David S. Goyer: Difference between revisions

| name = David S. Goyer

| image = David Goyer.jpg

| caption = Goyer at the 2013 [[San Diego Comic-Con]]

| pseudonym =

| birth_name = David Samuel Goyer

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|12|22|mf=y}}

| birth_place = [[Ann Arbor, Michigan]], U.S.

| occupation = {{hlist|[[Film director]]|[[screenwriter]]|[[film producer]]|[[novelist]]|[[comic book writer]]}}

| nationalityeducation = American

| ethnicityalma_mater =

| citizenshipnotableworks =

| educationspouse = Marina Black

| alma_materpartner =

| periodchildren =

| genre relatives = Screenwriter; comic books

| subjectawards =

| movementsignature =

| notableworkssignature_alt =

| spousewebsite = Marina{{URL|davidsgoyer.com|Official Blackwebsite}}

'''David Samuel Goyer''' (born December 22, 1965) is an American filmmaker, novelist and comic book writer. He is best known for writing the [[screenplay]]s for several [[superhero filmsfilm]]s, including ''[[Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. (film)|Nick Fury: Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]'' (1998), the ''[[Blade (franchise)|Blade]]'' trilogy (1998–2004), [[Christopher Nolan]]'s [[The Dark Knight Trilogy|''Dark Knight'' trilogy]] (2005–2012), ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' (2013) and ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' (2016). He has also directed four films: ''[[Zig Zag (2002 film)|Zig Zag]]'' (2002), ''[[Blade: Trinity]]'' (2004), ''[[The Invisible (2007 film)|The Invisible]]'' (2007) and ''[[The Unborn (2009 film)|The Unborn]]'' (2009). He is the creator of the science fiction television series ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]'' which is loosely based upon the [[Foundation (book series)|''Foundation'' series]] written by Isaac Asimov.

Goyer was also co-writer of the video games ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops]]'', ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops II]]'', and ''[[Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War]]''. He won a [[Saturn Award for Best Writing]] for ''[[Batman Begins]]'' (2005) and received another nomination for ''[[Dark City (1998 film)|Dark City]]'', and has been nominated for four [[Hugo Award]]s.

Goyer was a student of screenwriter [[Nelson Gidding]] at [[University of Southern California|USC]] and frequently returned to Gidding's class as a guest speaker. He graduated in 1988 and sold his first screenplay for ''[[Death Warrant (film)|Death Warrant]]'' in 1989, which starred [[Jean-Claude Van Damme]]. With his first paycheck, he bought a newan [[Isuzu Trooper]], which was [[Motor vehicle theft|stolen]] the very first night he drove it home.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/David-Goyer/biography/ |title=ArchivedDavid Goyer copyBiography |access-date=2014-04-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413140628/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/David-Goyer/biography/ |archive-date=2014-04-13 }}</ref>

A professed comic book fanatic<ref>{{cite news | last = Allstetter | first= Rob | date = August 1997 | title = Special Report: Blood on the Big Screen | work = [[Wizard (magazine)|Wizard]] | issue = 72 | pages = 122–3}}</ref> who often wrote to [[comic book letter column|letter column]]s,{{r|trenholm20160330}} Goyer has written or co-written several screenplays based on comic book characters and series, including ''[[Batman]]'', ''[[Superman]]'', ''[[Ghost Rider]]'', and ''[[Blade (comicscharacter)|Blade]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://screenwriting.ugo.com/screenwriting/davidgoyer_interview.php|title=David Goyer - Writer, Producer, Director|accessdate=2022-04-03|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20041010130814/http://screenwriting.ugo.com/screenwriting/davidgoyer_interview.php|archive-date=October 10, 2004|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Hadand alsohad written a script treatment for a film adaptation of [[Venom (Marvel Comics)|''Venom'']], which was rejected. Goyer wrote a title based around the [[Justice Society of America]] for [[DC Comics]] titled ''[[Justice Society of America|JSA]]'', which debuted in August 1999. For the first five issues, he collaborated with [[James Dale Robinson|James Robinson]] and, until his departure following issue 51, with [[Geoff Johns]], who would take over as solo writer. Alongside [[Brannon Braga]], Goyer co-created ''[[FlashForward]]'', a science-fiction TV series that premiered on ABC in Fall 2009. The series was based on the novel by [[Robert J. Sawyer]]. He stepped in as [[show runner]] in October 2009 after the series struggled out of the gate. On February 5, 2010, Goyer announced he would be stepping down as ''FlashForward'' showrunner to focus on feature films and directing.

