Frank Darabont | |
|---|---|
 Darabont at the 2011PaleyFest | |
| Born | Ferenc Árpád Darabont (1959-01-28)January 28, 1959 (age 66) Montbéliard, France |
| Other names | Frank A. Darabont Ardeth Bey |
| Citizenship | United States |
| Education | Hollywood High School |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse | Sara Rae Darabont[1] |
Frank Árpád Darabont (bornFerenc Árpád Darabont, January 28, 1959)[2] is an American screenwriter, director, and producer of Hungarian origin. He has been nominated for threeAcademy Awards and aGolden Globe Award. In his early career, he was primarily a screenwriter for such horror films asA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987),The Blob (1988), andThe Fly II (1989). As a director, he is known for his film adaptations ofStephen King novellas and novels, such asThe Shawshank Redemption (1994),The Green Mile (1999), andThe Mist (2007).
Darabont also developed and executive-produced thefirst season and first half of thesecond season of theAMC horror drama seriesThe Walking Dead (2010–2011). He directed two episodes of thefifth and final season of theNetflix science fiction horror drama seriesStranger Things.
Darabont was born in arefugee camp in 1959 inMontbéliard, France to Hungarian parents[3][4] who had fled Hungary for France after the1956 Hungarian Revolution, bringing his five brothers and four sisters, and three cousins. When Darabont was still an infant, his family immigrated to the United States, settling inChicago before moving toLos Angeles when Darabont was five.[5]
Darabont was inspired in his youth to pursue a career in film after seeing theGeorge Lucas filmTHX 1138.[6] Darabont graduated fromHollywood High School in 1977 and did not attend college.[7]
His first job after finishing school was working at the famedGrauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. He served at the concession stand and as an usher, and was grateful for the perk of getting to watch numerous films for free. He claims he developed his writing skills from "endless hours" of writing at a desk on a typewriter in his free time, and from his childhood friend Cody Hills.[7]
Darabont became involved in filmmaking by becoming a production assistant on such films asHell Night,The Seduction, andTrancers. The first film he wrote and directed was a short work adapted fromStephen King's story "The Woman in the Room". This film was one of the first "Dollar Babies" and made the semi-finalist list forAcademy Award consideration in 1983. Although Darabont was not happy with how the short turned out, this effort resulted in a close association with King, who granted him the "handshake deal" rights to another of his shorter works,Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption from the collectionDifferent Seasons.[5]
Darabont sold his first screenplay titledBlack Cat Run in 1986, but it was not produced for more than a decade, as a television film under the same name.[7] Darabont was approached byChuck Russell (who was a producer onHell Night andThe Seduction) with an offer to become his writing partner, as he had become interested in Darabont's writing after reading hisspec script written for the television seriesM*A*S*H.[6]
The two began working on a script for a remake of the filmThe Blob, which they had planned to shop around to studios. That was interrupted when they were both hired to rewrite the script ofA Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, with Russell directing the film. The two were given only two weeks to rewrite the script and accomplished it in ten days. The success of theirA Nightmare on Elm Street film allowed them to produce the first script they had originally written,The Blob.[6] By then considered a successful writer for hire, Darabont was commissioned to writeThe Fly II, an early draft ofThe Rocketeer, and an unproduced sequel toCommando.[8]
Darabont made his directorial debut withBuried Alive, a television movie with a $2,000,000 budget that aired on theUSA Network in 1990. He followed this with an extended run as a writer forGeorge Lucas's television seriesThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. He also wrote two episodes of the television seriesTales from the Crypt.
