Robert Eggers
{{Short description|American filmmaker (born 1983)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Robert Eggers
| image = Robert_Eggers_-_The_Witch,Fantastic_Fest_2015-1667_(28894993650) (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Eggers in 2015
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|7|7}}
| birth_place = New York City, U.S.
| occupation = Filmmaker
| years_active = 2007–present
| spouse = Alexandra Shaker
| children = 1
}}
Robert Houston Eggers (born July 7, 1983) is an American filmmaker who has written and directed The Witch (2015), The Lighthouse (2019), The Northman (2022), and Nosferatu (2024). His films blend elements of horror, folklore, and mythology and are noted for maintaining historical authenticity.{{cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Sam |date=March 28, 2022 |title=Robert Eggers's Historical Visions Go Mainstream |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329132254/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=March 29, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker}}
Early life
Robert Houston Eggers was born in New York City on July 7, 1983.{{cite web|publisher=AllMovie|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/robert-eggers-p608418|title=Robert Eggers Biography|archive-date=September 27, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200927050147/https://www.allmovie.com/artist/robert-eggers-p608418|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/person/972840401-Robert-Eggers#tab=summary|website=The Numbers|title=Robert Eggers|archive-url=https://archive.today/20241226191430/https://www.the-numbers.com/person/972840401-Robert-Eggers%23tab=summary|archive-date=December 26, 2024|url-status=live}} He does not know his biological father. He and his mother Kelly Houston moved to Laramie, Wyoming, where she met and married Walter Eggers, an English literature professor at the University of Wyoming.{{cite web|work=University of Wyoming|quote=Walter F. Eggers, Associate Professor of English, was appointed as Acting Director of the University Libraries...|page=15|url=https://www.uwyo.edu/trustees/_files/docs/bot-archive-minutes/1981/1981_June%2031_BOT%20Minutes.pdf|title=The University of Wyoming Minutes of the Trustees|date=July 31, 1981|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240729211911/https://www.uwyo.edu/trustees/_files/docs/bot-archive-minutes/1984/1984_Sept%2015_BOT%20Minutes.pdf|archive-date=July 29, 2024|url-status=live}} The couple had twin sons named Max and Sam, who also became filmmakers.{{Cite web |last=Sayre |first=Will |date=2024-09-10 |title=The Front Room Directors on How Brother Robert Eggers & The Lighthouse's Wild Press Screening Inspired Them |url=https://movieweb.com/the-front-room-max-sam-eggers-brother-robert-grandfather-lighthouse/ |access-date=2024-12-20 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}} In 1990, the family relocated to Lee, New Hampshire, after Walter became a provost at the University of New Hampshire.{{Cite web |title=Robert Stroud Houston Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information |url=https://www.brewittfuneralhome.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=2978389 |access-date=April 7, 2022 |website=www.brewittfuneralhome.com |language=en-US}}
Eggers returned to New York to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in 2001. He gained an interest in designing, directing, and theatre while there, and would additionally show an interest in filmmaking by directing and designing short films.{{Cite web |title=BIOGRAPHY |url=http://roberteggers.com/about-ba |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=Robert Eggers |language=en-US}} His childhood in New England often inspires his work; while writing his first feature film, he frequently visited the Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts.{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Nicola |date=March 18, 2016 |title=New Hampshire Director Sifts His Home Soil |work=Valley News |url=https://www.vnews.com/Archives/2016/03-Filler/EggersQandA-ns-vn-031816 |access-date=October 2, 2022}}
Career
Eggers began his career as a designer and director of theatre productions in New York before transitioning to working in film.{{cite web |last1=Bloom |first1=Jessica |title=Designer-Turned-Director Robert Eggers Discusses His Horror Film 'The Witch' |url=https://www.format.com/magazine/features/design/the-witch-robert-eggers-movie-interview |access-date=September 26, 2016 |website=Format Magazine}} He wrote and directed the horror film The Witch (2015) in his feature film directorial debut, and it premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival before A24 acquired it. It was released theatrically on February 19, 2016. Critical reception was largely positive, and the film earned over $40 million against a budget of $4 million.
