David Cronenberg: Difference between revisions
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| name = David Cronenberg | | name = David Cronenberg | ||
| honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|OOnt|size=100%}} | | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|OOnt|size=100%}} | ||
| image = David Cronenberg | | image = David Cronenberg.jpg | ||
| caption = Cronenberg in | | caption = Cronenberg in 2025 | ||
| birth_name = David Paul Cronenberg | | birth_name = David Paul Cronenberg | ||
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|3|15}} | | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1943|3|15}} | ||
| birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada | | birth_place = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], Canada | ||
| education = [[University of Toronto]] (BA) | | education = [[University of Toronto]] ([[B.A.|BA]]) | ||
| occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|actor}} | | occupation = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer|actor}} | ||
| years_active = 1966{{ndash}}present | | years_active = 1966{{ndash}}present | ||
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'''David Paul Cronenberg''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|OOnt}} (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor.{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=1}} He is a principal originator of the [[body horror]] genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological. Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through [[science fiction film|sci-fi]] [[horror film|horror]] films such as ''[[Shivers (1975 film)|Shivers]]'' (1975), ''[[Scanners]]'' (1981), ''[[Videodrome]]'' (1983) and ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' (1986), though he has also directed [[Drama film|dramas]], [[psychological thriller]]s and [[gangster film]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=David Cronenberg: 10 essential films|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/david-cronenberg-10-essential-films|access-date=2021-06-14|website=British Film Institute|date=March 14, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> | '''David Paul Cronenberg''' {{post-nominals|country=CAN|CC|OOnt}} (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor.{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=1}} He is a principal originator of the [[body horror]] genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological. Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through [[science fiction film|sci-fi]] [[horror film|horror]] films such as ''[[Shivers (1975 film)|Shivers]]'' (1975), ''[[Scanners]]'' (1981), ''[[Videodrome]]'' (1983) and ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' (1986), though he has also directed [[Drama film|dramas]], [[psychological thriller]]s and [[gangster film]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=David Cronenberg: 10 essential films|url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/lists/david-cronenberg-10-essential-films|access-date=2021-06-14|website=British Film Institute|date=March 14, 2017 |language=en}}</ref> | ||
Cronenberg's films have polarized critics and audiences alike; he has earned critical acclaim and has sparked controversy for his depictions of gore and violence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/cronenberg-defends-movie-s-naked-bathhouse-scene-1.256007|title=Cronenberg defends movie's naked bathhouse scene|date=September 11, 2007|work=CTVNews|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/david.cronenberg/|title=Director David Cronenberg: Responsible violence? |publisher=CNN|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world".<ref>{{cite web |author=J. Hoberman |author-link=J. Hoberman |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-05-17/film/historical-oversight/ |title=Historical Oversight |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=May 17, 2005 |access-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629080807/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-05-17/film/historical-oversight/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> His films have won numerous awards, including the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Special Jury Prize]] for ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' at the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]], a unique award that is distinct from the Jury Prize as it is not given annually, but only at the request of the official jury, who in this case gave the award "for originality, for daring, and for audacity".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maslin |first1=Janet |title=Secrets and Lies' Wins the Top Prize at Cannes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/21/movies/secrets-and-lies-wins-the-top-prize-at-cannes.html |access-date=September 20, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=May 21, 1996}}</ref> | Cronenberg's films have polarized critics and audiences alike; he has earned critical acclaim and has sparked controversy for his depictions of gore and violence.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ctvnews.ca/cronenberg-defends-movie-s-naked-bathhouse-scene-1.256007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202639/https://www.ctvnews.ca/cronenberg-defends-movie-s-naked-bathhouse-scene-1.256007|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2018|title=Cronenberg defends movie's naked bathhouse scene|date=September 11, 2007|work=CTVNews|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/21/david.cronenberg/|title=Director David Cronenberg: Responsible violence? |publisher=CNN|access-date=22 June 2017}}</ref> ''[[The Village Voice]]'' called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world".<ref>{{cite web |author=J. Hoberman |author-link=J. Hoberman |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-05-17/film/historical-oversight/ |title=Historical Oversight |work=[[The Village Voice]] |date=May 17, 2005 |access-date=May 18, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629080807/http://www.villagevoice.com/2005-05-17/film/historical-oversight/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}</ref> His films have won numerous awards, including the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Special Jury Prize]] for ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' at the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]], a unique award that is distinct from the Jury Prize as it is not given annually, but only at the request of the official jury, who in this case gave the award "for originality, for daring, and for audacity".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maslin |first1=Janet |title=Secrets and Lies' Wins the Top Prize at Cannes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/21/movies/secrets-and-lies-wins-the-top-prize-at-cannes.html |access-date=September 20, 2018 |work=The New York Times |date=May 21, 1996}}</ref> | ||
From the | From the 2000s to the 2020s, Cronenberg collaborated on several films with [[Viggo Mortensen]], including ''[[A History of Violence]]'' (2005), ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' (2007), ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' (2011) and ''[[Crimes of the Future (2022 film)|Crimes of the Future]]'' (2022). Seven of his films were selected to compete for the [[Palme d'Or]], the most recent being ''[[The Shrouds]]'' (2024), which was screened at the [[2024 Cannes Film Festival]]. | ||
==Early life and education == | == Early life and education == | ||
David Cronenberg was born in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], on March 15, 1943.<ref name=fullbio/> Cronenberg is the son of Esther ({{nee}} Sumberg), a musician, and Milton Cronenberg, a writer and editor.<ref name="filmr">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/84/David-Cronenberg.html |title=David Cronenberg Biography (1943–) |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> He was raised in a "middle-class progressive [[Jewish]] family".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.egs.edu/faculty/david-cronenberg/biography/ |title=David Cronenberg - Film Director - Biography |access-date=August 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817024054/http://www.egs.edu/faculty/david-cronenberg/biography |archive-date=August 17, 2012 }}."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/heraldmagazine/99409-canadian-icon-david-cronenberg|title=Canadian Icon: David Cronenberg|work=The Chronicle Herald |date=April 14, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> His father was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]], and his mother was born in Toronto; all of his grandparents were [[Lithuanian Jews|Jews from Lithuania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viggo-works.com/index.php?page=1392|publisher=Viggo Works|title=Film-Related 2007|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> Milton wrote some short stories for ''[[True Detective (magazine)|True Detective]]'' and had a column in the ''[[Toronto Telegram]]'' for around thirty years.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=2}} The Cronenberg household was full of a wide variety of books, and Cronenberg's father tried to introduce his son to [[art films]] such as ''[[The Seventh Seal]]'', although at the time Cronenberg was more interested in [[Western film|western]] and [[Pirate film|pirate]] films, showing a particular affinity for those featuring [[Burt Lancaster]].<ref name="nymag.com">{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/14547/|title=Filmmaker David Cronenberg Discusses His Influences - Nymag|website=New York Magazine|date=September 22, 2005 |accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> | David Cronenberg was born in [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], on March 15, 1943.<ref name=fullbio/> Cronenberg is the son of Esther ({{nee}} Sumberg), a musician, and Milton Cronenberg, a writer and editor.<ref name="filmr">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/84/David-Cronenberg.html |title=David Cronenberg Biography (1943–) |publisher=Filmreference.com |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> He was raised in a "middle-class progressive [[Jewish]] family".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.egs.edu/faculty/david-cronenberg/biography/ |title=David Cronenberg - Film Director - Biography |access-date=August 19, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817024054/http://www.egs.edu/faculty/david-cronenberg/biography |archive-date=August 17, 2012 }}."</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/heraldmagazine/99409-canadian-icon-david-cronenberg|title=Canadian Icon: David Cronenberg|work=The Chronicle Herald |date=April 14, 2014|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> His father was born in [[Baltimore, Maryland]], and his mother was born in Toronto; all of his grandparents were [[Lithuanian Jews|Jews from Lithuania]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viggo-works.com/index.php?page=1392|publisher=Viggo Works|title=Film-Related 2007|access-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> Milton wrote some short stories for ''[[True Detective (magazine)|True Detective]]'' and had a column in the ''[[Toronto Telegram]]'' for around thirty years.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=2}} The Cronenberg household was full of a wide variety of books, and Cronenberg's father tried to introduce his son to [[art films]] such as ''[[The Seventh Seal]]'', although at the time Cronenberg was more interested in [[Western film|western]] and [[Pirate film|pirate]] films, showing a particular affinity for those featuring [[Burt Lancaster]].<ref name="nymag.com">{{Cite web|url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/movies/features/14547/|title=Filmmaker David Cronenberg Discusses His Influences - Nymag|website=New York Magazine|date=September 22, 2005 |accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> | ||