Darabont made good on the deal with Stephen King by writing and directing the film adaptation ofThe Shawshank Redemption.Rob Reiner, who had previously adapted another King novella,The Body, into the movieStand by Me, offered Darabont $2.5 million in an attempt to write and directShawshank. He planned to castTom Cruise in the part of Andy andHarrison Ford as Red. Darabont seriously considered and liked Reiner's vision, but he ultimately decided it was his "chance to do something really great" by directing the film himself.[9]
Although the film did not fare well at the box office, it was met with acclaim by audiences and critics. The film was nominated for sevenAcademy Awards, includingBest Picture andBest Adapted Screenplay for Darabont. The film attracted additional viewers after its Academy Award nominations, and became the most rented film of 1995.[10] Today it is considered by many to be one of thegreatest films ever made.[11]
Darabont's next directorial effort was another Stephen King adaptation for which he wrote the screenplay,The Green Mile, starringTom Hanks. At first Darabont was reluctant to adapt the novel as a film, as its setting was too similar toShawshank, but quickly changed his mind after reading the novel.[12] Hanks and Darabont first met at anAcademy Award luncheon in 1994, and the two were eager to work on a project together. Stephen King said he had envisioned Hanks in the role and was happy when Darabont mentioned his name.[13]
The film was nominated for the Oscar forBest Picture, and Darabont was nominated for his second Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.[14] This was originally the highest-grossing film based on a Stephen King novel, as it made a total of $286,801,374 worldwide (before being surpassed by 2017'sIt when it made $603 million worldwide.)[15]
In 2001 Darabont directed the filmThe Majestic, starringJim Carrey,Martin Landau, andLaurie Holden. He worked with these actors frequently throughout his career.Michael Sloane, whom Darabont had known since high school, wrote the script. This film is one of the few which Darabont directed, but did not write the screenplay. Darabont wanted to direct the film as he saw it as a "love letter" to works ofFrank Capra and all the other movies he has loved throughout his life.[16] The film received mixed reviews from critics and bombed at the box-office, recouping only half of its $72 million budget internationally.[17]
Darabont had originally wanted to directThe Mist even before he directedThe Shawshank Redemption, but kept pushing it back. It was 2004 before he began to write the screenplay for the film.[18] Most of the crew that worked on the film had worked on the television seriesThe Shield, as Darabont hired them after directing an episode of the series. He thought they could help give the film a "more fluid, ragged documentary kind of direction".[19]
Darabont also helped create the designs of the creatures in the film, along with artistsJordu Schell,Bernie Wrightson, and the film's leadmakeup artistGreg Nicotero.[20]CafeFX was hired to do the film's special effects after Darabont asked fellow directorGuillermo del Toro who did the effects on his filmPan's Labyrinth.
The film was a modest success at the box office, but earned positive reviews from critics.[21] King also praised Darabont's new ending, saying, "The ending is such a jolt—wham! It's frightening. But people who go to see a horror movie don't necessarily want to be sent out with aPollyanna ending."[22] When a two-disc edition of the DVD was released, it included an exclusive black-and-white presentation of the film, the way Darabont had always intended it to be.
Darabont developed and executive-produced the first season ofThe Walking Dead, the AMC series based onRobert Kirkman'scomic book of the same name.[23][24] Darabont recalled that he had first come across the series in 2005, in a comic book store inBurbank, California.[25] When Darabont became interested, creator Kirkman called it "extremely flattering". He said that Darabont "definitely cares about the original source material, and you can tell that in the way he's adapting it."[26]
