Jump to content

Gerard Johnstone

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gerard Johnstone
Born
Invercargill, New Zealand
Occupations
  • Director
  • writer
Years active2008–present
Children2

Gerard Johnstone is a New Zealand filmmaker. He is known for the comedy sitcom series The Jaquie Brown Diaries and the horror films Housebound, M3GAN and M3GAN 2.0.

Early life

[edit]

Johnstone was born in Invercargill, New Zealand,[1] where he attended Verdon College.[2]

Career

[edit]

In the early 2000s, Johnstone and Jaquie Brown worked together at C4. A few years later, they created a production company, Young, Gifted & Brown, to make the New Zealand sitcom The Jaquie Brown Diaries, based on a satirical fictionalised version of Brown. It began airing in 2008 with Johnstone serving as writer and director.[3][4]

In March 2014, Johnstone made his directorial debut with Housebound at the South by Southwest festival.[5] The comedy horror film was released on 17 October 2014 in select theatres and VOD.[6] The following year, Johnstone approached New Zealand weightlifter Sonia Manaena, who set the world record in 2013 for deadlifting, about directing a film detailing her life being a competitive weightlifter.[7] Filming was scheduled to begin in 2016,[7] but as of 2023 Johnstone said, "It's been cooking in the background for a long time".[8]

In 2016, he released Terry Teo, a reboot of the 1985 television series, Terry and the Gunrunners.[9] By August 2017, Johnstone was reported to be in the running to direct Warner Bros.' Dark Universe, but instead was hired to polish the script.[10]

Johnstone directed episodes of the first season of The New Legends of Monkey, airing in 2018.[11] That same year, he signed on to direct the comedy horror film, M3GAN.[12] Producer James Wan chose Johnstone for the job after admiring his ability to balance horror and comedy elements in Housebound.[13] M3GAN was released in January 2023 to commercial and critical success. It grossed over $30 million on its opening weekend and garnered positive reviews.[14][15]

He co-wrote and directed the sequel, M3GAN 2.0, that released in June 2025.[16] The film was less commercially successful than its predecessor, grossing $39 million worldwide, though it later achieved better performance on streaming platforms.[15] That same month Johnstone signed on to direct Universal Pictures' live-action Monster High film.[17]

Personal life

[edit]

Johnstone is married.[18] He has two sons, born in 2012 and 2014.[19]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2014 Housebound Yes Yes No Also editor
2022 M3GAN Yes No No
2025 M3GAN 2.0 Yes Yes Executive
2026 Soulm8te No No Executive [20]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Director Writer Notes
2008–2009 The Jaquie Brown Diaries Yes Yes Creator, also edited 6 episodes
2016 Terry Teo Yes Yes Directed 6 episodes, wrote 4 episodes
2018 The New Legends of Monkey Yes No 6 episodes, also executive producer

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ "Kiwi director Gerard Johnstone poised to polish Justice League Dark script". Stuff. 1 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Maka, Valu (13 January 2023). "From meat works to making waves in Hollywood". Otago Daily Times. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  3. ↑ "Young, gifted and Brown". The New Zealand Herald. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Jaquie Brown diaries. Series one [videorecording] / director, Gerard Johnstone; producer, Hayley Cunningham; writers, Gerard Johnstone, Jodie Molloy". National Library of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. ↑ Whittaker, Richard (11 March 2014). "SXSW Gets Housebound". The Austin Chronicle. Archived from the original on 12 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Dickson, Evan (6 October 2014). "Housebound Movie Clip: Beware the Teddy Bear". Collider. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 Salter, Caitlin (14 May 2015). "Film to be made about Southland power lifter Sonia Manaena". Stuff. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Connelly, Brendon (10 January 2023). "M3gan interview: Gerard Johnstone on his brilliant career and creating a horror icon". Film Stories. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  9. ↑ Johnstone, Gerard (24 November 2016). "Throwback Thursday: The maker of Terry Teo (2016) on Terry Teo (1985)". The Spinoffn. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Kroll, Justin (29 August 2017). "'Justice League Dark' Gets Script Polish From Gerard Johnstone". Variety. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "Gerard Johnstone". NZ On Screen. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Kit, Borys (18 July 2018). "Jason Blum, James Wan Team for Horror-Thriller 'M3GAN' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2 January 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  13. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 January 2023). "How 'M3GAN' Boogied Her Way To The Box Office Via TikTok; Sequel Already In Works". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (8 January 2023). "M3GAN Slays With $30M+ Opening; Avatar: The Way Of Water Hits Half Billion Faster Than Top Gun 2, Rogue One – Sunday AM Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 8 January 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  15. 1 2 Kit, Borys (3 February 2026). "Gerard Johnstone, Director of the M3GAN Movies, Signs with UTA". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  16. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (16 July 2024). "M3GAN 2.0 Rolls Cameras With Timm Sharp, Aristotle Athari, Jemaine Clement & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
  17. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (4 June 2025). "Monster High Live-Action Movie Taps 'M3GAN' Director Gerard Johnstone". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  18. ↑ Lyon, Joshua (12 January 2023). "For a Deadly Doll, a Killer Wardrobe". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  19. ↑ Colangelo, B. J. (6 January 2023). "M3GAN Director Gerard Johnstone On How To Balance Comedy With Creepiness [Exclusive Interview]". /Film. Archived from the original on 13 January 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Soulm8te Press Release". Universal Pictures (Press release). 8 July 2026. Archived from the original on 2 August 2026. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerard_Johnstone&oldid=1382788764"