A voracious reader from an early age, Cronenberg started off enjoying [[science fiction magazines]] like ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction]]'', ''[[Galaxy (magazine)|Galaxy]]'', and ''[[Astounding]]'', where he first encountered authors who would prove influential on his own work, including [[Ray Bradbury]] and [[Isaac Asimov]], although he wouldn't encounter his primary influence, [[Philip K. Dick]], until much later. Cronenberg also read [[comic books]], noting his favorites were ''[[Tarzan (comics)|Tarzan]]'', ''[[Little Lulu]]'', ''[[Uncle Scrooge]]'', ''[[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk]]'', ''[[Plastic Man]]'', ''[[Superman]]'', and the original [[Fawcett Comics]] version of ''[[Captain Marvel (DC comics)|Captain Marvel]]'', later known as ''Shazam''. Although as an adult, Cronenberg feels [[superhero films]] are artistically limited, he maintains a fondness for ''Captain Marvel''/''Shazam'', criticizing how he feels the character had been neglected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/science_transcription_06-science_transcript_06-eng.html|title=David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition|website=cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net|accessdate=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613043527/http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/science_transcription_06-science_transcript_06-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a448221/david-cronenberg-superhero-movies-are-adolescent-at-the-core/|title = Cronenberg: Superhero films are adolescent|website = [[Digital Spy]]|date = January 3, 2013}}</ref> Cronenberg also read [[horror comics]] published by [[EC Comics|EC]], which in contrast to the others, he described as "scary and bizarre and violent and nasty—the ones your mother didn't want you to have."<ref name="nymag.com"/> He has cited [[William S. Burroughs]] and [[Vladimir Nabokov]] as influences.<ref>{{cite book|author=Browning, Mark |date=2007|title=David Cronenberg: Author or Film-maker?|publisher= Intellect Books|isbn= 978-1-84150-173-4}}</ref> | A voracious reader from an early age, Cronenberg started off enjoying [[science fiction magazines]] like ''[[The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction]]'', ''[[Galaxy (magazine)|Galaxy]]'', and ''[[Analog Science Fiction and Fact|Astounding]]'', where he first encountered authors who would prove influential on his own work, including [[Ray Bradbury]] and [[Isaac Asimov]], although he wouldn't encounter his primary influence, [[Philip K. Dick]], until much later. Cronenberg also read [[comic books]], noting his favorites were ''[[Tarzan (comics)|Tarzan]]'', ''[[Little Lulu]]'', ''[[Uncle Scrooge]]'', ''[[Blackhawk (DC Comics)|Blackhawk]]'', ''[[Plastic Man]]'', ''[[Superman]]'', and the original [[Fawcett Comics]] version of ''[[Captain Marvel (DC comics)|Captain Marvel]]'', later known as ''Shazam''. Although as an adult, Cronenberg feels [[superhero films]] are artistically limited, he maintains a fondness for ''Captain Marvel''/''Shazam'', criticizing how he feels the character had been neglected.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/science_transcription_06-science_transcript_06-eng.html|title=David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition|website=cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net|accessdate=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613043527/http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/science_transcription_06-science_transcript_06-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a448221/david-cronenberg-superhero-movies-are-adolescent-at-the-core/|title = Cronenberg: Superhero films are adolescent|website = [[Digital Spy]]|date = January 3, 2013}}</ref> Cronenberg also read [[horror comics]] published by [[EC Comics|EC]], which in contrast to the others, he described as "scary and bizarre and violent and nasty—the ones your mother didn't want you to have."<ref name="nymag.com"/> He has cited [[William S. Burroughs]] and [[Vladimir Nabokov]] as influences.<ref>{{cite book|author=Browning, Mark |date=2007|title=David Cronenberg: Author or Film-maker?|publisher= Intellect Books|isbn= 978-1-84150-173-4}}</ref> | ||
Early films that later proved influential on Cronenberg's career include [[Experimental film|avant-garde]], [[Horror film|horror]], [[Science fiction film|science fiction]], and [[Thriller film|thriller]] films, such as ''[[Un Chien Andalou]]'', ''[[Vampyr]]'', ''[[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|War of the Worlds]]'', ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]'', ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'', ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]'', ''[[Performance (film)|Performance]]'', and ''[[Duel (1971 film)|Duel]]''. He also cited less obvious films as influences, including comedies like ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'', as well as [[Disney cartoons]] such as ''[[Bambi]]'' and ''[[Dumbo]]''.<ref name="indiewire.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/05/watch-90-minute-discussion-with-david-cronenberg-about-his-career-films-inspirations-much-more-98530/|title=Watch: 90-Minute Discussion With David Cronenberg About His Career, Films, Inspirations & Much More|first=Joe|last=Cunningham|date=May 6, 2013|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Cronenberg said he found these two Disney animated films, as well as [[Universal Pictures|Universal's]] live-action ''[[The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)|Blue Lagoon]]'', "terrifying" which influenced his approach to horror.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/14/david-cronenberg-interview-my-imagination-not-a-place-of-horror|title=David Cronenberg: 'My imagination is not a place of horror'|date=September 13, 2014|website=the Guardian|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Cronenberg went on to say that ''Bambi'' was the "first important film" he ever saw, citing the moment when Bambi's mother died as particularly powerful.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/the-cronenbergs-dark-art-just-runs-in-the-family/article4198336/|title=The Cronenbergs: Dark art just runs in the family|accessdate=June 8, 2021|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=May 21, 2012|last1=Lacey|first1=Liam}}</ref> Cronenberg even wished to screen ''Bambi'' as part of a museum exhibition of his influences, but Disney refused him permission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/tiff_01-eng.html|title=David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition|website=cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net|accessdate=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613042635/http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/tiff_01-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In terms of conventional horror films that frightened him, Cronenberg cited ''[[Don't Look Now]]''.<ref name="indiewire.com"/> | Early films that later proved influential on Cronenberg's career include [[Experimental film|avant-garde]], [[Horror film|horror]], [[Science fiction film|science fiction]], and [[Thriller film|thriller]] films, such as ''[[Un Chien Andalou]]'', ''[[Vampyr]]'', ''[[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|War of the Worlds]]'', ''[[Freaks (1932 film)|Freaks]]'', ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'', ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]'', ''[[Performance (film)|Performance]]'', and ''[[Duel (1971 film)|Duel]]''. He also cited less obvious films as influences, including comedies like ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'', as well as [[Disney cartoons]] such as ''[[Bambi]]'' and ''[[Dumbo]]''.<ref name="indiewire.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2013/05/watch-90-minute-discussion-with-david-cronenberg-about-his-career-films-inspirations-much-more-98530/|title=Watch: 90-Minute Discussion With David Cronenberg About His Career, Films, Inspirations & Much More|first=Joe|last=Cunningham|date=May 6, 2013|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Cronenberg said he found these two Disney animated films, as well as [[Universal Pictures|Universal's]] live-action ''[[The Blue Lagoon (1949 film)|Blue Lagoon]]'', "terrifying" which influenced his approach to horror.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2014/sep/14/david-cronenberg-interview-my-imagination-not-a-place-of-horror|title=David Cronenberg: 'My imagination is not a place of horror'|date=September 13, 2014|website=the Guardian|accessdate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> Cronenberg went on to say that ''Bambi'' was the "first important film" he ever saw, citing the moment when Bambi's mother died as particularly powerful.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/the-cronenbergs-dark-art-just-runs-in-the-family/article4198336/|title=The Cronenbergs: Dark art just runs in the family|accessdate=June 8, 2021|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=May 21, 2012|last1=Lacey|first1=Liam}}</ref> Cronenberg even wished to screen ''Bambi'' as part of a museum exhibition of his influences, but Disney refused him permission.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/tiff_01-eng.html|title=David Cronenberg: Virtual Exhibition|website=cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net|accessdate=June 8, 2021|archive-date=June 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613042635/http://cronenbergmuseum.tiff.net/tiff_01-eng.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In terms of conventional horror films that frightened him, Cronenberg cited ''[[Don't Look Now]]''.<ref name="indiewire.com"/> | ||
Cronenberg attended Dewson Street Public School, Kent Senior School, [[Harbord Collegiate Institute]] and [[North Toronto Collegiate Institute]]. He enrolled at the [[University of Toronto]] for Honours Science in 1963, but changed to Honours English Language and Literature the next year. He graduated from university in 1967, at the top of his class with a general Bachelor of Arts.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|pp=1–2}}<ref name=fullbio/> Cronenberg decided to not study for a master of arts after making ''[[Stereo (1969 film)|Stereo]]''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=17}} | Cronenberg attended Dewson Street Public School, Kent Senior School, [[Harbord Collegiate Institute]] and [[North Toronto Collegiate Institute]]. He enrolled at the [[University of Toronto]] for Honours Science in 1963, but changed to Honours English Language and Literature the next year. He graduated from university in 1967, at the top of his class with a general [[Bachelor of Arts]].{{sfn|Rodley|1997|pp=1–2}}<ref name=fullbio/> Cronenberg decided to not study for a master of arts after making ''[[Stereo (1969 film)|Stereo]]''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=17}} | ||
Cronenberg's fascination with the film ''[[Winter Kept Us Warm]]'' (1966), by classmate [[David Secter]], sparked his interest in film. He began frequenting film camera rental houses and learned the art of filmmaking.<ref name=fullbio>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/86249/David-Cronenberg/biography|title=David Cronenberg: Full Biography|access-date=April 16, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222043459/https://movies.nytimes.com/person/86249/David-Cronenberg/biography|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Jonathan Crow|date=2009|archive-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> Cronenberg made two short films, ''[[Transfer (1966 film)|Transfer]]'' and ''[[From the Drain]]'', with a few hundred dollars.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=13}} Cronenberg, [[Ivan Reitman]], Bob Fothergill, and Iain Ewing were inspired by [[Jonas Mekas]] and formed the Toronto Film Co-op.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=15}} | Cronenberg's fascination with the film ''[[Winter Kept Us Warm]]'' (1966), by classmate [[David Secter]], sparked his interest in film. He began frequenting film camera rental houses and learned the art of filmmaking.<ref name=fullbio>{{cite news|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/86249/David-Cronenberg/biography|title=David Cronenberg: Full Biography|access-date=April 16, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222043459/https://movies.nytimes.com/person/86249/David-Cronenberg/biography|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Jonathan Crow|date=2009|archive-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref> Cronenberg made two short films, ''[[Transfer (1966 film)|Transfer]]'' and ''[[From the Drain]]'', with a few hundred dollars.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=13}} Cronenberg, [[Ivan Reitman]], Bob Fothergill, and Iain Ewing were inspired by [[Jonas Mekas]] and formed the Toronto Film Co-op.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=15}} | ||