Goyer's comic-bookcomicbook films explore the consequences of becoming a symbolic figure, a topic he has long been interested in.<ref name="trenholm20160330">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/batman-v-superman-writer-david-goyer-predicted-marvels-civil-war-30-years-ago/ |title=How a 'Batman v Superman' writer predicted Marvel's 'Civil War' 30 years ago |last=Trenholm |first=Richard |date=2016-03-30 |website=CNET |language=en |access-date=2019-05-11}}</ref> In 2011, Goyer wrote a short story titled "The Incident" in which Superman renounces his United States citizenship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hudson |first1=Laura |title=Superman Renounces U.S. Citizenship in 'Action Comics' #900 Read More: Superman Renounces U.S. Citizenship in 'Action Comics' #900 |url=http://comicsalliance.com/superman-renounces-us-citizenship/ |website=comicsalliance.com |publisher=Comics Alliance |access-date=10 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710001616/http://comicsalliance.com/superman-renounces-us-citizenship/ |archive-date=10 July 2014 }}</ref> Goyer worked with [[Legendary Pictures]] on three of their projects. He co-wrote the scripts for ''[[The Dark Knight Rises]]'' (2012) and ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]'' (2013). In addition, he did a one-step 4-week rewrite for Legendary Pictures' [[Godzilla (2014 film)|''Godzilla'' reboot]]. During the same year, Goyer also published his first novel, ''Heaven's Shadow'', the first in a trilogy co-written by [[Michael Cassutt]] for [[Ace Books|Ace/Penguin]]. The novel received generally positive reviews. Goyer subsequently sold the film rights to [[Warner Bros.]] and is currently adapting the first novel for the big screen.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/david-goyer-heavens-shadow-novel-movie-sandy-75027|title=David Goyer To Adapt His Debut Novel 'Heaven's Shadow' For Film|work=Screen Rant|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706195252/http://screenrant.com/david-goyer-heavens-shadow-novel-movie-sandy-75027/|archive-date=2012-07-06}}</ref>

In June 2013, he was announced to work on both ''[[Justice League (2017 film)|Justice League]]'' and a sequel to ''[[Man of Steel (film)|Man of Steel]]''.<ref>[https://www.deadline.com/2013/06/man-of-steel-sequel-underway-with-zack-snyder-and-david-s-goyer/ ‘Man Of Steel’ Sequel Underway With Zack Snyder And David S. Goyer]</ref> In September 2013, Goyer delivered a screenwriting lecture as part of the BAFTA and BFI Screenwriters' Lecture Series.<ref name="bafta.org">{{cite news | title=Goyer Delivers her BAFTA Screenwriters' Lecture | url= http://www.bafta.org/film/features/david-s-goyer-delivers-his-bafta-screenwriters-lecture,3931,BA.html| access-date=October 7, 2013 | work= BAFTA | date=September 28, 2013}}</ref> Goyer- produced the horror film ''[[The Forest (2016 film)|The Forest]]'', directed by [[Jason Zada]].<ref name="Deadline 11-5-13">{{cite news|last1=Fleming|first1=Mike Jr.|title=Lava Bear Sets Jason Zada To Helm David Goyer-Hatched 'The Forest': Video|url=https://deadline.com/2013/11/lava-bear-sets-jason-zada-to-helm-david-goyer-hatched-the-forest-627497/|access-date=October 30, 2014|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|date=November 5, 2013}}</ref> [[Focus Features]] has the [[North America]]nAmerican distribution rights to the film,<ref name="THR 5-22-14">{{cite news|last1=Kit|first1=Borys|title=Focus Picks Up David Goyer Supernatural Thriller 'The Forest'|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/focus-picks-up-david-goyer-706538|access-date=October 30, 2014|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=May 22, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Variety 5-23-14">{{cite news|last1=McNary|first1=Dave|title=David Goyer's 'The Forest' Gets North American Distribution|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/news/david-goyers-the-forest-gets-north-american-distribution-1201189241/|access-date=October 30, 2014|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 23, 2014}}</ref> which was Zada's [[feature film]] directorial debut.<ref name="Deadline 11-5-13"/>

