Gareth Evans (director)

Gareth Huw Evans (born 1980)[1] is a Welsh film director, screenwriter, editor, and action choreographer. He is best known for the Indonesian action crime films Merantau (2009), The Raid (2011), and The Raid 2 (2014), and for bringing the Indonesian martial art of pencak silat into world cinema through these films.[2] He is also known for creating the action crime drama television series Gangs of London (2020).

Gareth Evans
Evans in 2012
Born1980 (age 4041)
Alma materUniversity of Glamorgan
OccupationFilm director, screenwriter, film editor, action choreographer
Years active2003–present
Spouse(s)Maya Barack-Evans
Children1

Early life

Evans was born and raised in Hirwaun, Cynon Valley.[1] He graduated from the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales) with an MA in screenwriting.[3][4]

Career

After directing a small-budget film called Footsteps, Evans was hired as a freelance director for a documentary about the Indonesian martial art pencak silat.[2] He became fascinated with it, and discovered Indonesian martial artist Iko Uwais, who was working as a deliveryman for a phone company. Evans cast Uwais in his 2009 film Merantau. He planned to produce a larger action film, but scaled the production budget down and created an action film called The Raid (2011). After the success of The Raid, the larger action film eventually became the basis for its sequel, The Raid 2: Berandal (2014).[5][6]

In late 2016, Evans started working on his next film, Apostle, which stars Dan Stevens. The film was released by Netflix on 12 October 2018.

In October 2017, TheWrap reported that Evans had pitched his idea for a Deathstroke solo film and is in early talks to write and direct. Evans also passed on directing a Justice League Dark film.[7] However, in April 2020, Evans said that the film had been delayed and that he was no longer actively involved with the project.[8]

Personal life

He lived in Jakarta with his wife, Maya, and their daughter, Sophie, until the family moved back to Wales in 2015.[1][9][10]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes
2006 Footsteps Yes Yes Yes Yes Role: Porn Den Videographer
2009 Merantau Yes Yes No Yes
2011 The Raid Yes Yes Executive Yes Also action choreographer
2014 The Raid 2 Yes Yes No Yes
2018 Apostle Yes Yes Yes Yes Also action design team
TBA Havoc[11] Yes Yes TBA TBA

Executive producer

Short film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes
2003 Samurai Monogatari Yes Yes Yes Yes
2013 Safe Haven Yes Yes No Yes Segment of V/H/S/2
2016 Pre Vis Action Yes Yes Yes Yes Also cinematographer

Television

Year Title Director Writer Creator Notes
2020 Gangs of London Yes Yes Yes Episodes 1, 5, and most action sequences

Awards

In November 2011, The Raid won the Midnight Madness Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.[12]

References

  1. Hughes, Brendan (24 May 2012). "Gareth comes home for his film premiere". walesonline.co.uk.
  2. Brown, Todd (4 February 2009). "Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais talk MERANTAU". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
  3. "'The Raid' directed by Glamorgan graduate Gareth Evans released today". University of Glamorgan. 2012-05-18. Archived from the original on 2014-05-15. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  4. Ludkin, Gareth (May 2012). "profile - Gareth Evans". Buzz: 22.
  5. Gareth Evans – The Raid Interview at TIFF 2011. Tribute.ca. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 2011-10-01.
  6. Helen Barlow (15 June 2014). "Welsh director Gareth Evans' second 'Raid' movie is an all-action expansion of the first Indonesia-filmed hit". South China Morning Post.
  7. Gonzalez, Umberto (October 25, 2017). "Gareth Evans In Talks To Write & Direct A Deathstroke Solo Film". TheWrap. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
  8. "Gareth Evans reveals pitch for his 'lean, visceral' Deathstroke movie that never happened (exclusive)". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
  9. "Director, Star of 'The Raid' Discuss the Movie". Jakarta Globe. 2012-04-02. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06.
  10. Damon Wise (5 May 2012). "The Raid: how a Welsh director rocked the world of Asian action cinema". The Guardian.
  11. https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/gangs-of-london-gareth-evans-filming-fight-stunts-violence-125126534.html
  12. "Sony Pictures Classics Releasing The Raid". deadline.com. 29 November 2011.
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