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=== 1981–1988: Breakthrough and acclaim === | === 1981–1988: Breakthrough and acclaim === | ||
In 1981, Cronenberg directed the [[science-fiction]] [[horror film]] ''[[Scanners]]'' (1981). In it, "scanners" are [[psychic]]s with unusual [[telepathy|telepathic]] and [[psychokinesis|telekinetic]] powers. The film has since become a [[cult classic]]. He followed it with another science-fiction horror film ''[[Videodrome]]'' (1983) starring [[James Woods]]. The film was distributed by [[Universal Pictures]]. [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' remarked on the film's "innovativeness", and praised Woods' performance as having a "sharply authentic edge".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE6D9103BF937A35751C0A965948260|title=' | In 1981, Cronenberg directed the [[science-fiction]] [[horror film]] ''[[Scanners]]'' (1981). In it, "scanners" are [[psychic]]s with unusual [[telepathy|telepathic]] and [[psychokinesis|telekinetic]] powers. The film has since become a [[cult classic]]. He followed it with another science-fiction horror film ''[[Videodrome]]'' (1983) starring [[James Woods]]. The film was distributed by [[Universal Pictures]]. [[Janet Maslin]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' remarked on the film's "innovativeness", and praised Woods' performance as having a "sharply authentic edge".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9D0CE6D9103BF937A35751C0A965948260|title='Videodrome,' Lurid Fantasies of the Tube|author=Janet Maslin|date=February 4, 1983|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 11, 2018}}</ref> That same year he directed ''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'' (1983), based on [[Stephen King]]'s [[The Dead Zone (novel)| novel of the same name]], starring [[Christopher Walken]]. | ||
Cronenberg directed ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' (1986), starring [[Jeff Goldblum]] and [[Geena Davis]]. The film is loosely based on [[George Langelaan]]'s 1957 [[The Fly (Langelaan)|short story of the same name]] and [[The Fly (1958 film)|the 1958 film of the same name]]. It was distributed by [[20th Century Fox]] and was a box office hit, making $60 million. Cronenberg has not generally worked within the world of big-budget, mainstream Hollywood filmmaking, although he has had occasional near misses. At one stage he was considered by [[George Lucas]] as a possible director for ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983) but turned down the offer. [[Peter Suschitzky]] was the director of photography for ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980), and Cronenberg remarked that Suschitzky's work in that film "was the only one of those movies that actually looked good",<ref>{{cite web |title=David Cronenberg Re-Examines David Cronenberg |publisher=Film Freak Central |url=http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/notes/dcronenbergretrointerview.htm |date=March 9, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401142610/http://filmfreakcentral.net/notes/dcronenbergretrointerview.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2003 }}</ref> which was a motivating factor to work with him on ''[[Dead Ringers (film)| Dead Ringers]]'' (1988). | Cronenberg directed ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' (1986), starring [[Jeff Goldblum]] and [[Geena Davis]]. The film is loosely based on [[George Langelaan]]'s 1957 [[The Fly (Langelaan)|short story of the same name]] and [[The Fly (1958 film)|the 1958 film of the same name]]. It was distributed by [[20th Century Fox]] and was a box office hit, making $60 million. Cronenberg has not generally worked within the world of big-budget, mainstream Hollywood filmmaking, although he has had occasional near misses. At one stage he was considered by [[George Lucas]] as a possible director for ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' (1983) but turned down the offer. [[Peter Suschitzky]] was the director of photography for ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'' (1980), and Cronenberg remarked that Suschitzky's work in that film "was the only one of those movies that actually looked good",<ref>{{cite web |title=David Cronenberg Re-Examines David Cronenberg |publisher=Film Freak Central |url=http://www.filmfreakcentral.net/notes/dcronenbergretrointerview.htm |date=March 9, 2003 |access-date=March 9, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030401142610/http://filmfreakcentral.net/notes/dcronenbergretrointerview.htm |archive-date=April 1, 2003 }}</ref> which was a motivating factor to work with him on '' [[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' (1988). | ||
Since ''Dead Ringers'', Cronenberg has worked with Suschitzky on each of his films (see [[List of film director and cinematographer collaborations]]). Cronenberg has collaborated with composer [[Howard Shore]] on all of his films since ''The Brood'' (1979), (see [[List of film director and composer collaborations]]) with the exception of ''The Dead Zone'' (1983), which was scored by [[Michael Kamen]]. Other regular collaborators include actor [[Robert A. Silverman]], [[art director]] [[Carol Spier]] (also his sister) [[Sound editor (filmmaking)|sound editor]] Bryan Day, film editor Ronald Sanders, his sister, [[costume designer]] [[Denise Cronenberg]], and, from 1979 until 1988, [[cinematographer]] Mark Irwin. In 2008, Cronenberg directed Shore's first opera, ''[[The Fly (opera)|The Fly]]''. | Since ''Dead Ringers'', Cronenberg has worked with Suschitzky on each of his films (see [[List of film director and cinematographer collaborations]]). Cronenberg has collaborated with composer [[Howard Shore]] on all of his films since ''The Brood'' (1979), (see [[List of film director and composer collaborations]]) with the exception of ''The Dead Zone'' (1983), which was scored by [[Michael Kamen]]. Other regular collaborators include actor [[Robert A. Silverman]], [[art director]] [[Carol Spier]] (also his sister) [[Sound editor (filmmaking)|sound editor]] Bryan Day, film editor Ronald Sanders, his sister, [[costume designer]] [[Denise Cronenberg]], and, from 1979 until 1988, [[cinematographer]] Mark Irwin. In 2008, Cronenberg directed Shore's first opera, ''[[The Fly (opera)|The Fly]]''. | ||
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=== 1991–2002: Career fluctuations === | === 1991–2002: Career fluctuations === | ||
[[File:David Cronenberg(CannesPhotoCall)-.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Cronenberg at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2002]] | [[File:David Cronenberg(CannesPhotoCall)-.jpg|thumb|left|170px|Cronenberg at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2002]] | ||
In 1991, Cronenberg adapted ''[[Naked Lunch]]'' (1959), his literary hero [[William S. Burroughs]]' most controversial book. The novel was considered "unfilmable", and Cronenberg acknowledged that a straight translation into film would "cost 400 million dollars and be banned in every country in the world". Instead he chose to blur the lines between what appeared to be reality and what appeared to be [[hallucinations]] brought on by the main character's drug addiction. Some of the book's "moments" (as well as incidents loosely based upon Burroughs' life) are presented in this manner within the film. Cronenberg said that while writing the screenplay for ''[[Naked Lunch (film)|Naked Lunch]]'' (1991), he felt that his style and Burroughs' had synergized, and jokingly remarked that the connection between his screenwriting style and Burroughs' prose style was so strong, that should Burroughs pass on, he might write the next Burroughs novel.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Self |first=Will |date=2015-06-17 |title=Man-Eating Philosophers |url=https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v37/n12/will-self/man-eating-philosophers |access-date=2024-06-12 |work=London Review of Books |language=en |volume=37 |issue=12 |issn=0260-9592}}</ref> | |||
Cronenberg has also appeared as an actor in other directors' films. Most of his roles are [[cameo appearance]]s, as in the films ''[[Into the Night (1985 film)|Into the Night]]'' (1985), ''[[Blood and Donuts]]'' (1995), ''[[To Die For]]'' (1995), and ''[[Jason X]]'' (2002) and the television series ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', but on occasion he has played major roles, as in ''[[Nightbreed]]'' (1990) and ''[[Last Night (1998 film)|Last Night]]'' (1998). He has not had major roles in any of his own films, but he did put in a brief appearance as a gynecologist in ''The Fly''; he can also be glimpsed among the sex-crazed hordes in ''Shivers''; he can be heard as an unseen car-pound attendant in ''Crash''; his hands can be glimpsed in ''[[eXistenZ]]'' (1999); and he appeared as a stand-in for [[James Woods]] in ''Videodrome''. | Cronenberg has also appeared as an actor in other directors' films. Most of his roles are [[cameo appearance]]s, as in the films ''[[Into the Night (1985 film)|Into the Night]]'' (1985), ''[[Blood and Donuts]]'' (1995), ''[[To Die For]]'' (1995), and ''[[Jason X]]'' (2002) and the television series ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', but on occasion he has played major roles, as in ''[[Nightbreed]]'' (1990) and ''[[Last Night (1998 film)|Last Night]]'' (1998). He has not had major roles in any of his own films, but he did put in a brief appearance as a gynecologist in ''The Fly''; he can also be glimpsed among the sex-crazed hordes in ''Shivers''; he can be heard as an unseen car-pound attendant in ''Crash''; his hands can be glimpsed in ''[[eXistenZ]]'' (1999); and he appeared as a stand-in for [[James Woods]] in ''Videodrome''. | ||
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His thriller ''[[A History of Violence]]'' (2005) is one of his highest budgeted and most accessible to date. He has said that the decision to direct it was influenced by his having had to defer some of his salary on the low-budgeted ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' (2002), but it was one of his most critically acclaimed films to date, along with ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' (2007), a film about the struggle of one man to gain power in the Russian Mafia. Although Cronenberg has worked with a number of Hollywood stars, he remains a staunchly Canadian filmmaker, with nearly all of his films (including major studio vehicles ''The Dead Zone'' and ''The Fly'') having been filmed in his home province Ontario. Notable exceptions include ''[[M. Butterfly (film)|M. Butterfly]]'' (1993), most of which was shot in China, ''Spider'', and ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' (2007), which were both filmed primarily in England, and ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' (2011), which was filmed in Germany and Austria. ''Rabid'' and ''Shivers'' were shot in and around [[Montreal]]. Most of his films have been at least partially financed by [[Telefilm Canada]], and Cronenberg, a vocal supporter of government-backed film projects, has said: "Every country needs [a system of government [[Grant (money)|grants]]] to have a national cinema in the face of Hollywood".<ref>{{cite web|last=Phipps |first=Keith |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-cronenberg-1798208259 |title=David Cronenberg |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=March 12, 2003 |access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> | His thriller ''[[A History of Violence]]'' (2005) is one of his highest budgeted and most accessible to date. He has said that the decision to direct it was influenced by his having had to defer some of his salary on the low-budgeted ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' (2002), but it was one of his most critically acclaimed films to date, along with ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' (2007), a film about the struggle of one man to gain power in the Russian Mafia. Although Cronenberg has worked with a number of Hollywood stars, he remains a staunchly Canadian filmmaker, with nearly all of his films (including major studio vehicles ''The Dead Zone'' and ''The Fly'') having been filmed in his home province Ontario. Notable exceptions include ''[[M. Butterfly (film)|M. Butterfly]]'' (1993), most of which was shot in China, ''Spider'', and ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' (2007), which were both filmed primarily in England, and ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' (2011), which was filmed in Germany and Austria. ''Rabid'' and ''Shivers'' were shot in and around [[Montreal]]. Most of his films have been at least partially financed by [[Telefilm Canada]], and Cronenberg, a vocal supporter of government-backed film projects, has said: "Every country needs [a system of government [[Grant (money)|grants]]] to have a national cinema in the face of Hollywood".<ref>{{cite web|last=Phipps |first=Keith |url=https://www.avclub.com/david-cronenberg-1798208259 |title=David Cronenberg |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=March 12, 2003 |access-date=September 18, 2020}}</ref> | ||
