Michael Gracey is an Australian filmmaker. He is best known for directing the films The Greatest Showman and Better Man.
Early life and career
Gracey grew up in Melbourne – in Carlton then Kew – then started working in visual effects and music videos before making his reputation in advertising, gaining a name for himself with his Christmas commercials in the UK and US.[1]
Gracey worked for two years at animation and visual effects studio Animal Logic from to as an animator and visual effects compositor.[2] He left the company to work at Complete Post, during which time Gracey met and began working with director Baz Luhrmann, who invited him to work on Moulin Rouge!. "We worked on what we called 'visual scrapbooks'," Gracey told "Baz would shoot some footage of Nicole Kidman singing or something and we'd do little mock-ups, and cut mood reels together."[3]
Career
Gracey made his feature directorial debut in with The Greatest Showman starring Hugh Jackman as P. T. Barnum.[4][5]
Gracey was also slated to direct an adaptation of manga series Naruto,[6] but was replaced by Destin Daniel Cretton,[7] and an adaptation of the novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone,[8] which fell in development hell.
In , Gracey directed a short film for Tourism Australia, G'Day, starring Rose Byrne and Will Arnett, with cameos from Hamish Blake & Andy Lee.[9] The commercial is the salient feature of the 'Come and Say G’day' campaign.[10]
Gracey is a member of the Australian production company: FINCH.[11]
Gracey directed the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man ().[12] He is also set to direct the live-action version of Tangled.[13]
Filmography
Visual effects
Director
Executive producer
Special thanks
References
^Maddox, Garry (20 December ). "How first-time Australian director Michael Gracey landed a Hollywood musical". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 27 December Retrieved 4 August
^Green, Ricki (22 October ). "Michael Gracey joins FINCH". Campaign Brief. Retrieved 11 January
^Edwards, Danny (7 October ). "Michael Gracey". shots. Retrieved 11 January
^Pamela McClintock; Borys Kit (17 August ). "Michael Gracey to Direct 'The Greatest Showman on Earth'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 March Retrieved 4 March
^Lipshutz, Jason (28 February ). "What 'La La Land' Hath Wrought: The 15 Biggest Movie Musicals Coming Soon". Billboard. Archived from the original on 4 March Retrieved 4 March
^McNary, Dave (31 July ). "Lionsgate Ramping Up 'Naruto' Movie with Michael Gracey". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 March Retrieved 4 March
^Kit, Borys (23 February ). "'Naruto' Movie in the Works with Destin Daniel Cretton Writing and Directing (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 23 February Retrieved 23 February
^Kyt, Boris (3 December ). "Michael Gracey Set to Direct Universal's 'Daughter of Smoke & Bone' Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 4 March Retrieved 4 March
^Staff, DRIFT (20 October ). "Australia's new short film invites you to Come and Say G'day". Drift Travel Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 October Retrieved 22 October
^"UPDATED TO INCLUDE FILM: Tourism Australia invites the world to 'Come and Say G'day' in global campaign via M&C Saatchi, Sydney". Campaign Brief. 20 October Archived from the original on 19 October Retrieved 22 October
^"Michael Gracey joins FINCH". FilmInk. Archived from the original on 22 October Retrieved 22 October
^Laffly, Tomris (23 December ). "'Better Man' Director Michael Gracey Explains How Robbie Williams Saved 'The Greatest Showman'". IndieWire.
^Rubin, Rebecca (11 December ). "'Tangled' Live-Action Movie Set at Disney With 'Greatest Showman' Director Michael Gracey". Variety. Retrieved 4 January