Eggers' next film, The Lighthouse (2019), was also a period piece and received critical acclaim. He directed the film from a screenplay he co-wrote with his brother, Max, and it stars Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/robert-eggers-the-lighthouse-interview-898545/ |title=Drunken Sailors and Movie Stars: Robert Eggers on Making The Lighthouse |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |url-access=limited |first=David |last=Fear |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191028235947/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/robert-eggers-the-lighthouse-interview-898545/ |archive-date=October 28, 2019 |url-status=live }} In 2022, the Amleth-inspired Viking epic film The Northman was released, starring Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Anya Taylor-Joy, Ethan Hawke, Björk, and Willem Dafoe.{{Cite news |last=Barter |first=Pavel |date=January 26, 2020 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/ireland-world/article/nicole-kidman-in-belfast-s-the-northman-movie-bqbshrgms |title=Nicole Kidman in Belfast's The Northman movie |work=The Times |access-date=March 30, 2020 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}} Critical reception was largely positive, but the film underperformed at the box office and did not make a profit until it was released on VOD.
In July 2015, it was reported that Eggers would write and direct a remake of the silent film Nosferatu (1922). The film was set to be produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen for Studio 8.{{cite news|last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr.|title=Studio 8 Sets Nosferatu Remake; The Witch{{'}}s Robert Eggers To Write & DirectDirect|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/nosferatu-the-witch-robert-eggers-studio-8-1201486438/|access-date=August 3, 2015|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 28, 2015}} In November 2016, Eggers expressed surprise that the Nosferatu remake was going to be his second film, saying, "It feels ugly and blasphemous and egomaniacal and disgusting for a filmmaker in my place to do Nosferatu next. I was really planning on waiting a while, but that's how fate shook out." Eggers had previously directed his high school's performance of the Nosferatu play, and was hired to direct a professional version of the play due to his work. Eggers credited this as the event that inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking.{{cite web|last1=O'Falt|first1=Chris|title=Filmmaker Toolkit Podcast: Witch Director Robert Eggers' Lifelong Obsession with 'Nosferatu' and His Plans For a Remake (Episode 13)|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/11/filmmaker-toolkit-podcast-the-witch-robert-eggers-episode-12-1201745594/|access-date=August 28, 2017|website=IndieWire|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=November 11, 2016}} Eggers eventually opted to delay his version of the film, going on to direct The Lighthouse and The Northman first. The Witch star Anya Taylor-Joy was attached to the cast alongside Harry Styles, but both dropped out in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2022-09-30 |title=Bill Skarsgard & Lily-Rose Depp To Star In 'Nosferatu', Robert Eggers' Follow-Up To 'Northman' For Focus |url=https://deadline.com/2022/09/bill-skarsgard-lily-rose-depp-robert-eggers-nosferatu-focus-1235131507/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}} In September 2022, it was reported that the film would star Bill Skarsgård in the title role alongside Lily-Rose Depp.{{Cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=2022-09-30 |title=Bill Skarsgard, Lily-Rose Depp in Talks for Robert Eggers' 'Nosferatu' Remake |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bill-skarsgard-lily-rose-depp-nosferatu-remake-robert-eggers-1235230861/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Nosferatu became his fourth film.
=Prospective projects=
Eggers was at one point developing a miniseries based on the life of Grigori Rasputin.{{cite news|first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming |title=The Witch Helmer Robert Eggers To Write, Direct Rasputin Miniseries For MRC |work=Deadline Hollywood |url=https://deadline.com/2016/02/rasputin-the-witch-robert-eggers-to-write-direct-mad-monk-miniseries-for-mrc-1201707249/ |date=February 22, 2016 |access-date=March 13, 2017 }} However, he stated in 2024 that development has stalled as he would be unable to film in Russia.{{cite news |last1=Earl |first1=William |title='Nosferatu' Director Robert Eggers Breaks Down the Erotic Vampire Scenes, Creating an All-Time Scary Villain and the 'Demented' Bloody Moment He Had to Cut |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/nosferatu-sex-scenes-vampire-director-breaks-down-1236246641/ |access-date=28 December 2024 |work=Variety |date=25 December 2024}} He has also developed a medieval film called The Knight, which has yet to be produced.