In 2008, Cronenberg realized two extra-cinematographic projects: the exhibition ''Chromosomes'' at the [[Rome Film Fest]], and the opera ''The Fly'' at the LaOpera in Los Angeles and Theatre Châtelet in Paris. In July 2010, Cronenberg completed production on ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' (2011), an adaptation of [[Christopher Hampton]]'s play ''The Talking Cure'', starring [[Keira Knightley]], [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Vincent Cassel]], and frequent collaborator [[Viggo Mortensen]]. The film was produced by independent British producer [[Jeremy Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url= | In 2008, Cronenberg realized two extra-cinematographic projects: the exhibition ''Chromosomes'' at the [[Rome Film Fest]], and the opera ''The Fly'' at the LaOpera in Los Angeles and Theatre Châtelet in Paris. In July 2010, Cronenberg completed production on ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' (2011), an adaptation of [[Christopher Hampton]]'s play ''The Talking Cure'', starring [[Keira Knightley]], [[Michael Fassbender]], [[Vincent Cassel]], and frequent collaborator [[Viggo Mortensen]]. The film was produced by independent British producer [[Jeremy Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.blogspot.com/2010/03/viggo-mortensen-replaces-christoph.html |title=Viggo Mortensen Replaces Christoph Waltz As Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg's 'The Talking Cure' |website=The Playlist |date=March 9, 2010 |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Keira Knightley Takes The Talking Cure | url=https://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=26588|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=December 23, 2009 |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> On television, he has appeared in the recurring roles of Dr. Brezzel in Season 3 of ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]'', and Kovich in seasons 3, 4, and 5 of ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''. He has also had main roles as Reverend Verrenger in ''[[Alias Grace (miniseries)|Alias Grace]]'', and Spencer Galloway in ''[[Slasher (TV series)|Slasher: Flesh & Blood]]''. | ||
[[File:David Cronenberg Cannes 2014.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Cronenberg at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2014]] | [[File:David Cronenberg Cannes 2014.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Cronenberg at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] in 2014]] | ||
In 2012, his film ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' competed for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2012 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2012-05-28|title=Five things we learned from the Cannes premiere of Cosmopolis|url=https://torontolife.com/culture/cosmopolis-cannes-premier/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Toronto Life|language=en-US}}</ref> | In 2012, his film ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' competed for the [[Palme d'Or]] at the [[2012 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2012-05-28|title=Five things we learned from the Cannes premiere of Cosmopolis|url=https://torontolife.com/culture/cosmopolis-cannes-premier/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=Toronto Life|language=en-US}}</ref> | ||
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Cronenberg was offered the role of director for ''[[Witness (1985 film)|Witness]]'' while it was under the name ''Come Home'', but declined as he "could never be a fan of the Amish". He was also offered the director's position for ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', ''[[Flashdance]]'', ''[[Top Gun]]'', and ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=116}}{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=119}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Seibold|first=Whitney|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/867790/the-projects-you-didnt-know-david-cronenberg-turned-down/|title=The Projects You Didn't Know David Cronenberg Turned Down|website=[[/Film]]|date=May 18, 2022|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> Marc Boyman offered Cronenberg the position of director for ''[[The Incubus (film)|The Incubus]]'', but declined although this led to Boyman producing ''The Fly'' and ''Dead Ringers''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=136}} | Cronenberg was offered the role of director for ''[[Witness (1985 film)|Witness]]'' while it was under the name ''Come Home'', but declined as he "could never be a fan of the Amish". He was also offered the director's position for ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'', ''[[Flashdance]]'', ''[[Top Gun]]'', and ''[[Beverly Hills Cop]]''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=116}}{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=119}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Seibold|first=Whitney|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/867790/the-projects-you-didnt-know-david-cronenberg-turned-down/|title=The Projects You Didn't Know David Cronenberg Turned Down|website=[[/Film]]|date=May 18, 2022|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> Marc Boyman offered Cronenberg the position of director for ''[[The Incubus (film)|The Incubus]]'', but declined although this led to Boyman producing ''The Fly'' and ''Dead Ringers''.{{sfn|Rodley|1997|p=136}} | ||
Cronenberg also worked for nearly a year on a version of ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' (1990), but experienced "creative differences" with producers [[Dino De Laurentiis]] and [[Ronald Shusett]]; a different version of the film was eventually made by [[Paul Verhoeven]]. Cronenberg related in his 1992 memoir, ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'' that, as a fan of [[Philip K. Dick]]—author of "We Can Remember it For You Wholesale", the short story upon which the film was based— his dissatisfaction with what he envisioned the film to be and what it ended up being pained him so greatly that, for a time, he suffered a [[migraine]] just thinking about it, akin to a needle piercing his eye.<ref name="Cronenberg, David 1992">{{cite book|author=Cronenberg, David|title=Cronenberg on Cronenberg|date=1992 | Cronenberg also worked for nearly a year on a version of ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' (1990), but experienced "creative differences" with producers [[Dino De Laurentiis]] and [[Ronald Shusett]]; a different version of the film was eventually made by [[Paul Verhoeven]]. Cronenberg related in his 1992 memoir, ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'' that, as a fan of [[Philip K. Dick]]—author of "We Can Remember it For You Wholesale", the short story upon which the film was based— his dissatisfaction with what he envisioned the film to be and what it ended up being pained him so greatly that, for a time, he suffered a [[migraine]] just thinking about it, akin to a needle piercing his eye.<ref name="Cronenberg, David 1992">{{cite book|author=Cronenberg, David|title=Cronenberg on Cronenberg|date=1992|isbn=9780571144365|publisher=Faber & Faber}}</ref> | ||
In 1993, Cronenberg signed a deal with [[Paragon Entertainment Corporation]] in which he would create a six-part television series called ''Crimes Against Nature'' for [[CBC Television]]. Cronenberg described the series as "[[William S. Burroughs|William Burroughs]] meets [[Jean-Luc Godard]]'s ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]''."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Murray|first=Karen|url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/cronenberg-commits-crimes-108851/|title=Cronenberg commits 'Crimes'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 20, 1993|access-date=February 4, 2025}}</ref> He started writing it on August 1, and filming was meant to begin in February 1994 using 35 mm film. The show was set in 2010 and was about members of the "Flesh Squad" police force. Carol Reynolds, the president of Paragon Entertainment, stated that each episode would cost between $500,000-600,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCann |first=Wendy |date=August 26, 1993 |title=Cronenberg brings brand of terror to CBC series |page=D2 |work=[[The StarPhoenix]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/154002503/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826230329/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/154002503/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1993 |title=Cronenberg to produce suspense TV series |page=B4 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/154063707/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826230431/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/154063707/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> | In 1993, Cronenberg signed a deal with [[Paragon Entertainment Corporation]] in which he would create a six-part television series called ''Crimes Against Nature'' for [[CBC Television]]. Cronenberg described the series as "[[William S. Burroughs|William Burroughs]] meets [[Jean-Luc Godard]]'s ''[[Alphaville (film)|Alphaville]]''."<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Murray|first=Karen|url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/cronenberg-commits-crimes-108851/|title=Cronenberg commits 'Crimes'|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=July 20, 1993|access-date=February 4, 2025}}</ref> He started writing it on August 1, and filming was meant to begin in February 1994 using 35 mm film. The show was set in 2010 and was about members of the "Flesh Squad" police force. Carol Reynolds, the president of Paragon Entertainment, stated that each episode would cost between $500,000-600,000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McCann |first=Wendy |date=August 26, 1993 |title=Cronenberg brings brand of terror to CBC series |page=D2 |work=[[The StarPhoenix]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/154002503/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826230329/https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-phoenix/154002503/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 26, 1993 |title=Cronenberg to produce suspense TV series |page=B4 |work=[[Toronto Star]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/154063707/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826230431/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/154063707/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> | ||
