Black Adam (2022). His 2024 film Carry-On had the second-most views ever on Netflix as of March 2025.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/squid-game-season-2-netflix-viewership-milestone-carry-on-most-popular-films-list-wwe-raw-ratings-1236256820/|title=Squid Game Season 2 Hits Another Netflix Viewership Milestone; Carry-On Aims To Fly Up Most Popular Films List|date=January 14, 2025|first=Kate|last=Campione|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 14, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/top10/most-popular|title=Top 10 Most Popular Movies on Netflix of All Time|publisher=Netflix|access-date=March 24, 2025}}

Early life

Collet-Serra was born in Sant Iscle de Vallalta, in the Catalan province of Barcelona, in Spain. At the age of 18, he moved to Los Angeles, California and attended Columbia College Hollywood, working as an editor on the side. After graduating in 1996, he began directing music videos and television commercials for brands such as PlayStation, Budweiser, and Verizon.{{cite web|title=Bio|url=http://www.jaumecolletserra.com/bio.html|access-date=November 1, 2020}}

Career

=2005–2010=

In 2005, Collet-Serra was given an opportunity to direct his first feature film by producer Joel Silver. The film, House of Wax, was a remake of the 1953 film of the same name, and starred Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray and featured Paris Hilton. Despite a negative critical reception, it was a financial success. Two years later, Collet-Serra directed Goal II: Living the Dream, the second film in the Goal! film trilogy, in which the main character, star Mexican footballer Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker), goes to play for Real Madrid. Collet-Serra reunited with producer Silver for his third film, Orphan, a 2009 American psychological horror film starring Vera Farmiga, Peter Sarsgaard, and Isabelle Fuhrman, about on a couple who, after the death of their unborn child, adopt a mysterious nine-year-old girl.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/sarsgaard-farmiga-join-orphan-2-1117976774/|author=Diane Garrett, Tatiana Siegel|title=Sarsgaard, Farmiga join 'Orphan'|work=Variety|date=29 November 2007|access-date=29 May 2008}} The film received mixed critical reviews but was a box office success, earning around $80 million on a $20 million budget.

=2011–2015=

Collet-Serra then directed Unknown, a 2011 action thriller starring Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, January Jones, Aidan Quinn, Bruno Ganz, and Frank Langella.{{cite web|url=http://www.movieweb.com/news/NECwkLHKG4aSGE|title=Unknown White Male Starts Principal Photography|work=MovieWeb|access-date=21 February 2011|archive-date=6 October 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101006135018/http://www.movieweb.com/news/NECwkLHKG4aSGE|url-status=dead}} The film is based on the 2003 French novel published in English as Out of My Head, by Didier Van Cauwelaert.{{cite web|last=Dargis|first=Manohla|date=17 February 2011|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/movies/18unknown.html|title=Me, My Doppelgänger and a Dunk in the River|work=The New York Times|access-date=18 February 2011}} Collet-Serra made his television directing debut with the ABC pilot The River, a horror drama from Paranormal Activity writer-director Oren Peli.{{cite web|last=Mark|first=Steven|title=ABC to move 'The River' filming to isles|date=3 June 2011|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|url=http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/hawaiinews/20110603_ABC_to_move_The_River_filming_to_isles.html|access-date=24 August 2011}} The show was met with generally favourable reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-river/season-1|title=The River: Season 1]|work=Metacritic|date=7 February 2012}} In December 2012, he began filming for his next film Non-Stop,{{cite web|url=http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2012/12/10/non-stop-starring-liam-neeson-filming-in-nyc/|title='Non-Stop', starring Liam Neeson, filming in NYC|work=On Location Vacations|date=10 December 2012|access-date=11 December 2012|archive-date=25 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625123045/http://www.onlocationvacations.com/2012/12/10/non-stop-starring-liam-neeson-filming-in-nyc/|url-status=dead}} which starred Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore.{{cite web|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/silver-pictures-picks-up-remake-397581|date=4 December 2012|title=Silver Pictures Picks Up Remake Rights to French Heist Film 'Le Convoyeur' (Exclusive)|access-date=14 December 2012}}

