Joseph Kosinski

Kosinski grew up in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Patricia (née Provost) of French-Canadian (Québec) descent, and Joel Kosinski, a doctor of Polish descent.{{Cite web |url=http://movieline.com/2010/12/17/joseph-kosinski-talks-tron-legacy-the-limitations-of-cgi-humans-and-the-black-hole |title=Director Joseph Kosinski on Tron: Legacy and the Limitations of CGI-Created Actors |date=December 17, 2010 |access-date=October 14, 2013 |archive-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728164858/http://movieline.com/2010/12/17/joseph-kosinski-talks-tron-legacy-the-limitations-of-cgi-humans-and-the-black-hole/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/movies/05tron.html|last=Barnes|first=Brooks|title=Cyberspace Gamble|date=December 3, 2010|access-date=December 6, 2010|work=The New York Times|page=AR1|quote=Raised in Marshalltown, Iowa — population 26,000 — he [Kosinski] is quiet, polite and interested in other people's opinions in a way that is rare in moviedom's major leagues.|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610201940/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/05/movies/05tron.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/535493/The-building-of-a-legacy.html?nav=5005 |title=The building of a legacy |access-date=January 18, 2013 |archive-date=October 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020062931/http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/535493/The-building-of-a-legacy.html?nav=5005 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|title=Death Notice: CATHERINE JULIA PROVOST|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2008/03/14/death-notice-catherine-julia-provost-2/|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=March 14, 2008|access-date=October 14, 2013|archive-date=October 20, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020121654/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-03-14/news/0803131108_1_il-edward-margaret-nielsen|url-status=live}} After graduating from Marshalltown High School in 1992, he studied mechanical engineering at Stanford University and architecture at Columbia University.{{Cite web |title=Marshalltown native prepares to publish fourth book on geopolitics, demography |url=https://www.timesrepublican.com/news/todays-news/2022/05/marshalltown-native-prepares-to-publish-fourth-book-on-geopolitics-demography/ |access-date=2025-04-12 |website=Times Republican |language=en-US}}

His first major film was the special effects-heavy Tron: Legacy.{{cite web | title=First Location Shot from 'Tron 2.0' | url=http://www.cinemaspy.com/article.php?id=2119 | work=Robert Falconer | publisher=cinemaspy | date=April 8, 2009 | access-date=August 11, 2009 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905141219/http://www.cinemaspy.com/article.php?id=2119 | archive-date=September 5, 2009 }} The film was in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3D, with a release of December 2010 and grossed $400 million worldwide.[https://www.slashfilm.com/2009/07/23/comic-con-tron-2-retitled-tron-legacy-imax-3d-concept-art-and-new-scene-revealed/ Comic-Con: Tron 2 Retitled TRON Legacy; IMAX 3D; Concept Art and New Scene Revealed.] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120911153107/http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/07/23/comic-con-tron-2-retitled-tron-legacy-imax-3d-concept-art-and-new-scene-revealed/ |date=September 11, 2012 }} Posted on Thursday, July 23, 2009, by Peter Sciretta on SlashFilm

After moving to Los Angeles in 2005, he began writing a film treatment which would eventually develop into an unpublished graphic novel by the title Oblivion for Radical Comics.{{Cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36990 |title=Joseph Kosinski On Oblivion |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924124707/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=36990 |url-status=live }} In August 2010, Walt Disney Pictures acquired the rights to the work.{{cite news | url = https://screenrant.com/disney-joseph-kosinki-oblivion-robf-71839/ | title = Disney Acquires The Rights to Joseph Kosinski's 'Oblivion' [Updated] | first = Rob | last = Frappier | date = August 4, 2010 | publisher = screenrant.com | access-date = March 21, 2011 | archive-date = June 5, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110605012153/http://screenrant.com/disney-joseph-kosinki-oblivion-robf-71839/ | url-status = live }} William Monahan worked on the screenplay for a film adaptation.{{cite news |last=Mottle |first=Jeff |title=Interview with Joe Kosinski (Director of TRON Legacy) |work=cgarchitect.com |url=https://www.cgarchitect.com/features/articles/ac21c747-interview-with-joe-kosinski-director-of-tron-legacy |access-date=February 22, 2011 |archive-date=July 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220709045150/https://www.cgarchitect.com/features/articles/ac21c747-interview-with-joe-kosinski-director-of-tron-legacy |url-status=live }} In March 2011, it was reported that Karl Gajdusek would rewrite the screenplay.{{cite news | url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/karl-gajdusek-tapped-write-disney-168437 | title = Karl Gajdusek Tapped to Re-Write Disney's Horizons (Exclusive) | first = Borys | last = Kit | date = March 16, 2011 | work = The Hollywood Reporter | access-date = March 21, 2011 | archive-date = October 26, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121026084531/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/karl-gajdusek-tapped-write-disney-168437 | url-status = live }} Attempts to keep the film with a PG rating were unsuccessful, leading to Disney giving up the rights which were acquired by Universal Pictures, and agreed to a PG-13 rating. The $120-million-budgeted Oblivion began filming in March 2012, with Tom Cruise in the lead role, and was released in April 2013 to mixed reviews and grossed $286 million worldwide.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2011/05/tom-cruise-commits-to-100-million-universal-sci-fi-pic-oblivion-for-fall-134122/ |title= Tom Cruise Commits To $100 Million Universal Sci-Fi Pic 'Oblivion' For Fall |first= Mike |last= Fleming |work= Deadline Hollywood |date= May 20, 2011 |access-date= May 21, 2011 |archive-date= May 21, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110521180323/http://www.deadline.com/2011/05/tom-cruise-commits-to-100-million-universal-sci-fi-pic-oblivion-for-fall/ |url-status= live }}