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In 1998, author [[Patricia Anthony]] stated that Cronenberg would direct the adaptation of her novel ''[[Brother Termite]]'' written by [[John Sayles]], and to be executive produced by [[James Cameron]]. The premise follows an alien race that co-exists with man on Earth, influencing human society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/brothertermite.html|title=Coming Attractions - Brother Termite|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=February 28, 2001|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011116122232/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/brothertermite.html|archive-date=November 16, 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref> | In 1998, author [[Patricia Anthony]] stated that Cronenberg would direct the adaptation of her novel ''[[Brother Termite]]'' written by [[John Sayles]], and to be executive produced by [[James Cameron]]. The premise follows an alien race that co-exists with man on Earth, influencing human society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/brothertermite.html|title=Coming Attractions - Brother Termite|publisher=[[IGN]]|date=February 28, 2001|access-date=April 13, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011116122232/http://corona.bc.ca/films/details/brothertermite.html|archive-date=November 16, 2001|url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||
In 1999, Cronenberg was reportedly interested in taking the helm of [[Charlie Kaufman]]'s adaptation of ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of Dangerous Mind]]'', with [[Sean Penn]] at that time circling to star.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shaw|first=Jessica|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/07/30/re-best-unproduced-screenplays/|title=Re: Best Unproduced Screenplays|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=July 30, 1999|access-date=August 6, 2024}}</ref> The following year, he was circling to direct ''[[Basic Instinct 2]]'' for which he had a "good script" and [[Rupert Everett]] in the lead, but [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] said no because the actor is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Constantine|first=Zade|url=https://thefilmstage.com/watch-david-cronenberg-discusses-his-filmmaking-process-in-recent-one-hour-conversation/|title=Watch: David Cronenberg Discusses His Filmmaking Process In Recent One-Hour Conversation|website=The Film Stage|date=March 11, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> At one stage, Cronenberg was going to make ''[[The Singing Detective (film)|The Singing Detective]]'' as a [[horror film]], with [[Al Pacino]] starring.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 2004, Cronenberg was attached to direct ''[[London Fields (film)|London Fields]]'', based on [[Martin Amis]]' [[London Fields (novel)|1991 novel of the same name]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Brodesser|first=Claude|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/news/london-calls-cronenberg-1117902034/|title='London' calls Cronenberg|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 21, 2004|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> | In 1999, Cronenberg was reportedly interested in taking the helm of [[Charlie Kaufman]]'s adaptation of ''[[Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (film)|Confessions of Dangerous Mind]]'', with [[Sean Penn]] at that time circling{{definition needed|date=November 2025}} to star.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Shaw|first=Jessica|url=https://ew.com/article/1999/07/30/re-best-unproduced-screenplays/|title=Re: Best Unproduced Screenplays|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=July 30, 1999|access-date=August 6, 2024|archive-date=June 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623100833/https://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,272563,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The following year, he was circling{{definition needed|date=November 2025}} to direct ''[[Basic Instinct 2]]'' for which he had a "good script" and [[Rupert Everett]] in the lead, but [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]] said no because the actor is gay.<ref>{{cite web|last=Constantine|first=Zade|url=https://thefilmstage.com/watch-david-cronenberg-discusses-his-filmmaking-process-in-recent-one-hour-conversation/|title=Watch: David Cronenberg Discusses His Filmmaking Process In Recent One-Hour Conversation|website=The Film Stage|date=March 11, 2014|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> At one stage, Cronenberg was going to make ''[[The Singing Detective (film)|The Singing Detective]]'' as a [[horror film]], with [[Al Pacino]] starring.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}} In 2004, Cronenberg was attached to direct ''[[London Fields (film)|London Fields]]'', based on [[Martin Amis]]' [[London Fields (novel)|1991 novel of the same name]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Brodesser|first=Claude|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/news/london-calls-cronenberg-1117902034/|title='London' calls Cronenberg|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=March 21, 2004|access-date=February 5, 2025}}</ref> | ||
In the mid-2000s, Cronenberg had adapted and was planning to direct an adaptation of ''[[The White Hotel]]'' by [[D. M. Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/aug/28/books.featuresreviews|title=Celluloid dreams|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=August 27, 2004|access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref> | In the mid-2000s, Cronenberg had adapted and was planning to direct an adaptation of ''[[The White Hotel]]'' by [[D. M. Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/aug/28/books.featuresreviews|title=Celluloid dreams|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=August 27, 2004|access-date=March 4, 2025}}</ref> | ||
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In March 2012, [[Media Rights Capital]] announced that Cronenberg would be directing and executive producing the [[television pilot]] ''Knifeman'', adapted by [[Rolin Jones]] and [[Ron Fitzgerald]] from [[Wendy Moore]]'s 2005 novel about a radical [[surgeon]] who goes to extraordinary lengths to uncover secrets of the human body.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Mike |date=12 March 2012 |title=MRC Teams With David Cronenberg & Sam Raimi For 'Knifeman' Series Project |url=https://deadline.com/2012/03/mrc-teams-with-david-cronenberg-sam-raimi-for-knifeman-series-project-243086/ |access-date=5 May 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> | In March 2012, [[Media Rights Capital]] announced that Cronenberg would be directing and executive producing the [[television pilot]] ''Knifeman'', adapted by [[Rolin Jones]] and [[Ron Fitzgerald]] from [[Wendy Moore]]'s 2005 novel about a radical [[surgeon]] who goes to extraordinary lengths to uncover secrets of the human body.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Mike |date=12 March 2012 |title=MRC Teams With David Cronenberg & Sam Raimi For 'Knifeman' Series Project |url=https://deadline.com/2012/03/mrc-teams-with-david-cronenberg-sam-raimi-for-knifeman-series-project-243086/ |access-date=5 May 2019 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> | ||
As of 2022, Cronenberg was working to turn his novel ''[[Consumed (novel)|Consumed]]'' into his next film.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-cronenberg-cannes-interview-crimes-of-the-future-walkouts-netflix-1235267464/|title=David Cronenberg Breaks Down Cannes Walkouts, His New Film's Sexuality, and Why Netflix Turns Him Down|magazine=Variety|date=May 16, 2022|access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2019/10/david-cronenberg-may-soon-be-un-retiring-for-a-netflix-series-based-on-his-own-novel|title=David Cronenberg to Write-Direct Netflix Mini-Series Based on His Own Novel 'Consumed' [Nouveau Cinema]|website=World of Reel|date=October 11, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/12/18/david-cronenbergs-next-film-might-be-consumed|title=David Cronenberg's Next Film Might Be 'Consumed'|website=World of Reel|date=December 18, 2024|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref> | As of 2022, Cronenberg was working to turn his novel ''[[Consumed (novel)|Consumed]]'' into his next film.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|url=https://variety.com/2022/film/news/david-cronenberg-cannes-interview-crimes-of-the-future-walkouts-netflix-1235267464/|title=David Cronenberg Breaks Down Cannes Walkouts, His New Film's Sexuality, and Why Netflix Turns Him Down|magazine=Variety|date=May 16, 2022|access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2019/10/david-cronenberg-may-soon-be-un-retiring-for-a-netflix-series-based-on-his-own-novel|title=David Cronenberg to Write-Direct Netflix Mini-Series Based on His Own Novel 'Consumed' [Nouveau Cinema]|website=World of Reel|date=October 11, 2019|access-date=April 14, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/12/18/david-cronenbergs-next-film-might-be-consumed|title=David Cronenberg's Next Film Might Be 'Consumed'|website=World of Reel|date=December 18, 2024|access-date=April 13, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Nick |date=1 July 2025 |title=David Cronenberg: ‘I wanted to get in the coffin with my wife’s dead body’ |url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/68150/1/david-cronenberg-the-shrouds-ai-grief-vincent-cassell-film-interview |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Dazed |language=en}}</ref> | ||
==Personal life== | ==Personal life== | ||
Cronenberg lives in [[Toronto]].{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=1}} He married his first wife, Margaret Hindson, in 1972: their seven-year marriage ended in 1979 amidst personal and professional differences. They had one daughter, Cassandra Cronenberg. His second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman, to whom he was married from 1979 until her death in 2017.<ref name=carolyn>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/carolyn-cronenberg-dead-film-editor-david-cronenbergs-wife-was-66-1018686|title=Carolyn Cronenberg, Film Editor and Wife of David Cronenberg, Dies at 66|date=July 5, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The couple met on the set of ''Rabid'' while she was working as a production assistant.<ref name=carolyn /> They have two children, [[Caitlin Cronenberg|Caitlin]] and [[Brandon Cronenberg|Brandon]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Mottram, James |date=October 21, 2007|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/david-cronenberg-im-not-ready-to-embrace-hollywood-respectability-quite-yet-397311.html |title=David Cronenberg: 'I'm not ready to embrace Hollywood respectability quite yet|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> In the book ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'' (1992), he revealed that ''[[The Brood]]'' was inspired by events that occurred during the unraveling of his first marriage, which caused both Cronenberg and his daughter Cassandra a great deal of turmoil. The character Nola Carveth, mother of the brood, is based on Cassandra's mother. Cronenberg said that he found the shooting of the climactic scene, in which Nola was strangled by her husband, to be "very satisfying".{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=84}} | Cronenberg lives in [[Toronto]].{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=1}} He married his first wife, Margaret Hindson, in 1972: their seven-year marriage ended in 1979 amidst personal and professional differences. They had one daughter, Cassandra Cronenberg. His second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman, to whom he was married from 1979 until her death in 2017.<ref name=carolyn>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/carolyn-cronenberg-dead-film-editor-david-cronenbergs-wife-was-66-1018686|title=Carolyn Cronenberg, Film Editor and Wife of David Cronenberg, Dies at 66|date=July 5, 2017|work=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The couple met on the set of ''Rabid'' while she was working as a production assistant.<ref name=carolyn /> They have two children, [[Caitlin Cronenberg|Caitlin]] and [[Brandon Cronenberg|Brandon]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Mottram, James |date=October 21, 2007|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/david-cronenberg-im-not-ready-to-embrace-hollywood-respectability-quite-yet-397311.html |title=David Cronenberg: 'I'm not ready to embrace Hollywood respectability quite yet|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=January 8, 2012}}</ref> In the book ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'' (1992), he revealed that ''[[The Brood]]'' was inspired by events that occurred during the unraveling of his first marriage, which caused both Cronenberg and his daughter Cassandra a great deal of turmoil. The character Nola Carveth, mother of the brood, is based on Cassandra's mother. Cronenberg said that he found the shooting of the climactic scene, in which Nola was strangled by her husband, to be "very satisfying".{{sfn|Cronenberg|1992|p=84}} | ||