In December 2013, it was announced that he would work with [[Joseph Gordon-Levitt]] on a television series adaptation of [[Neil Gaiman]]'s comic book ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'', in which Goyer co-wrote the pilot and serves as executive producer. ''[[The Sandman (Vertigo)|The Sandman]]'' will be released on [[Netflix]] in 2022. By 2014, having already earned a reputation as a veteran of the superhero genre, Goyer shifted his focus to the independent production genre, hiring producer Kevin Turen to run his company.<ref name="deadline.com">{{Cite web|title = David S. Goyer Taps Kevin Turen President As Superhero Vet Takes Indie Turn|url = https://deadline.com/2014/12/david-s-goyer-dark-knight-hires-kevin-turen-president-indie-films-1201304542/|website = Deadline Hollywood|access-date = 2016-02-18|language = en-US|first = Mike Jr.|last = Fleming|date = December 2014}}</ref> Explaining his thinking, Goyer said: "Everybody talks about how it seems like studios increasingly are relying on these big tentpoles and some micro-budget horror films, and that's the majority of the slate," Goyer said. "I've been a benefactor of that movement, but there are a ton of films out there I've really admired over the last few years that studios aren't making, and I wanted to see if I could help get more of them made."<ref name="deadline.com"/> In 2015, soon after embracing independent producing, Goyer won a competitive situation to produce the feature version of ''Miles''.<ref>{{Cite web|title = David Goyer Tapped To Produce Feature Version Of Oliver Daly Short 'Miles'|url = https://deadline.com/2015/02/david-goyer-oliver-daly-miles-1201366286/|website = Deadline|access-date = 2016-02-18|language = en-US|first = Mike Jr.|last = Fleming|date = 4 February 2015}}</ref> Furthermore, he executive-produced [[Nate Parker]]'s feature ''[[The Birth of a Nation (2016 film)|The Birth of a Nation]]'', which sold for a record $17.5 million at the [[Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]], before sweeping the festival's awards.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Armie Hammer Joins Nate Parker's Nat Turner Biopic 'The Birth Of A Nation'|url = https://deadline.com/2014/11/armie-hammer-nate-parker-nat-turner-the-birth-of-a-nation-1201282544/|website = Deadline|access-date = 2016-02-18|language = en-US|first = Jen|last = Yamato|date = 12 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Birth Of A Nation' Sweeps Sundance Grand Jury & Audience Awards|url = https://deadline.com/2016/01/birth-of-a-nation-sundance-winner-2016-awards-1201693570/|website = Deadline|access-date = 2016-02-18|language = en-US|first last1= Dominic Patten,Patrick|lastfirst1=Dominic|last2 = Hipes|first2=Patrick|date = 3130 January 2016}}</ref>

In addition to producing, Goyer continues to write. In 2014, he was tapped to write and produce the feature ''[[Fantastic Voyage]]'', based on the 1966 original, for [[James Cameron]].<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com">{{Cite web|title = David Goyer Joins James Cameron for 'Fantastic Voyage' (Exclusive)|url = https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/david-goyer-joins-james-cameron-700652|website = The Hollywood Reporter|date = May 2014|access-date = 2016-02-18}}</ref> Breaking the news, the ''[[The Hollywood Reporter|Hollywood Reporter]]'' announced: "The project has been quiet since 2011, but Goyer's involvement kick-starts and will re-engineer what the studio and producers hope to be an event-sized tentpole. It is also now placing the project on the fast track"<ref name="hollywoodreporter.com"/> In January 2016, acclaimed director [[Guillermo del Toro]] signed on to direct the feature.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Guillermo del Toro in Talks for 'Fantastic Voyage' Remake|url = https://variety.com/2016/film/news/guillermo-del-toro-fantastic-voyage-remake-1201674327/|website = Variety|access-date = 2016-02-18|language = en-US|first = Dave|last = McNary|date = 7 January 2016}}</ref> Goyer co-wrote [[Warner Bros.]]' blockbuster ''[[Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice]]'' (2016), with [[Zack Snyder]] and [[Chris Terrio]]. In July 2016, it was announced that Goyer will write and direct an upcoming interactive [[virtual reality]] film about [[Darth Vader]]. Goyer stated that he found creating VR content very different from other media, but said "it's surprising how much you feel and how emotional [the VR experience] is [...] there is stuff that makes you tear up and cry, and it's [''sic''] really phenomenal."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/david-goyers-darth-vader-vr-project/|title=David Goyer Says His Darth Vader VR Project Will Make You Cry|publisher=Slashfilm|last=Sciretta|first=Sciretta|date=July 6, 2017}}</ref>

In January 2017, Goyer signed on to co-produce and co-write ''[[Green Lantern Corps (film)|Green Lantern Corps]]'', an installment in the [[DC Extended Universe]], with Justin Rhodes, based on a story treatment by Goyer and [[Geoff Johns]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/green-lantern-corps-warner-bros-david-goyer-justin-rhodes-dc-1201884133/|title=Warner Bros Sets David Goyer, Justin Rhodes For 'Green Lantern Corps'|website=Deadline Hollywood|last=Fleming|first=Mike Jr.|date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> By April of the same year, it was announced that he had signed on to write the script for the reboot of ''[[Masters of the Universe]]'', intended to be released in 2019.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/movies/2017/04/26/sony-release-date-masters-of-the-universe-reboot/|title=McG no longer directing Masters of the Universe|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Lawrence|first=Derek|date=April 26, 2017}}</ref> Goyer was later announced as director along with Lindsey Beer writing a new draft of the screenplay in January 2018. Filming was set to begin April 2018.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marc|first=Christopher|url=http://omegaunderground.com/2018/01/10/sonys-masters-universe-movie-eyeing-april-production-start/|title=Sony's ''Masters Of The Universe'' Eyeing April 2018 Production Start|date=January 10, 2018|publisher=Omega Underground|access-date=January 14, 2018}}</ref> By February of that year, Goyer dropped out as the film's director and writer.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lang|first=Brent|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/masters-of-the-universe-he-man-david-goyer-wont-direct-1202692790/|title=''Masters Of The Universe'' Still Needs Director As David Goyer Passes|date=February 8, 2018|magazine=Variety|access-date=February 8, 2018}}</ref> According to [[Carlos Huante]], a creature designer hired for the film and who worked on the original cartoon, [[Sony]] felt that Goyer's script would be too expensive to bring to life as Goyer intended for the movie to be on the epic scale of ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' trilogy.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lang|first=Brent|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/david-s-goyers-masters-of-the-universe/|title=David S. Goyer's 'Masters of the Universe' Would Have Been a 'Lord of the Rings'-Sized Epic|date=February 26, 2019|publisher=SlashFilm|access-date=May 1, 2019}}</ref>

