Mike Gunther
{{short description|American stuntmam and film director}}
{{distinguish|Mike Gunter}}
Michael "Mike" Gunther is an American film director and stuntman. He is known for being the second unit director on Transformers: The Last Knight (2017), Star Trek Beyond (2016), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016), and Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014). At the end of 2011, he directed the feature film Setup starring Bruce Willis. During 2017-2019 Gunther developed and then directed the popular Netflix "Rogue Warfare" trilogy of films,{{Cite web|last=Floorwalker|first=Mike|date=2020-08-03|title=A Sneaky Good Action Movie Has Been Dominating Netflix|url=https://www.looper.com/232672/a-sneaky-good-action-movie-has-been-dominating-netflix/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Looper.com|language=en-US}} In 2020 he was the 2nd Unit Director for the Will Smith, Martin Lawrence blockbuster "Bad Boys For Life".{{Cite web|date=2020-12-21|title=Director Mike Gunther|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbbe62922|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528233030/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2bbbe62922|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 28, 2016|website=BFI.Org|language=en}} 2021 found him serving as the Second Unit Director on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel Pictures. Gunther also owns and operates 5150Action Productions, a film production company focusing on a wide slate of original content development.{{Cite web |last=viapiuser |date=2018-04-19 |title=Mike Gunther |url=https://variety.com/exec/mike-gunther/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}
Career
After a career as a stunt performer and coordinator creating action sequences for films, Gunther developed and sold a slate of MTV shows: Live Free or Die Hard: Inside the Action (2007) Ghost Rider: Inside the Action (2007) Your Movie Show (2005–2006) and Underworld: Evolution – Inside the Action (2005) before directing the theatrical feature films Beatdown (2010) starring Danny Trejo and Rudy Youngblood as well as the Bruce Willis and 50 Cent action vehicle Setup (2011).{{Cite web|date=2010-12-21|title=Director Mike Gunther talks about filming 'Setup' in Grand Rapids with 50 Cent, Bruce Willis|url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2010/12/director_mike_gunther_talks_ab.html|access-date=2021-06-10|website=mlive|language=en}}
In 2014, he started second unit directing for the major studio franchises Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014){{Cite web|date=2014-06-24|title=Transformers: Age of Extinction Interview: Mike Gunther|url=https://collider.com/transformers-age-of-extinction-interview-mike-gunther/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Collider|language=en-US}}Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016) Star Trek Beyond (2016) and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017).
In 2018, Gunther served as Second Unit Director on the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee for Paramount Studios as well as becoming a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences by invitation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/new-academy-members-2018-revealed-1123069|title = Academy Invites Record 928 New Members| website=The Hollywood Reporter |date = 25 June 2018}}
In 2019, Gunther Directed and Produced the "Rogue Warfare" trilogy for NetFlix.
In 2020, he was Second Unit Director for Sony Pictures on Bad Boys For Life starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
In 2021, he was the Second Unit Director on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings for Marvel Pictures as well as "The Forever Purge" for Universal Pictures.
In 2022, he was Second Unit Director and supervising Stunt Coordinator on "The Lost City" for Paramount Pictures. In addition, he also was the Second Unit Director and supervising Stunt Coordinator on "Ambulance" for Universal Studios.
In 2024, Gunther was Second Unit Director for "Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire" for Sony Pictures. He also was the Second Unit Director on Universal's "Twisters". In addition, he was the Second Unit Director and supervising Stunt Coordinator on "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" for NetFlix.
Filmography
As Second Unit Director
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Notes |
|---|
| 2002
| Also stunt double: Steve Oedekerk |
| rowspan="2"| 2009
| Mexico; uncredited |
| Fighting
| uncredited |
| 2010
| Television series; Episode: Tall Stack Of Waffles |
| rowspan="3"| 2014
| Sabotage | |
| Transformers: Age of Extinction
| |
| The Purge: Anarchy
| |
| 2014-2018
| Scorpion | Various | Television series |
| 2015
| Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse | |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| Justin Lin | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows
| |
| 2017
| Transformers: The Last Knight | Michael Bay | |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
| |
| Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan
| Daniel Sackheim | Television series; Episode: Inshallah |
| rowspan="3"| 2019
| Mike Gunther | |
| Rogue Warfare: The Hunt
| Mike Gunther | | |
| Rogue Warfare: Death of a Nation
| Mike Gunther | |
| 2020
| Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah | |
| rowspan="2"| 2021
| Everardo Valerio Gout | |
| Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
| |
| rowspan="3"| 2022
| |
| Ambulance
| Michael Bay | |
| Me Time
| |
| rowspan="3"| 2024
| |
| Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
| |
| Twisters
| |
As Director / Writer / Producer
- Setup (2011) (Director, Writer)
- End of Watch (2012) (Associate Producer)
- Rogue Warfare (2019) (Director, Writer, Producer)
- Rogue Warfare: The Hunt (2019) (Director, Producer)
- Rogue Warfare: Death of a Nation (2020) (Director, Producer)
- A Violent Land (TBA) (Director, Writer, Producer)
- Stop Frank (TBA) (Director, Writer)
- Criminal (TBA) (Director, Writer)
Awards
- 2010 World Stunt Awards – Won, Taurus Award – Best Stunt Coordinator and/or 2nd Unit Director: Feature Film for Fast & Furious{{Cite news|title=Winners & Nominees|url=https://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/awards/2010-winners-nominees/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Taurus World Stunt Awards|language=en-US}}
- 2012 World Stunt Awards – Won, Taurus Award – Best High Work for Fast Five{{Citation needed |date=February 2023}}
- 2012 World Stunt Awards – Won, Taurus Award – Best Stunt Coordinator and/or 2nd Unit Director: Feature for Fast Five{{Citation needed |date=February 2023}}
- 2012 World Stunt Awards – Won, Taurus Award – Best Fight for Fast Five{{Citation needed |date=February 2023}}
- 2020 World Stunt Awards – Nominated Taurus Award – Best Stunt Coordinator and/or 2nd Unit Director for Bad Boys for Life – Columbia Pictures Entertainment{{Citation needed |date=February 2023}}
- 2021 Indiana Film Journalists Association – Nominated, IFJA Award – Best Stunt/Movement Choreography for Ambulance – Universal Pictures{{Citation needed |date=February 2023}}
References
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunther, Mike}}
Category:Film directors from Los Angeles