In a September 2013 interview, Cronenberg revealed that film director [[Martin Scorsese]] admitted to him that he was intrigued by Cronenberg's early work but was subsequently "terrified" to meet him in person. Cronenberg responded to Scorsese: "You're the guy who made ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' and you're afraid to meet me?"<ref name="Henry" /> In the same interview, Cronenberg identified as an [[atheist]]. "Anytime I've tried to imagine squeezing myself into the box of any particular religion, I find it claustrophobic and oppressive," Cronenberg elaborated. "I think atheism is an acceptance of what is real." In the same interview, Cronenberg revealed that it depends on the "time of day" as to whether | In a September 2013 interview, Cronenberg revealed that film director [[Martin Scorsese]] admitted to him that he was intrigued by Cronenberg's early work but was subsequently "terrified" to meet him in person. Cronenberg responded to Scorsese: "You're the guy who made ''[[Taxi Driver]]'' and you're afraid to meet me?"<ref name="Henry" /> In the same interview, Cronenberg identified as an [[atheist]]. "Anytime I've tried to imagine squeezing myself into the box of any particular religion, I find it claustrophobic and oppressive," Cronenberg elaborated. "I think atheism is an acceptance of what is real." In the same interview, Cronenberg revealed that it depends on the "time of day" as to whether he is afraid of death. He further stated that he is not concerned about posthumous representations of his film work: "It wouldn't disturb me to think that my work would just sink beneath the waves without trace and that would be it. So what? It doesn't bother me."<ref name="Henry" /> | ||
In ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'', the director further elaborated that he was raised in a [[List of Jewish atheists and agnostics|secular Jewish]] home, and while he and his family had no disdain towards any religion, such matters were not discussed. In the same book, Cronenberg said that in his teens he went through a phase where he wondered about the existence of God, but ultimately came to the conclusion that the God concept was developed to cope with the fear of death.<ref name="Cronenberg, David 1992"/> In a 2007 interview, Cronenberg explained the role atheism plays in his work. He stated, "I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."<ref>{{cite news|author=Guttsman, Janet|work=Reuters|date=September 10, 2007|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0824644320070910 |title=Cronenberg gets down and dirty with Russian mob}} "I'm an atheist," Cronenberg said."</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Interview|work= Esquire|date= February 1992}} "I'm simply a nonbeliever and have been forever. ... I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."</ref> | In ''Cronenberg on Cronenberg'', the director further elaborated that he was raised in a [[List of Jewish atheists and agnostics|secular Jewish]] home, and while he and his family had no disdain towards any religion, such matters were not discussed. In the same book, Cronenberg said that in his teens he went through a phase where he wondered about the existence of God, but ultimately came to the conclusion that the God concept was developed to cope with the fear of death.<ref name="Cronenberg, David 1992"/> In a 2007 interview, Cronenberg explained the role atheism plays in his work. He stated, "I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."<ref>{{cite news|author=Guttsman, Janet|work=Reuters|date=September 10, 2007|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSN0824644320070910 |title=Cronenberg gets down and dirty with Russian mob}} "I'm an atheist," Cronenberg said."</ref><ref>{{cite news|title= Interview|work= Esquire|date= February 1992}} "I'm simply a nonbeliever and have been forever. ... I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."</ref> | ||
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==Awards and recognition {{anchor|Awards|Honours}}== | ==Awards and recognition {{anchor|Awards|Honours}}== | ||
Cronenberg has appeared on various "Greatest Director" lists. In 2004, Science Fiction magazine ''[[Strange Horizons]]'' named him the second greatest director in the history of the genre, ahead of better known directors such as [[Steven Spielberg]], [[James Cameron]], [[Jean-Luc Godard]], and [[Ridley Scott]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeremy Adam Smith |url=http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/articles/the-ten-best-science-fiction-film-directors |title=The Ten Best Science Fiction Film Directors |work=strangehorizons.com |date=April 19, 2004 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In the same year, ''[[The Guardian]]'' listed him 9th on their list of "The world's 40 best directors".<ref>{{cite news|url= | Cronenberg has appeared on various "Greatest Director" lists. In 2004, Science Fiction magazine ''[[Strange Horizons]]'' named him the second greatest director in the history of the genre, ahead of better known directors such as [[Steven Spielberg]], [[James Cameron]], [[Jean-Luc Godard]], and [[Ridley Scott]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Jeremy Adam Smith |url=http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/articles/the-ten-best-science-fiction-film-directors |title=The Ten Best Science Fiction Film Directors |work=strangehorizons.com |date=April 19, 2004 |access-date=June 19, 2020}}</ref> In the same year, ''[[The Guardian]]'' listed him 9th on their list of "The world's 40 best directors".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/features/page/0,11456,1082823,00.html |title=The world's 40 best directors |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=May 18, 2011 |location=London}}</ref> In 2007, ''[[Total Film]]'' named him as the 17th greatest director of all time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.totalfilm.com/features/the_greatest_directors_ever_-_part_2 |title=Greatest Directors Ever |website=[[Total Film]] |date=August 20, 2007 |access-date=May 18, 2011}}</ref> Film professor Charles Derry, in his overview of the horror genre ''Dark Dreams'', called the director one of the most important in his field, and that "no discussion of contemporary horror film can conclude without reference to the films of David Cronenberg."<ref name="americanhorrors">{{Citation | last = Derry | first = Charles | contribution = More Dark Dreams: Some Notes on the Recent Horror Film | editor-last = Waller | editor-first = Gregory | title = American Horrors: Essays on the Modern American Horror Film | pages = [https://archive.org/details/americanhorrorse0000unse/page/173 173] | publisher = University of Illinois Press | place = Chicago | year = 1987 | isbn = 0-252-01448-0 | url = https://archive.org/details/americanhorrorse0000unse/page/173 }}</ref> | ||
Cronenberg received the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Special Jury Prize]] at the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]] for ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]''.<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4682/year/1996.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Crash |access-date=September 15, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805012125/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4682/year/1996.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, he was inducted onto [[Canada's Walk of Fame]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/99_david_cronenberg.xml.htm |website=Canada's Walk of Fame |title=David Cronenberg, film director, Cannes Film Festival winner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826110041/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/99_david_cronenberg.xml.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2006 }}</ref> awarded the [[Silver Bear]] Award at the [[49th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale1999">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/03_preistr_ger_1999/03_Preistraeger_1999.html |title=Berlinale: 1999 Prize Winners |access-date=January 29, 2012 |work=berlinale.de |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327024128/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/03_preistr_ger_1999/03_Preistraeger_1999.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and that November received the [[Governor General's Performing Arts Award]], Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Cronenberg biography|url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/1999/cronenberg-david.aspx|publisher=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation|access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref> | Cronenberg received the [[Jury Prize (Cannes Film Festival)|Special Jury Prize]] at the [[1996 Cannes Film Festival]] for ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]''.<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4682/year/1996.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Crash |access-date=September 15, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-date=August 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120805012125/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4682/year/1996.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 1999, he was inducted onto [[Canada's Walk of Fame]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/99_david_cronenberg.xml.htm |website=Canada's Walk of Fame |title=David Cronenberg, film director, Cannes Film Festival winner |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060826110041/http://www.canadaswalkoffame.com/inductees/99_david_cronenberg.xml.htm |archive-date=August 26, 2006 }}</ref> awarded the [[Silver Bear]] Award at the [[49th Berlin International Film Festival]].<ref name="Berlinale1999">{{cite web |url=http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/03_preistr_ger_1999/03_Preistraeger_1999.html |title=Berlinale: 1999 Prize Winners |access-date=January 29, 2012 |work=berlinale.de |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327024128/http://www.berlinale.de/en/archiv/jahresarchive/1999/03_preistr_ger_1999/03_Preistraeger_1999.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and that November received the [[Governor General's Performing Arts Award]], Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.<ref>{{cite web|title=David Cronenberg biography|url=http://ggpaa.ca/award-recipients/1999/cronenberg-david.aspx|publisher=Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation|access-date=February 4, 2015}}</ref> | ||
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In April 2018, it was announced that Cronenberg would receive the honorary [[Golden Lion]] at the [[75th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/intrattenimento/spettacolo/2018/04/19/david-cronenberg-leone-oro-alla-carriera_OYgfPwjzOSxyHIyKUkDJQO.html|title=A David Cronenberg il Leone d'oro alla Carriera|date=April 19, 2018}}</ref> | In April 2018, it was announced that Cronenberg would receive the honorary [[Golden Lion]] at the [[75th Venice International Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adnkronos.com/intrattenimento/spettacolo/2018/04/19/david-cronenberg-leone-oro-alla-carriera_OYgfPwjzOSxyHIyKUkDJQO.html|title=A David Cronenberg il Leone d'oro alla Carriera|date=April 19, 2018}}</ref> | ||
{|class= "wikitable plainrowheaders | {|class= "wikitable plainrowheaders" | ||
! scope="col"| Organizations | ! scope="col"| Organizations | ||
! scope="col"| Year | ! scope="col"| Year | ||
| Line 228: | Line 227: | ||
! scope="col"| Work | ! scope="col"| Work | ||