File:Top Gun Maveric Global Premiere May 2022.jpg, admiral Kenneth R. Whitesell, Tom Cruise, Kosinski, and Jerry Bruckheimer at the Naval Air Station North Island premiere of Top Gun: Maverick]]

In 2017, he directed Only the Brave, originally titled Granite Mountain, based on the true story of the Granite Mountain Hotshots (wildland firefighters). In June 2017, it was announced he was set to direct the sequel to Top Gun, titled Top Gun: Maverick, reuniting with Oblivion star Tom Cruise.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/06/top-gun-sequel-release-july-12-2019-tom-cruiise-joseph-kosinski-jerry-bruckheimer-paramount-1202123050/|title=Paramount Sets 'Top Gun 2' For July 2019; Joseph Kosinski Firmed For Tom Cruise Pic|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 30, 2017|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701012824/http://deadline.com/2017/06/top-gun-sequel-release-july-12-2019-tom-cruiise-joseph-kosinski-jerry-bruckheimer-paramount-1202123050/|url-status=live}} The film was released in theatres on May 27, 2022, by Paramount Pictures and grossed $1.496 billion worldwide, becoming Cruise's highest-grossing film at the box office.{{Cite web|last1=D'Alessandro|last2=Tartaglione|first1=Anthony|first2=Nancy|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/top-gun-maverick-flies-from-thanksgiving-to-memorial-day-weekend-mission-impossible-7-ignites-in-fall-2022-1234825624/|date=September 1, 2021|title='Top Gun: Maverick' Flies From Thanksgiving To Memorial Day Weekend; 'Mission: Impossible 7' Ignites In Fall 2022|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 11, 2023|archive-date=July 25, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725223158/https://deadline.com/2021/09/top-gun-maverick-flies-from-thanksgiving-to-memorial-day-weekend-mission-impossible-7-ignites-in-fall-2022-1234825624/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=June 17, 2022|url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-800-million-tom-cruise-biggest-movie-ever-1235047744/|title='Top Gun: Maverick' Flies By $800M Worldwide; Becomes Tom Cruise's Biggest Movie Ever|access-date=July 11, 2023|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-date=June 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618035159/https://deadline.com/2022/06/top-gun-maverick-800-million-tom-cruise-biggest-movie-ever-1235047744/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2022/|title=2022 Worldwide Box Office|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 11, 2023|archive-date=July 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705130247/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2022/|url-status=live}}

Kosinski is also directing a Formula One racing film named F1, reteaming with Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer and screenwriter Ehren Kruger, with racing driver Lewis Hamilton also serving as producer. The project, acquired by Apple Studios in June 2022, stars Brad Pitt and will receive an exclusive theatrical run "of at least 30 days" starting internationally on June 25, 2025, and in North America on June 27, 2025, before streaming on Apple TV+.{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=June 7, 2022|title=Behind Apple's Megadeal for Brad Pitt Formula One Racing Film From Joseph Kosinski|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/brad-pitt-joseph-kosinski-apple-racing-movie-1235160349/|website=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=June 11, 2022|archive-date=June 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611153922/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/brad-pitt-joseph-kosinski-apple-racing-movie-1235160349/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/f1-movie-brad-pitt-hollywood-production-shot-abu-dhabi-1236269484/|last=Vivarelli|first=Nick|title='F1' Movie Starring Brad Pitt Is Latest Hollywood Production Partly Shot in Abu Dhabi|date=January 8, 2025|access-date=January 29, 2025|website=Variety.com}}