Collet-Serra formed his own production house Ombra Films. With money from StudioCanal, the small company set out to make low-budget English-language horror films, with an eye toward launching the careers of up-and-coming Spanish filmmakers. Juan Sola, Collet-Serra's producing partner, told Deadline Hollywood, "We've seen how many talented directors are coming out of Spain, but there hasn't really been a platform for them to find work in films. They look up to Jaume as a guy they want to become and we thought, how about a company that creates a bridge between Spain and the U.S., similar to what Luc Besson provided in France? Already, we are being bombarded, and we feel directors will find Ombra a fantastic platform. Jaume loves mentoring new talent." The venture's first film was Mindscape, a psychological thriller about a man with the ability to enter people's memories, starring Taissa Farmiga, Mark Strong, and Brian Cox.{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/horror-movies/news/jaume-collet-serra-set-to-produce-psychological-thriller-mindscape|title=Jaume Collet-Serra set to produce psychological thriller 'Mindscape'|work=Joblo|date=2 May 2011|access-date=20 January 2013}} Collet-Serra executive produced the found footage comedy-horror film Hooked Up,{{cite web|url=https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/90049/iphone-shot-horror-movie-hooked-hooks-release-date/|title=Hooked Up|work=DC|access-date=20 January 2013}} which was directed by Pablo Larcuen and was shot on an iPhone.{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3332815/hooked-shot-iphone-gets-u-s-release/|title=Hooked Up|work=Joblo|access-date=20 January 2013}}

=2016–present=

Collet-Serra directed and executive produced The Shallows, a 2016 horror-thriller starring Blake Lively, from a script by Anthony Jaswinski,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/asia/sonys-shallows-to-shoot-in-australia-1201581666/|title=Sony's 'The Shallows' To Shoot In Australia|work=Variety|date=31 August 2015|access-date=5 November 2015}} and The Commuter, an action-thriller starring Liam Neeson, which was released on January 12, 2018, and also features Vera Farmiga, Sam Neill, and Elizabeth McGovern.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/jaume-collet-serra-liam-neeson-the-commuter-studiocanal-1201692723/|title=Jaume Collet-Serra Reunites With Liam Neeson On Studiocanal's 'The Commuter'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=29 January 2016|access-date=29 January 2016}}

Collet-Serra served as director for Jungle Cruise from The Walt Disney Company, starring Dwayne Johnson. The film was based on the concept of the ride of the same name at Disneyland.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/07/dwayne-johnson-jungle-cruise-jaume-collet-serra-director-disney-suicide-squad-2-1202139090/|title=Jaume Collet-Serra To Direct Dwayne Johnson In 'Jungle Cruise:' No 'Suicide Squad 2'|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=31 July 2017|access-date=31 July 2017}}

In June 2019, Collet-Serra signed on to direct Black Adam, written by Adam Sztykiel and starring Dwayne Johnson. Johnson served as a producer on the project alongside Hiram Garcia, Dany Garcia, Beau Flynn, and Scott Sheldon. Collet-Serra emerged as the frontrunner to direct after his work on Jungle Cruise. The film is a co-production between Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, DC Films, Seven Bucks Productions, and FlynnPicturesCo. film studios.{{cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/jaume-collet-serra-black-adam-dwayne-johnson-1203138975/|title=Jaume Collet-Serra Eyed to Direct DC's Black Adam Starring Dwayne Johnson|date=June 7, 2019|work=Variety|access-date=June 9, 2019}}{{cite web|last=Katz|first=Brandon|url=https://observer.com/2019/06/dwayne-johnson-black-adam-jaume-collet-serra-in-talks-direct-warner-bros-dceu/|title=Exclusive: Jaume Collet-Serra In Talks to Direct Dwayne Johnson's Black Adam|date=June 7, 2019|work=The Observer|access-date=June 9, 2019}} Production began in April 2021.{{Cite web|last=Joe Anderton|date=2021-04-10|title=Dwayne Johnson announces DC's Black Adam has started filming|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a36083670/dwayne-johnson-dc-black-adam-filming-update/|access-date=2021-04-10|website=Digital Spy|language=en-GB}}

In 2021, Collet-Serra began directing Netflix thriller, titled Carry-On. It follows a TSA agent blackmailed into allowing a dangerous package on board a flight, starring Taron Egerton and Jason Bateman.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2022-08-31 |title=Jason Bateman To Co-Star Opposite Taron Egerton In Amblin And Netflix Thriller 'Carry On' From Jaume Collet-Serra |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/jason-bateman-taron-egerton-in-amblin-netflix-carry-on-jaume-collet-serra-1235104497/ |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} It released December 13, 2024.