! scope="col"| Result | ! scope="col"| Result | ||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row | ! scope="row"| [[British Academy Film Awards]] | ||
| 2008 | | 2008 | ||
| [[BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film|Outstanding British Film]] | | [[BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film|Outstanding British Film]] | ||
| ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' | | ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Berlin International Film Festival]] | ! scope="row" rowspan="3"| [[Berlin International Film Festival]] | ||
| Line 242: | Line 239: | ||
| ''[[Naked Lunch (film)|Naked Lunch]]'' | | ''[[Naked Lunch (film)|Naked Lunch]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan=2|1999 | | rowspan=2|1999 | ||
| rowspan=2|''[[Existenz|eXistenZ]]'' | | rowspan=2|''[[Existenz|eXistenZ]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Silver Bear]] | | [[Silver Bear]] | ||
| Line 257: | Line 252: | ||
| rowspan=2|''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' | | rowspan=2|''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan=3|[[Palme d'Or]] | | rowspan=3|[[Palme d'Or]] | ||
| Line 265: | Line 259: | ||
| ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' | | ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2005 | | 2005 | ||
| ''[[A History of Violence]]'' | | ''[[A History of Violence]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2006 | | 2006 | ||
| colspan=2|Golden Coach | | colspan=2|Golden Coach | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2012 | | 2012 | ||
| Line 281: | Line 272: | ||
| ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' | | ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2014 | | 2014 | ||
| ''[[Maps to the Stars]]'' | | ''[[Maps to the Stars]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2022 | | 2022 | ||
| ''[[Crimes of the Future (2022 film)|Crimes of the Future]]'' | | ''[[Crimes of the Future (2022 film)|Crimes of the Future]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2024 | | 2024 | ||
| ''[[The Shrouds]]'' | | ''[[The Shrouds]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row" rowspan="18"| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television|Canadian Screen Award]] | ! scope="row" rowspan="18"| [[Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television|Canadian Screen Award]] | ||
| Line 303: | Line 290: | ||
| rowspan=2| ''[[Scanners]]'' | | rowspan=2| ''[[Scanners]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] | | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Screenplay]] | ||
| Line 312: | Line 298: | ||
| rowspan=2| ''[[Videodrome]]'' | | rowspan=2| ''[[Videodrome]]'' | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Best Screenplay | | Best Screenplay | ||
| Line 321: | Line 306: | ||
| rowspan=3| ''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' | | rowspan=3| ''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Best Director | | Best Director | ||
| Line 333: | Line 317: | ||
| rowspan=2| ''[[Naked Lunch (film)|Naked Lunch]]'' | | rowspan=2| ''[[Naked Lunch (film)|Naked Lunch]]'' | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Best Screenplay | | Best Screenplay | ||
| Line 342: | Line 325: | ||
| rowspan=3| ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' | | rowspan=3| ''[[Crash (1996 film)|Crash]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Best Director | | Best Director | ||
| Line 354: | Line 336: | ||
| ''[[eXistenZ]]'' | | ''[[eXistenZ]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2002 | | 2002 | ||
| Line 360: | Line 341: | ||
| ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' | | ''[[Spider (2002 film)|Spider]]'' | ||
| {{won}} | | {{won}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2007 | | 2007 | ||
| Line 366: | Line 346: | ||
| ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' | | ''[[Eastern Promises]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2011 | | 2011 | ||
| Line 372: | Line 351: | ||
| ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' | | ''[[A Dangerous Method]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2012 | | 2012 | ||
| Line 378: | Line 356: | ||
| ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' | | ''[[Cosmopolis (film)|Cosmopolis]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 2014 | | 2014 | ||
| Line 384: | Line 361: | ||
| ''[[Maps to the Stars]]'' | | ''[[Maps to the Stars]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
! scope="row" rowspan="5"|[[Saturn Awards]] | ! scope="row" rowspan="5"|[[Saturn Awards]] | ||
| Line 391: | Line 367: | ||
| ''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'' | | ''[[The Dead Zone (film)|The Dead Zone]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| 1986 | | 1986 | ||
| ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' | | ''[[The Fly (1986 film)|The Fly]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan=2|1988 | | rowspan=2|1988 | ||
| Line 402: | Line 376: | ||
| rowspan=2|''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' | | rowspan=2|''[[Dead Ringers (film)|Dead Ringers]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
| [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]] | | [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]] | ||
| Line 411: | Line 384: | ||
| ''[[eXistenZ]]'' | | ''[[eXistenZ]]'' | ||
| {{nom}} | | {{nom}} | ||
|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 447: | Line 419: | ||
|list = | |list = | ||
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}} | {{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Screenplay}} | ||
{{Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement}} | |||
{{ACCT Best Director}} | {{ACCT Best Director}} | ||
{{Cannes Film Festival jury presidents}} | {{Cannes Film Festival jury presidents}} | ||
| Line 458: | Line 431: | ||
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Latest revision as of 21:47, 12 November 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "infobox".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Template:Main otherScript error: No such module "Check for clobbered parameters".Template:Wikidata image David Paul Cronenberg Template:Post-nominals (born March 15, 1943) is a Canadian film director, screenwriter, producer and actor.Template:Sfn He is a principal originator of the body horror genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, physical, and technological. Cronenberg is best known for exploring these themes through sci-fi horror films such as Shivers (1975), Scanners (1981), Videodrome (1983) and The Fly (1986), though he has also directed dramas, psychological thrillers and gangster films.[1]
Cronenberg's films have polarized critics and audiences alike; he has earned critical acclaim and has sparked controversy for his depictions of gore and violence.[2][3] The Village Voice called him "the most audacious and challenging narrative director in the English-speaking world".[4] His films have won numerous awards, including the Special Jury Prize for Crash at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival, a unique award that is distinct from the Jury Prize as it is not given annually, but only at the request of the official jury, who in this case gave the award "for originality, for daring, and for audacity".[5]
From the 2000s to the 2020s, Cronenberg collaborated on several films with Viggo Mortensen, including A History of Violence (2005), Eastern Promises (2007), A Dangerous Method (2011) and Crimes of the Future (2022). Seven of his films were selected to compete for the Palme d'Or, the most recent being The Shrouds (2024), which was screened at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Early life and education
David Cronenberg was born in Toronto, Ontario, on March 15, 1943.[6] Cronenberg is the son of Esther (Template:Nee Sumberg), a musician, and Milton Cronenberg, a writer and editor.[7] He was raised in a "middle-class progressive Jewish family".[8][9] His father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and his mother was born in Toronto; all of his grandparents were Jews from Lithuania.[10] Milton wrote some short stories for True Detective and had a column in the Toronto Telegram for around thirty years.Template:Sfn The Cronenberg household was full of a wide variety of books, and Cronenberg's father tried to introduce his son to art films such as The Seventh Seal, although at the time Cronenberg was more interested in western and pirate films, showing a particular affinity for those featuring Burt Lancaster.[11]
A voracious reader from an early age, Cronenberg started off enjoying science fiction magazines like The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Galaxy, and Astounding, where he first encountered authors who would prove influential on his own work, including Ray Bradbury and Isaac Asimov, although he wouldn't encounter his primary influence, Philip K. Dick, until much later. Cronenberg also read comic books, noting his favorites were Tarzan, Little Lulu, Uncle Scrooge, Blackhawk, Plastic Man, Superman, and the original Fawcett Comics version of Captain Marvel, later known as Shazam. Although as an adult, Cronenberg feels superhero films are artistically limited, he maintains a fondness for Captain Marvel/Shazam, criticizing how he feels the character had been neglected.[12][13] Cronenberg also read horror comics published by EC, which in contrast to the others, he described as "scary and bizarre and violent and nasty—the ones your mother didn't want you to have."[11] He has cited William S. Burroughs and Vladimir Nabokov as influences.[14]
Early films that later proved influential on Cronenberg's career include avant-garde, horror, science fiction, and thriller films, such as Un Chien Andalou, Vampyr, War of the Worlds, Freaks, Creature from the Black Lagoon, Alphaville, Performance, and Duel. He also cited less obvious films as influences, including comedies like The Bed Sitting Room, as well as Disney cartoons such as Bambi and Dumbo.[15] Cronenberg said he found these two Disney animated films, as well as Universal's live-action Blue Lagoon, "terrifying" which influenced his approach to horror.[16] Cronenberg went on to say that Bambi was the "first important film" he ever saw, citing the moment when Bambi's mother died as particularly powerful.[17] Cronenberg even wished to screen Bambi as part of a museum exhibition of his influences, but Disney refused him permission.[18] In terms of conventional horror films that frightened him, Cronenberg cited Don't Look Now.[15]
Cronenberg attended Dewson Street Public School, Kent Senior School, Harbord Collegiate Institute and North Toronto Collegiate Institute. He enrolled at the University of Toronto for Honours Science in 1963, but changed to Honours English Language and Literature the next year. He graduated from university in 1967, at the top of his class with a general Bachelor of Arts.Template:Sfn[6] Cronenberg decided to not study for a master of arts after making Stereo.Template:Sfn
Cronenberg's fascination with the film Winter Kept Us Warm (1966), by classmate David Secter, sparked his interest in film. He began frequenting film camera rental houses and learned the art of filmmaking.[6] Cronenberg made two short films, Transfer and From the Drain, with a few hundred dollars.Template:Sfn Cronenberg, Ivan Reitman, Bob Fothergill, and Iain Ewing were inspired by Jonas Mekas and formed the Toronto Film Co-op.Template:Sfn
Career
1969–1979: Film debut and early work
After two short sketch films and two short art-house features (the black-and-white Stereo and the colour Crimes of the Future) Cronenberg went into partnership with Ivan Reitman. The Canadian government provided financing for his films throughout the 1970s.[6] During this period, he focused on his signature "body horror" films such as Shivers (1975) and Rabid (1977), the latter of which provided pornographic actress Marilyn Chambers with work in a different genre, although Cronenberg's first choice for the role had been a then little-known Sissy Spacek. Rabid was a breakthrough with international distributors, and his next horror feature, The Brood (1979), gained stronger support. Even then, he showed variety by making Fast Company (1979) between The Brood and Rabid, a project reflecting his interest in car racing and bike gangs.