On February 18, 2025, it was announced that Kosinski and Bruckheimer would reunite on an untitled conspiracy thriller film centred around UFOs, with Zach Baylin writing the screenplay.{{Cite web|last1=Kit|last2=Gajewski|first1=Borys|first2=Ryan|date=February 18, 2025|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jerry-bruckheimer-joseph-kosinski-bidding-war-1236140393/|title=UFO Conspiracy Thriller From Joseph Kosinski, Jerry Bruckheimer Ignites Bidding War (Exclusive)|access-date=April 2, 2025|website=The Hollywood Reporter}} On March 24, it was announced that the project had been acquired by Apple Studios.{{Cite web|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=March 24, 2025|url=https://deadline.com/2025/03/apple-joseph-kosinski-jerry-bruckheimer-1236347695/|title=Apple Officially Lands UFO-Disclosure Project From Joseph Kosinski And Jerry Bruckheimer|access-date=April 2, 2025|website=Deadline Hollywood}}

Kosinski has been attached to several as-of-now-unmade projects, including remakes of '70s science-fiction films Logan's Run[http://www.scifiupdates.com/home/content/view/402/2/ Warner Bros. Bets on Kosinski for 'Logan's Run'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904233619/http://www.scifiupdates.com/home/content/view/402/2/ |date=September 4, 2009 }}, by Chris McKeown, on August 22, 2007, Sci Fi Updates website. and The Black Hole,{{Cite web |url=http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2009/11/black-hole-remake-by-tron-team.html |title=Black Hole remake by Tron Team |access-date=December 1, 2009 |archive-date=December 4, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204002631/http://www.heatvisionblog.com/2009/11/black-hole-remake-by-tron-team.html |url-status=live }} the science-fiction film Archangels,{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/20890|title=Agents Hunt Down Disguised Aliens in 'Archangels'|date=July 14, 2010|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=July 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728192314/http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/20890|url-status=live}} an untitled action-thriller from Halt and Catch Fire writers Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers,{{Cite web|url = https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/110186-joseph-kosinski-plans-mysterious-action-thriller|title = Joseph Kosinski Plans Mysterious Action Thriller|date = October 14, 2013|access-date = July 7, 2020|archive-date = July 8, 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200708094620/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/110186-joseph-kosinski-plans-mysterious-action-thriller|url-status = live}} and The Twilight Zone.{{Cite web |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tron-helmer-joseph-kosinski-direct-608166 |title='Tron' Helmer Joseph Kosinski to Direct 'Twilight Zone' Film (Exclusive) |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 16, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2020 |archive-date=July 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701220528/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/tron-helmer-joseph-kosinski-direct-608166 |url-status=live }}

Kosinski was confirmed to direct the third Tron film in March 2015, but in May of the same year it was announced that Disney had canceled the project.{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/tron-3-legacy-sequel-director-joseph-kosinski-casting-2016/|title='TRON: Legacy' Director Joseph Kosinski Will Return For 'TRON 3′|website=Screen Rant|date=March 11, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=February 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190207074232/https://screenrant.com/tron-3-legacy-sequel-director-joseph-kosinski-casting-2016/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-not-moving-forward-tron-798941|title=Disney Not Moving Forward With 'Tron 3' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 29, 2015|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=May 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530053255/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-not-moving-forward-tron-798941|url-status=live}}

Kosinski also signed on to direct a film adaptation of the Gran Turismo video game series for Sony Pictures in March 2015, but in February 2018, it was reported the project was no longer moving forward.{{Cite web|last=Kit|first=Borys|date=March 2, 2015|title=Joseph Kosinski in Talks to Direct Sony's 'Gran Turismo'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/joseph-kosinski-talks-direct-sonys-778675/|access-date=September 22, 2023|website=The Hollywood Reporter}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gtplanet.net/gran-turismo-movie-might-dead/|last=Greer|first=Jordan|title=The Gran Turismo Movie Might Be Dead|date=February 11, 2018|access-date=September 22, 2023|website=GTPlanet}} The project would eventually be directed by Neill Blomkamp and released in theatres on August 25, 2023.{{Cite web|last1=Hipes|last2=Kroll|first1=Patrick|first2=Justin|date=June 14, 2022|url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/gran-turismo-movie-neill-blomkamp-video-game-adaptation-sony-playstation-1235033958/|title='Gran Turismo' Pic From Neill Blomkamp Gets Sony Release Date, New Details – Update|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 22, 2023}}{{Cite web|last=D'Alessandro|first=Anthony|date=July 28, 2023|url=https://deadline.com/2023/07/sony-pictures-pushes-movie-release-dates-sag-wga-strikes-1235450346/|title=Sony Shakes Up Release Dates: 'Bad Boys 4' & 'Venom 3' Set; Strikes Push 'Ghostbusters' Sequel, 'Kraven The Hunter', 'Beyond The Spider-Verse' & More|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=September 22, 2023}}