Darabont first initiated a deal withNBC forThe Walking Dead, but was later declined. He eventually brought it toAMC, who picked it up based on the source material and Darabont's involvement.[27] Darabont wrote and directed thepilot and was executive producer of the first season, along withGale Anne Hurd.[28][29] The series features a number of actors who have regularly worked with Darabont in the past, includingJeffrey DeMunn,Laurie Holden andMelissa McBride. The series earned positive reviews upon release and the pilot attracted 5.3 million viewers, making it the most-watched series premiere episode of any AMC television series.[30]
In July 2011, Darabont was fired from the position as showrunner.[31] Initial reports suggested that he was unable to adjust to the schedule of running a television series;[31] however, it was later confirmed that he was fired due to AMC's desire to reduce the show's budget (twice as many episodes for 20% less of a budget) and to his strained relationship with the executives of AMC.[32] In 2016 Darabont and his agents from theCreative Artists Agency filed a lawsuit against AMC, seeking more than $280 million in unpaid profits.[33] By July 2021, AMC had settled with Darabont and the CAA, agreeing to pay$200 million and future royalty payments.[34]
Not too long after leavingThe Walking Dead, Darabont struck a deal withTNT to develop a pilot for a new series to air on their channel, titledL.A. Noir, based on a book by author John Buntin.[35] Darabont discovered the book atLAX Airport and, after two days straight of reading it, decided to adapt it for television.[36] Darabont was very passionate about the project as he had always wanted to produce afilm noir.[35]
Darabont castJon Bernthal, whom he had worked with onThe Walking Dead, in the lead role for the series.[37] Other Darabont regulars cast includedJeffrey DeMunn andAlexa Davalos.[37] The series was given a full season order of six episodes in the fall of 2012 and the title of the series was changed toMob City.[36][37] The series premiered in December 2013 and was met with mixed to positive reviews.[38] The series was cancelled after one season.[39]
Darabont also held the rights to two other Stephen King stories,The Long Walk andThe Monkey.[40]
Darabont was ascript doctor for theSteven Spielberg filmsSaving Private Ryan andMinority Report.[41] In 2002, he wrote an early draft ofIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While Spielberg reportedly loved it,George Lucas rejected it.[42] He also produced the 2002 filmThe Salton Sea, starringVal Kilmer andVincent D'Onofrio.
Over the years Darabont has reunited with his old writing partnerChuck Russell. He did a rewrite for Russell's filmEraser, they attempted to adapt a film of the 1930s pulp character,Doc Savage, and the two wrote an early treatment and were executive producers on the filmCollateral.[7][43]
He has also tried to produce film adaptations of the novelsMine byRobert R. McCammon andFahrenheit 451 byRay Bradbury. Darabont still hopes to make both films someday.[44]
The same yearShawshank was released,Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, which Darabont wrote, was also released. The film was met with mixed reviews and Darabont called it the worst experience in his career as a writer as he had considered it the best script he had ever written, but that directorKenneth Branagh ruined it "every step of the way".[7] He went on to say that "you can't really judge the script based on what you saw on the screen. It got rephrased and messed with every inch of the way."Guillermo del Toro has shown interest in adapting Darabont's draft of theFrankenstein script when he gets around to filming his own version of the story, calling the draft a "near perfect" adaptation of the original book.[45]
In 2004, he was hired byTom Cruise to writeMission: Impossible III, but the script was later rewritten byJ. J. Abrams, who directed the film.[46] The same year, Darabont wrote the introduction for theHellboy novel,Hellboy: Odder Jobs byChristopher Golden.[47]
In 2005,Cemetery Dance Publications published Darabont's novellaWalpuski's Typewriter in a limited edition. The story, originally written in his early twenties, first appeared in Jessie Horsting's magazineMidnight Graffiti.[48]
In 2007, Darabont directed an episode ofThe Shield titled "Chasing Ghosts". He also directed and executive produced the pilot episode ofRaines, starringJeff Goldblum.[49]
Darabont appeared in "First Class Jerk", the October 26, 2008, episode ofEntourage in which he propositionsVincent Chase to star in a TV show he is executive producing. He appeared in a September 12, 2009, episode where he is now the director of the film aboutEnzo Ferrari, who Vince is portraying.
