Rupert Sanders
{{Short description|English filmmaker (born 1971)}}
{{EngvarB|date=March 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rupert Sanders
| image = Rupert Sanders (7400890660) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sanders in 2012
| birth_name = Rupert Miles Sanders
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1971|03|16}}
| birth_place = London, England
| occupation = Film director
| spouse = {{marriage|Liberty Ross|2002|2014|reason=divorced}}
| notable_works = Snow White and the Huntsman
Ghost in the Shell
The Crow
| children = 2
| yearsactive = 1999–present
}}
Rupert Miles Sanders (born 16 March 1971) is an English film director. Sanders directed the films Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), Ghost in the Shell (2017), and The Crow (2024). He also directed the pilot episode of the Apple TV+ science fiction series Foundation.
Early life
Sanders was born in Westminster, London, the eldest son of Thalia (née Garlick) and hospital ophthalmologist Michael Sanders. After a foundation year at Kingston School of Art he graduated with a degree in graphic design from Central St Martins.
Career
Sanders began his commercial production career under Tony Kaye. He had primarily done art direction before Kaye suggested he try out directing.{{cite web |url= http://www.boardsmag.com/articles/magazine/200104/sr-fb-sanders.html|title= Rupert Sanders, Omaha Pictures, Los Angeles|first= Simon|last= Wakelin|access-date= September 2, 2022|work= Boards|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20010409223532/http://www.boardsmag.com/articles/magazine/200104/sr-fb-sanders.html|archive-date= April 9, 2001}} Sanders has directed numerous television advertisements, including The Life for Halo 3: ODST, which won him two Golden Lions at the Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.{{cite news|last=Babb|first=Francesca|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/jun/02/rupert-sanders-snow-white-huntsman|title=Snow White & the Huntsman Director Rupert Sanders Is Living the Fairy Tale|date=1 June 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=27 July 2012}}
Sanders' first feature film was Snow White and the Huntsman, which was released in the US in early June 2012. The film's budget was $170 million, including an eight-figure marketing expenditure, and it earned $20.3 million on its opening day in the US. To date, the film has grossed $396,592,829 at the box office.{{cite news|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-report-snow-white-prometheus-332329|title=Box Office Report: 'Snow White and the Huntsman' Tops Friday With Strong $20.3 Million|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=2 June 2012|access-date=27 July 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=snowwhiteandthehuntsman.htm | title=Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) |access-date=13 September 2012}}
After passing the offer to direct the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean film series,{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=Disney Getting Close On ‘Pirates 5’ Director; Here’s The Short List|url=https://deadline.com/2013/05/disney-getting-close-on-pirates-5-director-heres-the-short-list-494055/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=9 May 2013|access-date=20 April 2021}} Sanders directed a film adaptation of science fiction manga franchise Ghost in the Shell, with Avi Arad and Steven Paul producing and Scarlett Johansson starring in the main role. It was released in late March 2017.{{cite news|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|title=Scarlett Johansson Signs on to Star in DreamWorks' 'Ghost in the Shell' (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/scarlett-johansson-signs-on-to-star-in-dreamworks-ghost-in-the-shell-exclusive-1201320788/|work=Variety|date=5 January 2015|access-date=5 January 2015}}{{cite web|title=Scarlett Johansson Confirmed to Star in Ghost in the Shell|url=https://time.com/3654108/scarlett-johansson-ghost-in-the-shell-anime-manga/|work=Time|access-date=5 January 2015}}
In March 2017, Sanders expressed interest in a sequel to Ghost in the Shell. Due to the film's box office failure, talks for a sequel were abandoned.{{cite news|title=Scarlett Johansson wants a Ghost In The Shell sequel on one condition (exclusive)|url=https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/movies/scarlett-johansson-wants-a-ghost-in-the-shell-sequel-on-one-condition-exclusive-121348408.html|access-date=14 October 2024|work=Yahoo! Movies|date=29 March 2017}}