In February 2024, it was announced that Collet-Serra would direct The Woman in the Yard, produced by Jason Blum's Blumhouse Productions and starring Danielle Deadwyler. The film was released on March 28, 2025;{{Cite news |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=May 16, 2024 |title=Universal Dates Five Nights at Freddy's 2, Woman in the Yard & Drop; The Black Phone, M3GAN Sequels Pushed |url=https://deadline.com/2024/05/five-nights-at-freddys-2-sets-release-date-m3gan-sequel-pushed-1235919529/ |access-date=December 17, 2024 |work=Deadline Hollywood}} it was originally scheduled to be released on January 10,{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=February 14, 2024 |title=Blumhouse Sets The Woman in the Yard with Danielle Deadwyler as Star & EP; Jaume Collet-Serra to Direct, EP |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/blumhouse-the-woman-in-the-yard-jaume-collet-serra-danielle-deadwyler-1235825651/ |access-date=February 15, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} but was removed from the release schedule in March 2024{{cite web |last1=D'Alessandro |first1=Anthony |title=Blumhouse's Wolf Man Runs from Fall to MLK Weekend 2025; The Woman in the Yard Unset for Now |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-wolf-man-the-woman-in-the-yard-release-dates-1235871933/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |access-date=March 29, 2024 |date=March 29, 2024}} before being rescheduled in May.

=Upcoming projects=

In March 2019, TheWrap reported that Collet-Serra was to direct Victory, a remake of the 1981 film Escape to Victory.{{Cite web|date=2019-03-12|title=Jaume Collet-Serra to Direct Victory Remake at Warner Bros|url=https://www.thewrap.com/jaume-collet-serra-victory-remake-warner-bros/|access-date=2021-02-28|website=TheWrap|language=en-US}}

In August 2021, Collet-Serra signed on to direct a sequel to Jungle Cruise.{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=2021-08-30|title=Jungle Cruise Sequel in the Works at Disney|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jungle-cruise-sequel-disney-emily-blunt-dwayne-johnson-1235004999/|access-date=2021-08-31|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}

In October 2024, it was announced that Collet-Serra would direct an untitled reboot of the 1993 film Cliffhanger, starring Lily James and Pierce Brosnan, with filming beginning that month in Austria.{{Cite web|date=October 31, 2024|last=Donnelly|first=Matt|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/cliffhanger-reboot-lily-james-pierce-brosnan-stallone-out-1236139856/|title='Cliffhanger' Reboot: Lily James and Pierce Brosnan to Star for Director Jaume Collet-Serra; Sly Stallone Out (EXCLUSIVE)|access-date=February 18, 2025|website=Variety}}

Personal life

Collet-Serra resides in the Hollywood Hills West neighborhood of Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|last=Leitereg|first=Neal J.|title=Filmmaker Jaume Collet-Serra lands a modern spot in Hollywood Hills West|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/hot-property/la-fi-hotprop-jaume-collet-serra-hollywood-20170314-story.html|date=March 14, 2017|access-date=November 1, 2020|website=Los Angeles Times}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" width="65" \| Director ! scope="col" width="65" \| Executive producer
scope="row" \| 2005 \| House of Wax \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2007 \| Goal II: Living the Dream \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2009 \| Orphan \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2011 \| Unknown \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2014 \| Non-Stop \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2015 \| Run All Night \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
scope="row" \| 2016 \| The Shallows \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
scope="row" \| 2018 \| The Commuter \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
scope="row" \| 2021 \| Jungle Cruise \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2022 \| Black Adam \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}
scope="row" \| 2024 \| Carry-On \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
scope="row" \| 2025 \| The Woman in the Yard \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}}
{{TBA}} \| Untitled Cliffhanger film \| {{yes}} \| {{no}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" width="65" | Director

! scope="col" width="65" | Executive
producer

scope="row" | 2005

| House of Wax

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2007

| Goal II: Living the Dream

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2009

| Orphan

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2011

| Unknown

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2014

| Non-Stop

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2015

| Run All Night

| {{yes}}

scope="row" | 2016

| The Shallows

| {{yes}}

scope="row" | 2018

| The Commuter

| {{yes}}

scope="row" | 2021

| Jungle Cruise

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2022

| Black Adam

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

scope="row" | 2024

| Carry-On

| {{yes}}

scope="row" | 2025

| The Woman in the Yard

| {{yes}}

| Untitled Cliffhanger film

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

Producer

Mindscape (2013)
Extinction (2015)
Curve (2015)
Eden (2015)
Retribution (2023)

Executive producer only

Hooked Up (2013)
Horizon Line (2020)

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;" ! scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Title ! scope="col" width="65" \| Director ! scope="col" width="65" \| Producer ! scope="col" \| Notes
scope="row" \| 2012 \| The River \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| Episodes: "Magus" and "Marbeley"
scope="row" \| 2018 \| Reverie \| {{yes}} \| {{yes\|Executive}} \| Episode: "Apertus"

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="margin-right: 0;"

! scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Title

! scope="col" width="65" | Director

! scope="col" width="65" | Producer

! scope="col" | Notes

scope="row" | 2012

| The River

| {{yes}}

| Episodes: "Magus" and "Marbeley"

scope="row" | 2018

| Reverie