 | Thisbiography of a living person includes a list ofgeneral references, butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourcedmust be removed immediately, especially if potentiallylibelous or harmful. Please help toimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(July 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Tom DeSanto | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1968-01-01)January 1, 1968 (age 57) |
| Occupation(s) | Film producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1998–present |
Tom DeSanto (born January 1, 1968) is an American film producer and screenwriter.
DeSanto is a founding writer/producer behind several of the biggest franchises in movie history (X-Men,Transformers). DeSanto's films have grossed more than $5 billion worldwide with a per film average of more than $746 million at the box office, in addition to billions more in home video, merchandising, and video games.
After the success ofX-Men, DeSanto began working on a reboot ofBattlestar Galactica to developed for Universal Television. The show eventually returned in 2003 but under the direction ofRonald D. Moore.
DeSanto then become part of the creative team forX2: X-Men United, including the continuation of the Phoenix story line which DeSanto set up in the first film. That same year, he went moved towardsTransformers, another dormant property. DeSanto brought the idea to his friend and fellow producerDon Murphy. Hasbro gave them the rights for free.
After being rejected by the major studios DeSanto made a second pass atDreamWorks Pictures. AfterSteven Spielberg read his treatment, he decided his studio would do the film. DeSanto set the project up with DreamWorks and Paramount, selling his story line and attaching to produce.
The first film grossed over $700 million worldwide.Transformers was the first live-action franchise for DreamWorks and Paramount's largest moneymaking series in its history. DeSanto returned as producer ofRevenge of the Fallen in 2009 and the film became the biggest moneymaker of the year with over $800 million in box office alone. DeSanto also producedDark of the Moon, andAge of Extinction, both grossing over $1.1 billion worldwide.The Last Knight, produced by DeSanto as well, earned over $600 million in the box office.
After theTransformers saga had been released, DeSanto then producedBumblebee, an origin story for one of the characters from the franchise, earning a total $470 million in box office.
DeSanto has produced several social issue documentaries, includingLost in America, which deals with youth homelessness, andKidnapped for Christ, which puts a spotlight on abusive evangelical camps for children.[1]
DeSanto was raised in theIselin area ofWoodbridge Township, New Jersey,[2] the son of a police officer.[3] He graduated fromBishop George Ahr High School inEdison, New Jersey in 1986 and fromRutgers University in 1990.
During his first years in the film industry, Tom met and befriendedBryan Singer, who got Tom a production position with his company,Bad Hat Harry, working on his movieApt Pupil, followed by a partnered attempt to reviveBattlestar Galactica.
Later, Singer would co-write the movieX-Men with DeSanto and a few others before signing on as director, using most of DeSanto's original story. DeSanto is credited for the screen story, as an executive producer, and for a short cameo role as the police officer onEllis Island who is squashed by Toad.
Tom also worked as an executive producer onX2: X-Men United.
Tom wrote the treatment for and produced theTransformers movie for DreamWorks and Paramount, which was released in Summer 2007. He is credited with being the originating producer on the project. This live-action version includesSteven Spielberg as an Executive Producer. He is also producer for the 2009 sequel,Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, its 2011 sequelTransformers: Dark of the Moon, 2014 filmTransformers: Age of Extinction , 2017 filmTransformers: The Last Knight, 2018 filmBumblebee, 2023 filmTransformers: Rise of the Beasts.
After leaving theX-Men film franchise, DeSanto has written several introductions to collected comics in both hardcover and trade paperback, includingSuperman: Red Son byMark Millar, andWolverine: Origin byPaul Jenkins. DeSanto also worked as a producer on the documentary filmRingers: Lord of the Fans released in 2005 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.
DeSanto was also involved in aBattlestar Galactica revival which fell through after the9/11 attacks and scheduling delays forced Singer to concentrate onX2.Studios USA, wanting to push ahead with the series, replaced DeSanto and Singer withDavid Eick andRonald D. Moore, who then created the"re-imagined"Battlestar Galactica.[4]
In 2007Variety reported that DeSanto, returning his attention to superheroes, secured the rights to NCsoft and Cryptic Studios' video gameCity of Heroes.[5] The plan was to adapt the massively multiplayer online role-playing game into a live-action feature and then transition it to television in some form, but no further details have been heard.
In late 2007, he began production work as a writer and producer onTeen Titans: The Judas Contract, an animated cartoon based on the popular comic book, which was placed on indefinite hold by Warner Bros in February 2008.[6] In 2016, WB revealed the film would be moving forward at the premiere of the animated adaption ofThe Killing Joke and in 2016 the film was released, but without him involved.[7][8]
In July 2016, the estate ofGary Gygax bestowed him with the title of "Guardian of the Library" placing him in charge of Gygax's work that was under the estate's control and finding a place on TV, Film and other mediums.[9]
Producer
Executive producer
