Martin Campbell

Martin Campbell
Campbell at CES 2012
Born (1943-10-24) 24 October 1943 (age 81)
Nationality
  • New Zealand
Occupation(s)Director, producer
Years active1973–present
Spouse
Valarie Trapp
(m. 2002; div. 2006)
Sol E. Romero
(m. 2006)
Awards

Martin Campbell (born 24 October 1943) is a New Zealand film and television director and producer. He is best known for his works in the action and thriller film genres, including the James Bond films GoldenEye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006), The Mask of Zorro (1998) and its sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005), Vertical Limit (2000), and The Foreigner (2017). Earlier in his career, he directed the critically acclaimed BBC drama serial Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned him a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series. He later directed the 2010 theatrical film adaptation of the serial.

Life and career

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Born in Hastings, New Zealand, Campbell moved to London in 1966, to pursue his career as a cinematographer.[1] He began his career as a director with 1973's The Sex Thief. He went on to direct two James Bond films, 1995's GoldenEye, starring Pierce Brosnan, and 2006's Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig. At 62 years old, Campbell was the oldest director in the series' history, beating the previous record set by Lewis Gilbert. Campbell stated that he was offered the opportunity to direct further James Bond films after GoldenEye; however, he found the plots to be limiting and only considered directing further films if working with a new Bond actor – as he subsequently did with Daniel Craig on Casino Royale.[2]

He directed two Zorro films: The Mask of Zorro (1998) and The Legend of Zorro (2005), both starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Campbell also directed the 2011 film adaptation of the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern, as well as The Foreigner (2017), starring Jackie Chan. [3]

On television, Campbell directed the film Cast a Deadly Spell[4] and oversaw some of the more action-oriented episodes from the TV series The Professionals (1977–1983). However, his best-known work is the 1985 BBC Television drama serial Edge of Darkness, for which he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Director in 1986. Campbell also directed a 2010 movie remake of Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone. Campbell directed the first episode of the American TV series Last Resort and his upcoming film Cleaner is set to be released in 2025.[5]

Unrealized projects

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He almost remade El Cid (1961) under Arthur Sarkissian's deal with MGM in the 2000s.[6]

In June 2007, Campbell was in negotiations to replace Robert Schwentke as director of the film, now titled Unstoppable. Campbell was involved until March 2009, when Tony Scott came on board as director.

In October 2007, Variety reported that Naomi Watts would star in Universal's remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, to be directed by Campbell.[7] The production was to have additionally starred George Clooney, and been a joint venture between Platinum Dunes and Mandalay Pictures.[8] On June 16, 2009, Brad Fuller of Dimension Films stated that no further developments had taken place, commenting, "We keep trying, but I don't know."[9] Campbell was eventually replaced as director by Platinum Dunes host Dennis Iliades in December 2009.[10][11]

In July 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that a film based on the 1980s series The Fall Guy was in development. DreamWorks Pictures had teamed up with producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald on the project,[12] and Campbell was in talks to direct the film. In September 2020, Universal Pictures announced that The Fall Guy would star Ryan Gosling and be directed by David Leitch.

Campbell was initially chosen to direct Hunter Killer, but, on 2 March 2016 it was announced that Donovan Marsh would direct the film.

In 2017, it was announced that Campbell was set to direct a new adventure film, Treasure of Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves, adapted from the 1,001 Arabian Nights Tales. That year, Campbell was also attached to direct Across the River and Into the Trees, the Ernest Hemingway novel adaptation set for spring production shoot with Pierce Brosnan starring.[13]

Personal life

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Martin Campbell has been married to his wife Sol E. Romero, since 2006.[14] Previously in 2002 he had married Valarie Trapp but they divorced in 2006.

Filmography

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Films

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Years Title Notes
1973 The Sex Thief
1975 Three for All
Eskimo Nell
1976 Intimate Games Uncredited
1988 Criminal Law
1991 Defenseless
1994 No Escape
1995 GoldenEye
1998 The Mask of Zorro
2000 Vertical Limit Also producer
2003 Beyond Borders
2005 The Legend of Zorro
2006 Casino Royale Nominated—BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film
2010 Edge of Darkness
2011 Green Lantern
2017 The Foreigner
2021 The Protégé
2022 Memory
2024 Dirty Angels Also writer
2025 Cleaner

Television

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Years Title Notes
1978–1980 The Professionals 5 episodes
1980 Minder 2 episodes
Shoestring Episode "The Teddy Bears' Nightmare"
1981 Bergerac Episode "Nice People Die in Bed"
1983 Reilly, Ace of Spies 6 episodes
1984 Charlie 4-part miniseries
1985 Edge of Darkness 6-part miniseries
BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series/Serial
1986 Screen Two Episode "Frankie and Johnnie"
1991 Cast a Deadly Spell TV movie
1993 Homicide: Life on the Street Episode "Three Men and Adena"
2003 10-8: Officers on Duty 2 episodes
2012 Last Resort Episode "Captain"
2013 Reckless TV pilot
2014 Warriors TV pilot

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Saville productions | martin campbell".
  2. ^ "What Would Bring Goldeneye And Casino Royale's Director Back To James Bond". Cinema Blend. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Birds Remake Director Martin Campbell Flies the Coop". DreadCentral. 22 June 2012.
  4. ^ J. O'Connor, John (10 September 1991). "Review/Television; A Detective and Sci-Fi in Los Angeles Magic". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Kroll, Justin (11 October 2023). "'One Piece' Breakout Taz Skylar Joins Daisy Ridley In 'Cleaner'". Deadline. Retrieved 22 October 2023.
  6. ^ Claude Brodesser (17 February 2004). "Smith to pen 'Cid' redo". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  7. ^ Marc Graser, Tatiana Siegel (18 October 2007). "Naomi Watts set for 'Birds' remake". Variety. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  8. ^ "George Clooney in Talks to Topline 'The Birds'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 24 October 2008.
  9. ^ Jack Giroux (27 April 2012). "Until Birds Start Killing People in Cool Ways, 'The Birds' Remake Won't Happen". Film School Rejects. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  10. ^ "'The Birds' Remake Gets A New Director?". ScreenRant. 3 December 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Rumor Control: 'The Birds' Remake Begins at the 'Last House on the Left'?". Bloody Disgusting. 4 December 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2010.
  12. ^ Zeitchik, Steven (1 July 2010). "Hollywood falls for 'The Fall Guy': Lee Majors series is latest reboot candidate". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 11 July 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2020.
  13. ^ Mike Fleming Jr (6 September 2017). "Martin Campbell To Direct 'Treasure Of Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves'". Deadline. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
  14. ^ Nair, Drishya (19 June 2011). "Martin Campbell says director Forster messed up 'Quantum of Solace'". International Business Times. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
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