Paul King (director)
Paul King (born 1978) is a British writer and director. He works in television, film and theatre, and specialises in comedy. For his work on the family comedy film Paddington (2014), he was nominated for two BAFTA Film Awards. He returned to direct and co-write the sequel, Paddington 2 (2017).
Paul King | |
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Born | Paul Thomas King 1978 (age 42–43) |
Occupation | Writer, director |
Years active | 1999–present |
Career
King graduated from St Catharine's College, Cambridge University with first-class honours in English in 1999.[1] While at Cambridge he met Richard Ayoade, Matthew Holness and Alice Lowe, and went on to direct them at the Edinburgh Festival in "Garth Marenghi's FrightKnight" (nominated for the Perrier Award in 2000), and "Netherhead" (Perrier Award winner 2001). King worked as Associate Director on the subsequent TV transfer, Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, a six-part series for Channel 4. In 2002, King garnered another Perrier Award nomination for directing Noel Fielding's Edinburgh Festival show, "Voodoo Hedgehog".
King is also the director of BBC's The Mighty Boosh.[2] He has directed all three series (earning a BAFTA nomination as Best New Director in 2005[3]), as well as their live tour shows in 2006 and 2008. King was originally brought in after the director of the pilot, Steve Bendelack, was unavailable to direct the first series. He also directed Matt Lucas and David Walliams' 2011 airport mockumentary Come Fly With Me.
Bunny and the Bull, which King wrote and directed, was released in 2009. The film stars Simon Farnaby and Edward Hogg, with cameos from Noel Fielding, Richard Ayoade and Julian Barratt.[4]
King's follow-up feature was the book-to-screen adaptation Paddington (2014), which he directed and co-wrote with Hamish McColl.[5][6] The film was a critical and commercial success,[7][8] earning King nominations for both the BAFTA Award for Best Adapted Screenplay and the BAFTA Award for Best British Film (shared with the film's producer David Heyman).[9]
The positive reception for Paddington resulted in the green-lighting of a sequel. King returned to direct and write Paddington 2 (2017). The film received a theatrical release on 10 November 2017 in the U.K.[10] and 12 January 2018 in the U.S.[11] King's upcoming projects include a film about the origins of Willy Wonka.[12]
Filmography
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2004 | Garth Marenghi's Darkplace | Associate director, 6 episodes |
2004–2007 | The Mighty Boosh | Director, 20 episodes |
2007 | Dogface | Director and writer, 5 episodes |
2009 | Bunny and the Bull | Director and writer |
2009 | The Mighty Boosh Live: Future Sailors Tour | Director, live show |
2010–2011 | Come Fly with Me | Director, 6 episodes |
2011 | Little Crackers | Director, 2 episodes |
2014 | Paddington | Director and writer |
2017 | Paddington 2[13] | |
2020 | Space Force | Director, 2 episodes |
2023 | Wonka[14] | Director and co-writer |
TBA | Meet the Beatles[15] | Director |
TBA | Everyday Parenting Tips[16] | Director |
References
- "Congregations of the Regent House on 25 and 26 June 1999". Cambridge University Reporter. CXXIX (5781). 7 July 1999. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "The Mighty Boosh: the production team". BBC Press Office. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "Television Craft: New Director - Fiction in 2005". BAFTA. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- Bunny and the Bull at IMDb
- Singh, Anita (14 May 2012). "David Heyman: Paddington Bear is a story about an outsider finding a home". The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- Jacob, Stolworthy. "Paddington 2 recruits Hugh Grant and Brendan Gleeson as filming begins". The Independent. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- "Paddington (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- "Paddington (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- "Film in 2015". BAFTA. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- Keslassy, Elsa. "Studiocanal Signs Licensing Deals Ahead of 'Paddington 2' Release". Variety. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- Busch, Anita. "TWC Schedules 'Paddington 2' For Wide Release". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
- Kit, Borys (12 February 2018). "'Paddington' Director Paul King in Talks for 'Willy Wonka' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- Hopewell, John; Keslassy, Elsa (10 May 2016). "Cannes: 'Paddington 2' Sets Production Date". Variety. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- "Warner Bros. Sets 'Wonka' Prequel for 2023 Release". Hollywood Reporter. 19 January 2020. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- "'Meet The Beatles' Animated Musical in Development at Warner Bros". Rotoscopers. 28 September 2015. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
- Jr, Mike Fleming (5 August 2020). "Universal Builds Monster Comedy From Simon Rich New Yorker Essay 'Everyday Parenting Tips:' Ryan Reynolds, 'Paddington' Helmer Paul King, Lord & Miller Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 8 August 2020.