In June 2018, Sanders was announced to be directing Johansson again in Rub & Tug, a planned biopic about Dante "Tex" Gill and his girlfriend Cynthia Bruno, with Johansson starring as Gill.{{cite news|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|title=New Regency Wins ‘Rub & Tug’; Rupert Sanders Directs Scarlett Johansson In Joel Silver-Produced Tale Of Pittsburgh Massage Parlor Queen|url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/scarlett-johansson-pittsburgh-massage-parlor-crime-queen-rub-and-tug-new-regency-rupert-sandersn-tale-of-pittsburgh-massage-parlor-king-1202419182/|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=2 July 2018|access-date=20 April 2021}} However, the film has been left in development hell after Johansson stepped down from starring in the film when the transgender community criticised having a female actress play a trans man.{{cite news|last=Dry|first=Jude|title=Don’t let Scarlett Johansson dropping out kill Hollywood’s first trans studio film — Opinion|url=https://www.salon.com/2018/07/18/do-not-let-scarlett-johansson-dropping-out-kill-hollywoods-first-trans-studio-film-opinion_partner/|work=Salon|date=18 July 2018|access-date=20 April 2021}}
Sanders directed the 2024 reboot film The Crow, with Bill Skarsgård starring as Eric / The Crow.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2022-04-01 |title='The Crow': Bill Skarsgard Tapped To Play Eric Draven In New Reimagining From Rupert Sanders |url=https://deadline.com/2022/04/the-crow-bill-skarsgard-eric-draven-rupert-sanders-1234992876/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
Sanders married model Liberty Ross,{{cite news|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/kristen-stewart-robert-pattinson-rupert-sanders-2012247|title=Kristen Stewart Cheats on Robert Pattinson With Director Rupert Sanders|date=24 July 2012|work=Us Weekly|access-date=27 July 2012}} sister of musician Atticus Ross,{{cite news|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/kristen-stewart-affair-who-exactly-is-liberty-ross_1373950|title=Liberty Ross – Kristen Stewart Affair: Who Exactly Is Liberty Ross?|date=25 July 2012|publisher=Contactmusic.com|access-date=27 July 2012}} in 2002.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/liberty-ross-things-rupert-sanders-wife/story?id=16868383|title=Liberty Ross: 6 Things to Know About Rupert Sanders' Wife|date=28 July 2012|publisher=ABC News|access-date=25 January 2013}} They moved to Los Angeles to further Sanders' career. Together they have two children, daughter Skyla and son Tennyson. In July 2012, Us Weekly published photos of Sanders in an intimate embrace and kissing with actress Kristen Stewart,{{cite news|title= Kristen Stewart, Rupert Sanders apologize for affair|url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/kristen-stewart-rupert-sanders-apologize-for-affair-1.1166921|publisher=CBCNews|access-date=17 August 2012}} prompting Sanders and Stewart to issue separate public apologies.{{cite web|title=Kristen Stewart's Apology to Robert Pattinson for Cheating|url=https://people.com/celebrity/kristen-stewarts-apology-to-robert-pattinson-for-cheating/|work=People|access-date=25 July 2012}}{{cite web|title=Kristen Stewart's Cheating Apology: PR Insider Weighs In |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/katie-calautti/kristen-stewarts-cheating-scandal_b_1703774.html|work=HuffPost|access-date=26 July 2012}}{{cite web|title=Rupert Sanders apologizes for Kristen Stewart hookup|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-xpm-2012-jul-25-la-et-mg-kristen-stewart-rupert-sanders-apology-story.html|work=Los Angeles Times|author=D'Zurilla, Christie|date=25 July 2012|access-date=13 September 2012}} Ross subsequently filed for divorce from Sanders in January 2013, seeking joint custody, spousal support, and legal fees.{{cite web|title=Liberty Ross Files for Divorce from Rupert Sanders |url=https://people.com/celebrity/kristen-stewart-scandal-liberty-ross-divorcing-rupert-sanders/|work=People|access-date=25 January 2013}} The divorce was finalised on 30 May 2014.{{cite news|title=Liberty Ross and director Rupert Sanders have finalized their divorce|url=http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2014/05/30/Liberty-Ross-and-director-Rupert-Sanders-have-finalized-their-divorce/9281401449504/|access-date=10 June 2014|work=United Press International|date=30 May 2014}}
Filmography
Film
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Distribution |
|---|
| 2012 |
| 2017 |
| 2024
| The Crow{{efn|Also credited as executive producer}} |
{{notelist}}
Television
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Title ! Notes |
|---|
| 2021
| Episode "The Emperor's Peace" |
Music video
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist ! Notes |
|---|
| 1999
| Five | Co-directed with Lawrence Watson |
| 2010
| |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|2782185}}
{{Rupert Sanders}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanders, Rupert}}
Category:Film directors from London
Category:English expatriates in the United States
Category:Television commercial directors
Category:People from Westminster