In June 2020, he was hired to direct the reboot of Twister for Universal Pictures, the original film's international distributor,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/twister-reboot-joseph-kosinski-universal-1234648589/|title='Twister' Reboot in the Works at Universal With Joseph Kosinski Eyed to Direct (EXCLUSIVE)|last=Kroll|first=Justin|date=June 24, 2020|work=Variety Media|access-date=June 24, 2020|archive-date=June 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624224116/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/twister-reboot-joseph-kosinski-universal-1234648589/|url-status=live}} but in October 2022, Kosinski stepped down after the project was repurposed into a legacy-sequel, Twisters, and replaced by Lee Isaac Chung as director; Kosinski was ultimately credited for the film's story.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/10/twisters-sequel-forecast-spring-start-universal-amblin-finalize-director-1235147353/|work=Deadline|title=The Dish: 'Twisters' Forecast For Spring Start As Universal, Amblin Finalize Director For Sequel|author=Fleming, Mike Jr.|date=October 17, 2022|accessdate=October 17, 2022|archive-date=October 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221017211018/https://deadline.com/2022/10/twisters-sequel-forecast-spring-start-universal-amblin-finalize-director-1235147353/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=December 15, 2022 |title=Lee Isaac Chung in Talks to Direct 'Twisters' Sequel |work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lee-isaac-chung-to-direct-twister-sequel-1235282780/ |access-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215174844/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/lee-isaac-chung-to-direct-twister-sequel-1235282780/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://directories.wga.org/project/1252735/twisters|title=Twisters|access-date=April 2, 2025|website=Writers Guild of America West}}

Kosinski is an alumnus of Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP), and was an adjunct assistant professor of architecture{{cite web|url=http://www.arch.columbia.edu/index.php?pageData=41274/23/4/1700/|title=Faculty listing at Columbia GSAP website.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904182739/http://www.arch.columbia.edu/index.php?pageData=41274%2F23%2F4%2F1700%2F|archive-date=September 4, 2009}} helping students in 3D modeling and graphics.[http://ci.columbia.edu/ci/subjects/profiles/arch_profile0.html Beyond the Blob—Digital Technology in Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927223744/http://ci.columbia.edu/ci/subjects/profiles/arch_profile0.html |date=September 27, 2009 }}, from Columbia Interactive. In 2008, he spoke in detail about his education in architecture, pushing the technological envelope in commercials and his eventual progression to feature films.{{Cite web |url=http://vimeo.com/9261902 |title=5D Future of Immersive Design Conference |access-date=February 7, 2010 |archive-date=February 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211152425/http://www.vimeo.com/9261902 |url-status=live }}

• 2007 AICP Show – Best Visual Effects for the Gears of War commercial "Mad World" – Nominated
• AICP Best Visual Effects Award for his Assassin's Creed "Unity" and Destiny "Become Legend" commercials – Nominated
• Saturn Award for Best Film Director for Top Gun: Maverick – Nominated{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/ |title=Saturn Awards Nominations: 'The Batman', 'Nightmare Alley', 'Spider-Man', 'Better Call Saul' Top List |last=Tinoco |first=Armando |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=August 12, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812202430/https://deadline.com/2022/08/saturn-awards-2022-nominations-list-movies-tv-1235089636/ |url-status=live }}
• Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing for Top Gun: Maverick – Nominated

• "Hold My Hand" – Lady Gaga (2022)

• Nintendo DS – Touch (2004)
• Gears of War – Mad World (2006)
• Halo 3 – Starry Night (2007)
• Saab Aero-X – Blackbird (2007)
• Hummer – Selector (2007)
• Chevrolet – Baby (2008)
• Halo 4 – Awakening (2011)
• Assassin's Creed Unity – Unity (2014)
• Destiny – Become Legend (2014)
• Destiny – Evil's Most Wanted (2015)
• Doom – cinematic trailer (2016)
• Taco Bell – Web of Fries (2018)
• BMW i7 M70 – The Calm (2023){{Cite press release |title=World premiere in Cannes: the new BMW Films production "The Calm", starring Pom Klementieff, Uma Thurman and the BMW i7 M70 xDrive |url=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/global/article/detail/T0416638EN/world-premiere-in-cannes:-the-new-bmw-films-production-the-calm-starring-pom-klementieff-uma-thurman-and-the-bmw-i7-m70-xdrive?language=en |date=May 12, 2023 |publisher=BMW |location=Munich/Cannes}}
• Chanel – Who Are You Coco Mademoiselle? (2023)

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.josephkosinski.com/ Personal website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006045019/http://www.josephkosinski.com/ |date=October 6, 2013 }} including professional reel
• {{IMDb name|2676052}}

{{Joseph Kosinski}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kosinski, Joseph}}

Category:Living people

Category:Skydance Media people

Category:Film directors from Iowa

Category:People from Marshalltown, Iowa

Category:Screenwriters from Iowa

Category:Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation alumni

Category:Columbia Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation faculty

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American people of Polish descent

Category:English-language film directors

Category:Television commercial directors

Category:American action film directors

Category:American science fiction film directors

Category:1974 births