According to theBattlestar Galactica: The Official Companion series byTitan Books, Darabont—a huge fan of the re-imagined series—was slated to direct "Islanded in a Stream of Stars", the penultimate episode of the show's final season. Due to scheduling conflicts, he was unable to take the job, which fell to series star (and previous helmer)Edward James Olmos.[50]
Darabont was slated to direct the 2009 filmLaw Abiding Citizen, but left production due to creative differences with the producers.[51]
At the 2012Austin Film Festival, Darabont was awarded the Extraordinary Contribution to Filmmaking Award for his contribution to cinema.[52]
In 2013, he lent his voice to a lengthier version of theWorld War Z audio book. In November of the same yearBob Weinstein revealed that he and Darabont were developing a ten part television series based on Darabont's 2007 filmThe Mist.[53]
Darabont was hired to rewrite the script for the 2014Godzilla reboot.[54] Darabont stated that he would like to bring the monster back to his origins as a "terrifying force of nature."[55] The director of the filmGareth Edwards stated in an interview that Darabont wrote the most moving scene of the film and that particular scene helped convince cast membersBryan Cranston andJuliette Binoche to sign onto the film.[56]
In June 2014, it was reported that Darabont was on the shortlist to directThe Huntsman: Winter's War, a sequel to thefantasy filmSnow White and the Huntsman.[57] A month later it was confirmed that Darabont would direct the film, but it would not be a sequel, but a prequel focusing onChris Hemsworth's character Eric, the Huntsman.[58] However, Darabont left the project in January 2015, citing creative differences as the cause.[59]
Darabont revealed in a 2021 interview withMick Garris that he had recently written a script for a film centred around theAmerican Civil War, based on an unproduced screenplay by filmmakerStanley Kubrick and historianShelby Foote thatRidley Scott was attached to produce. Darabont considers the script to be the best thing he has ever written and was dismayed when the film was unable to find financing.[60]
In 2024, it was announced that Darabont was sent to direct the third and fifth episodes of thefifth and final season of the popularNetflix seriesStranger Things, marking his comeback as a director sinceMob City.[61]
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | The Woman in the Room | Yes | Yes | No | Short film |
| 1987 | A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors | No | Yes | No | |
| 1988 | The Blob | No | Yes | No | |
| 1989 | The Fly II | No | Yes | No | |
| 1994 | The Shawshank Redemption | Yes | Yes | No | Nominated-Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | No | Yes | No | ||
| 1999 | The Green Mile | Yes | Yes | Yes | Nominated-Academy Award for Best Picture Nominated-Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay |
| 2001 | The Majestic | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2002 | The Salton Sea | No | No | Yes | |
| 2007 | The Mist | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Uncredited writing works
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Fan[62] | Script doctor |
| Eraser[62] | ||
| 1998 | Saving Private Ryan[62] | |
| 2004 | Collateral | Also executive producer |
| 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | Early draft |
| 2009 | Law Abiding Citizen | |
| 2014 | Godzilla | Script doctor |
| 2016 | The Huntsman: Winter's War |
Technical credits
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Hell Night | Production assistant |
| 1982 | The Seduction | Transportation captain |
| 1984 | Crimes of Passion | Set dresser |
| Trancers | Art department assistant |
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Vampires | The Man with Buick |
| 2005 | King Kong | Gunner #3 |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Creator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Buried Alive | Yes | No | No | No | Television film |
| 1990–1992 | Tales from the Crypt | No | Yes | No | No | Episodes: "The Ventriloquist's Dummy" and "Showdown" |
| 1992 | Two-Fisted Tales | No | Yes | No | No | Television film (segment: "Showdown") |
| 1992–1996 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | No | Yes | No | No | 6 episodes |
| 1998 | Black Cat Run | No | Yes | Executive | No | Television film |
| 2007 | Raines | Yes | No | Yes | No | Episode: "Pilot" |
| The Shield | Yes | No | No | No | Episode: "Chasing Ghosts" | |
| 2010–2011 | The Walking Dead | Yes | Yes | Executive | Developer | Directed and wrote episode: "Days Gone Bye" Wrote 5 episodes |
| 2013 | Mob City | Yes | Yes | Executive | Yes | Directed and wrote 3 episodes Directed episode: "Red Light" |
| 2025 | Stranger Things | Yes | No | No | No | Episodes: "The Turnbrow Trap" and "Shock Jock"[63] |
Cameos
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Shining | Ghosts | TV Miniseries |
| 2008–2009 | Entourage | Himself | Episodes: "First Class Jerk", "Security Briefs" |
