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Olatunde Osunsanmi | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1977-10-23)October 23, 1977 (age 47) |
| Occupation(s) | Film and television director, producer |
| Years active | 2000–present |
Olatunde Osunsanmi (born October 23, 1977) is an Americanfilm andtelevision director andproducer. He is known for his work onUniversal'shorror filmThe Fourth Kind and for theTNTdystopian dramaFalling Skies, as well as being director or producer on several episodes ofStar Trek: Discovery.
Osunsanmi was born in the United States to parents who had immigrated from Nigeria.[1] He graduated with aMasters of Fine Arts degree fromChapman University'sDodge College of Film and Media Arts.[2] His first foray in the industry was with ashort film he wrote and directed, entitledEtat. The feature explored the 1970s political climate of his parents’ native Nigeria.
He went on to direct and co-pen the low-budget horror filmThe Cavern, before being approached byUniversal Studios to direct, produce and write the alien-invasion/horror filmThe Fourth Kind. The film claims to be based on "actual case studies" occurring inNome, Alaska in 2000, and included in the film is footage of Osunsanmi interviewing a "Dr. Abigail Tyler" atChapman University inOrange, California.[2][3] In 2013, he directed the serial killer filmEvidence, starringTrue Blood'sStephen Moyer.[4]
He has since switched to directing episodic television, such as instalments ofUnder the Dome,The Last Ship,Extant,Sleepy Hollow,Minority Report,Gotham,Blindspot andStar Trek: Discovery.
In 2022, Osunsanmi signed a multi-year overall deal withCBS Studios.[5]
In summer 2014, Osunsanmi directed his first hour of television with TNT'sfourth season dramaFalling Skies, entitled "Saturday Night Massacre". He was originally hired for only one episode, but another director was forced to depart episode 4.11, "Space Oddity", due to personal matters, and the cast and crew lobbied for Osunsanmi to return, and he did. He replaced outgoing director/co-executive producerGreg Beeman for the series'fifth and final season.[6] He directed the final season premiere, "Find Your Warrior"; as well as episodes "Hunger Pains" and "Non-Essential Personnel". He lastly directed the series' final episode, "Reborn".[7]
Osunsanmi is credited for directing Season 3, Episode 13 of the TV series,Gotham, titled "Mad City: Smile Like You Mean It". The episode aired on January 23, 2017.
Osunsanmi directed Episode 4 (titled "The Butcher's Knife Cares Not for the Lamb's Cry", aired October 8, 2017), Episode 13 (titled "What's Past Is Prologue"; aired January 28, 2018), Episode 18 (titled “Point of Light”; aired January 31, 2019), Episode 23 (titled “Such Sweet Sorrow”; aired April 11, 2019), Episode 30 (titled "That Hope Is You, Part 1"; aired October 15, 2020) and Episode 31 (titled "Far From Home"; aired October 22, 2020) of the TV series,Star Trek: Discovery. He also directed theStar Trek: Short Trek episode "Calypso" (aStar Trek: Discovery inter-season short film).
Direct-to-video
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Cavern | Yes | Yes |
| 2010 | Smokin' Aces 2: Assassins' Ball | No | Yes |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Fourth Kind | Yes | Yes |
| 2013 | Evidence | Yes | No |
| TBA | Dark Moon | Yes | Yes |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Executive Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | Falling Skies | Yes | No | 6 episodes |
| 2015 | Under the Dome | Yes | No | Episode "Redux" |
| Extant | Yes | No | Episode "Arms and the Humanich" | |
| The Last Ship | Yes | No | Episode "Valkyrie" | |
| Minority Report | Yes | No | Episode "Fredi" | |
| 2015-16 | Sleepy Hollow | Yes | No | Episodes "This Red Lady from Caribee" and "Kindred Spirits" |
| 2016 | Legends of Tomorrow | Yes | No | Episode "Destiny" |
| Blindspot | Yes | No | Episode "Her Spy's Harmed" | |
| 2016-17 | Bates Motel | Yes | No | Episode "The Vault" and "Visiting Hours" |
| 2017 | Gotham | Yes | No | Episode "Smile Like You Mean It" |
| Colony | Yes | No | Episode "The Garden of Beasts" | |
| The Son | Yes | No | Episode "Death Song" and "No Prisoners" | |
| 2017-24 | Star Trek: Discovery | Yes | Yes | 14 episodes |
| 2018 | Timeless | Yes | No | Episode "The Darlington 500" |
| 2018-19 | Star Trek: Short Treks | Yes | Yes | Episodes "Calypso" and "The Girl Who Made the Stars" |
| 2022 | The Man Who Fell to Earth | Yes | No | Episodes "As the World Falls Down" and "The Man Who Sold the World" |
| 2025 | Star Trek: Section 31 | Yes | Yes | TV movie |
Aftershow appearances