In January 2025, it was reported Eggers would direct Werwulf, a werewolf horror film set in 13th-century England. The film's North American release is currently set for Christmas, 2026.{{Cite web |last=Kit |first=Borys |date=2025-01-22 |title=Robert Eggers Reteams with Focus Features for 14th Century Werewolf Thriller 'Werwulf' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/robert-eggers-direct-13th-century-werewolf-thriller-werwulf-1236114172/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} It was also reported that he will write and direct a sequel to the 1986 film Labyrinth.{{cite web|last=Cavanaugh|first=Patrick|url=https://comicbook.com/movies/news/labyrinth-reboot-remake-robert-eggers-reaction-sequel-update/|title=Nosferatu Director Weighs in on Reports of Developing a New Labyrinth|website=ComicBook.com|date=January 22, 2025|access-date=March 13, 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2025-01-23 |title=Robert Eggers Set For 'Labyrinth' Sequel At TriStar |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/robert-eggers-labyrinth-sequel-sony-1236265010/ |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Additionally, Eggers had started writing an "Elizabethan" script and expressed interest in making a Western.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=P. C. N. |date=2025-02-24 |title=Every Robert Eggers project in development |url=https://popculturenews.com/every-robert-eggers-project-in-development/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=popculturenews |language=en-US}}[https://www.gq.com/story/robert-eggers-the-northman-interview The Northman Director Robert Eggers on Making the Definitive Viking Movie][https://www.indiewire.com/awards/consider-this/robert-eggers-interview-nosferatu-1235079614/ ‘Nosferatu’: How to Make a Robert Eggers Movie, with Help from Mel Brooks and Chris Columbus]
Filmmaking style
One of the major traits of films directed by Eggers is their "strict attention to detail".{{Cite magazine |last=Crucchiola |first=Jordan |title=How The Witch's Director Made His Film So Terrifying |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/02/robert-eggers-set-design-how-he-made-the-witch-so-scary/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |magazine=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}} All of his films are period dramas, and have been noted for their historical accuracy, especially their use of specific language and period-appropriate dialogue.{{Cite web |title=Robert Eggers' unique and distinct style of filmmaking |url=https://blog.finaldraft.com/robert-eggers-unique-and-distinct-style-of-filmmaking |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=blog.finaldraft.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Cotroneo |first=Vincent |date=2022-05-16 |title=Here's What Makes Robert Eggers' Style Perfect For Historical Period Movies |url=https://movieweb.com/robert-eggers-historical-period-movies/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}
Eggers stated in a Rotten Tomatoes interview that he is not interested in making films set in the contemporary era, claiming that the idea of photographing modern technology disgusts him. When asked what is the latest era he is willing to film, he answered that he will go as far as the 1950s.{{Cite tweet |user=RottenTomatoes |number=1882140109094440999 |title=Robert Eggers shares that he has no interest in making a contemporary film. His next project is a 13th century werewolf horror movie titled, #Werwulf.}}
Personal life
Eggers is married to clinical psychologist Alexandra Shaker, whom he has known since childhood.{{cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Sam |date=March 28, 2022 |title=Robert Eggers's Historical Visions Go Mainstream |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream |url-status=live |magazine=The New Yorker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220329132254/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/04/04/robert-eggerss-historical-visions-go-mainstream |archive-date=March 29, 2022 |access-date=April 7, 2022}} They reside in Brooklyn and have a son.
Filmography
=Feature films=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Director ! Writer ! Producer |
|---|
| 2015
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |
| 2019
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2022
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2024
| {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
| 2026
| Werwulf | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |
=Short films=
= Costume designer =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 2009
| Drawing from Life |rowspan=5| Short film |
| rowspan="5" | 2010
| Prelude and Fugue |
| Confessional Stories: Voluntary Damnation |
| Confessional Stories: First Confession |
| Monster |
| YellowBrickRoad
| Feature |
| rowspan="4" | 2011
| The Tailor |rowspan=2| Short film |
| The Five Stages of Grief |
| Tell Your Friends! The Concert Film!
| Documentary |
| In the Pines
|rowspan=6| Short film |
| rowspan="3" | 2012
| Anemone |
| Legacy |
| Esther |
| rowspan="3" | 2013
| The House at the Edge of the Galaxy |
| Vivace! |
| Spirit Cabinet
| Feature film |
| 2014
| Rose | Short film |
Reception
References
{{Reflist}}
Bibliography
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book|title=Art-Horror: The Films of Ari Aster and Robert Eggers|publisher=Create Space|year=2023|isbn=9798364720719|author=Adrian Gmelch}}
{{Refend}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|3211470}}
{{Robert Eggers}}
{{Bram Stoker Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Eggers, Robert}}
Category:People from Lee, New Hampshire
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:Sundance Film Festival award winners
Category:American horror film directors
Category:American fantasy film directors
Category:Film directors from New Hampshire
Category:Screenwriters from New Hampshire
Category:American production designers
Category:Film producers from New York (state)
Category:Film directors from New York City
Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)
Category:21st-century American screenwriters