In September 2017, ''[[Deadline Hollywood|Deadline]]'' reported that Goyer and his ''[[Green Lantern Corps (film)|Green Lantern Corps]]'' partner Justin Rhodes, as well as Chris Eglee and [[Josh Friedman]] were hired to take part in a writers room in order to write the next ''[[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]]'' trilogy, under the direction of collaborating team [[Tim Miller (director)|Tim Miller]] and [[James Cameron]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Dino-Ray|url=https://deadline.com/2017/09/linda-hamilton-terminator-return-james-cameron-paramount-skydance-arnold-schwarzenegger-1202173562/amp/|title=Linda Hamilton Set To Return To Terminator|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=20 September 2017|access-date=September 27, 2017}}</ref>

In the early 2020s, Goyer produced ''[[The Night House]]'', starring [[Rebecca Hall]], as well as the [[Scott Cooper (director)|Scott Cooper]] film ''[[Antlers (2021 film)|Antlers]]''. ''The Night House'' premiered at the 2020 [[Sundance Film Festival]]; [[Searchlight]] purchased the rights to the film,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/01/the-night-house-sundance-searchlight-pictures-12-million-worldwide-rights-deal-1202842122/|title = Searchlight Pictures Closing $12 Million WW Rights Deal for Sundance Thriller 'The Night House'|date = 27 January 2020}}</ref> and released it to critical acclaim in August 2021. Goyer also produced the 2021 film ''[[The Tomorrow War]]'', starring [[Chris Pratt]] for [[Skydance]] and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]]. He has officially been signed on as thea producer for ''[[The Tomorrow War#Sequel|the 2sequel]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a37112140/the-tomorrow-war-2-white-spikes-mystery-solved/|title = The Tomorrow War 2 will answer a big White Spikes question| website=[[Digital Spy]] |date = 23 July 2021}}</ref>

MostFor recently,the Goyer2022 began production on thefilm ''[[Hellraiser (2022 film)|Hellraiser]]'', a reimagining, forof whichthe he[[Hellraiser is(franchise)|franchise of the solesame writername]], Goyer wrote the story and willproduced producethe throughfilm under the [[Phantom Four]] banner for [[Spyglass Media Group|Spyglass]] and [[Hulu]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/clive-barker-hellraiser-spyglass-david-goyer-1203205895/|title = 'Hellraiser' Revival in the Works with 'Dark Knight' Writer David S. Goyer|date = 6 May 2019}}</ref> More recently, hisHis Phantom Four company had signed a deal with [[Village Roadshow Pictures]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Kroll|first1=Justin|date=2021-09-10|title=David Goyer's Phantom Four Films Signs First-Look Deal With Village Roadshow, Sets 'Reincarnation Of Peter Proud' As First Project|url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/david-goyers-phantom-four-films-first-look-village-roadshow-reincarnation-of-peter-proud-1234830442/|access-date=2021-09-14|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}</ref>

===FilmsFilm===

|rowspan=2|[[Television film]]<br/>Credited as Cynthia Verlaine

|EpisodeWrote "Dream of Doom"

|EpisodeWrote "Something Is Buried in Bethlehem" and "Counting Sheep"

|EpisodeWrote "Subject: Fearsum"<br/>Credited as Ricardo Festiva

|EpisodesWrote "Pilot" and "Conclave"

|2Wrote episodes (director);<br>5 episodes, (writer)directed 2 episodes

|2Wrote episodes (director);<br>7 episodes, (writer)directed 2 episodes

|EpisodesWrote "Non Est Asylum" and "The Devil's Vinyl"

|EpisodesWrote "Pilot" and "Light-Years From Home"

| WriterWrote (35 episodes)<br/>Director, "Thedirected Leap"3 episodes