1981–1988: Breakthrough and acclaim
In 1981, Cronenberg directed the science-fiction horror film Scanners (1981). In it, "scanners" are psychics with unusual telepathic and telekinetic powers. The film has since become a cult classic. He followed it with another science-fiction horror film Videodrome (1983) starring James Woods. The film was distributed by Universal Pictures. Janet Maslin of The New York Times remarked on the film's "innovativeness", and praised Woods' performance as having a "sharply authentic edge".[19] That same year he directed The Dead Zone (1983), based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, starring Christopher Walken.
Cronenberg directed The Fly (1986), starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. The film is loosely based on George Langelaan's 1957 short story of the same name and the 1958 film of the same name. It was distributed by 20th Century Fox and was a box office hit, making $60 million. Cronenberg has not generally worked within the world of big-budget, mainstream Hollywood filmmaking, although he has had occasional near misses. At one stage he was considered by George Lucas as a possible director for Return of the Jedi (1983) but turned down the offer. Peter Suschitzky was the director of photography for The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Cronenberg remarked that Suschitzky's work in that film "was the only one of those movies that actually looked good",[20] which was a motivating factor to work with him on Dead Ringers (1988).
Since Dead Ringers, Cronenberg has worked with Suschitzky on each of his films (see List of film director and cinematographer collaborations). Cronenberg has collaborated with composer Howard Shore on all of his films since The Brood (1979), (see List of film director and composer collaborations) with the exception of The Dead Zone (1983), which was scored by Michael Kamen. Other regular collaborators include actor Robert A. Silverman, art director Carol Spier (also his sister) sound editor Bryan Day, film editor Ronald Sanders, his sister, costume designer Denise Cronenberg, and, from 1979 until 1988, cinematographer Mark Irwin. In 2008, Cronenberg directed Shore's first opera, The Fly.
1991–2002: Career fluctuations
In 1991, Cronenberg adapted Naked Lunch (1959), his literary hero William S. Burroughs' most controversial book. The novel was considered "unfilmable", and Cronenberg acknowledged that a straight translation into film would "cost 400 million dollars and be banned in every country in the world". Instead he chose to blur the lines between what appeared to be reality and what appeared to be hallucinations brought on by the main character's drug addiction. Some of the book's "moments" (as well as incidents loosely based upon Burroughs' life) are presented in this manner within the film. Cronenberg said that while writing the screenplay for Naked Lunch (1991), he felt that his style and Burroughs' had synergized, and jokingly remarked that the connection between his screenwriting style and Burroughs' prose style was so strong, that should Burroughs pass on, he might write the next Burroughs novel.[21]
Cronenberg has also appeared as an actor in other directors' films. Most of his roles are cameo appearances, as in the films Into the Night (1985), Blood and Donuts (1995), To Die For (1995), and Jason X (2002) and the television series Alias, but on occasion he has played major roles, as in Nightbreed (1990) and Last Night (1998). He has not had major roles in any of his own films, but he did put in a brief appearance as a gynecologist in The Fly; he can also be glimpsed among the sex-crazed hordes in Shivers; he can be heard as an unseen car-pound attendant in Crash; his hands can be glimpsed in eXistenZ (1999); and he appeared as a stand-in for James Woods in Videodrome.
Cronenberg has said that his films should be seen "from the point of view of the disease", and that in Shivers, for example, he identifies with the characters after they become infected with the anarchic parasites. Disease and disaster, in Cronenberg's work, are less problems to be overcome than agents of personal transformation. Of his characters' transformations, Cronenberg said, "But because of our necessity to impose our own structure of perception on things we look on ourselves as being relatively stable. But, in fact, when I look at a person I see this maelstrom of organic, chemical and electron chaos; volatility and instability, shimmering; and the ability to change and transform and transmute."[22] Similarly, in Crash (1996), people who have been injured in car crashes attempt to view their ordeal as "a fertilizing rather than a destructive event". In 2005, Cronenberg publicly disagreed with Paul Haggis' choice of the same name for the latter's Oscar-winning film Crash (2004), arguing that it was "very disrespectful" to the "important and seminal" J. G. Ballard novel on which Cronenberg's film was based.[23]
2005–present: Resurgence
His thriller A History of Violence (2005) is one of his highest budgeted and most accessible to date. He has said that the decision to direct it was influenced by his having had to defer some of his salary on the low-budgeted Spider (2002), but it was one of his most critically acclaimed films to date, along with Eastern Promises (2007), a film about the struggle of one man to gain power in the Russian Mafia. Although Cronenberg has worked with a number of Hollywood stars, he remains a staunchly Canadian filmmaker, with nearly all of his films (including major studio vehicles The Dead Zone and The Fly) having been filmed in his home province Ontario. Notable exceptions include M. Butterfly (1993), most of which was shot in China, Spider, and Eastern Promises (2007), which were both filmed primarily in England, and A Dangerous Method (2011), which was filmed in Germany and Austria. Rabid and Shivers were shot in and around Montreal. Most of his films have been at least partially financed by Telefilm Canada, and Cronenberg, a vocal supporter of government-backed film projects, has said: "Every country needs [a system of government grants] to have a national cinema in the face of Hollywood".[24]
In 2008, Cronenberg realized two extra-cinematographic projects: the exhibition Chromosomes at the Rome Film Fest, and the opera The Fly at the LaOpera in Los Angeles and Theatre Châtelet in Paris. In July 2010, Cronenberg completed production on A Dangerous Method (2011), an adaptation of Christopher Hampton's play The Talking Cure, starring Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Vincent Cassel, and frequent collaborator Viggo Mortensen. The film was produced by independent British producer Jeremy Thomas.[25][26] On television, he has appeared in the recurring roles of Dr. Brezzel in Season 3 of Alias, and Kovich in seasons 3, 4, and 5 of Star Trek: Discovery. He has also had main roles as Reverend Verrenger in Alias Grace, and Spencer Galloway in Slasher: Flesh & Blood.
In 2012, his film Cosmopolis competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival.[27]
Filming for Cronenberg's next film, a satire drama entitled Maps to the Stars (2014)—with Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack, and Robert Pattinson[28][29]—began on July 8, 2013, in Toronto, Ontario and Los Angeles.[30][31] This was the first time Cronenberg filmed in the United States. On June 26, 2014, Cronenberg's short film The Nest was published on YouTube. The film was commissioned for "David Cronenberg – The Exhibition" at EYE Film Institute in Amsterdam and was available on YouTube for the duration of the exhibition, until September 14, 2014.[32] Also in 2014, Cronenberg published his first novel, Consumed.[33] In a May 2016 interview, Viggo Mortensen revealed that Cronenberg is considering retiring due to difficulty financing his film projects.[34]
Cronenberg appears as himself in the minute-long short film The Death of David Cronenberg, shot by his daughter Caitlin, which was released digitally on September 19, 2021.[35][36] In February 2021, Mortensen said Cronenberg had refined an older script he had written and hoped to film it with Mortensen that summer. He further hinted that it is a "strange film noir" and resembles Cronenberg's earlier body horror films.[37] In April 2021, the title was revealed to be Crimes of the Future.[38] It was shot in Greece during the summer of 2021,[38][39] and competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival.[40] Cronenberg's next film The Shrouds premiered at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in competition, and was released theatrically in September 2024.[41]
Unrealized projects
One of Cronenberg's earliest unproduced film concepts was Roger Pagan, Gynecologist, about a neurotic man who impersonates a medical expert.[42] The project was initially conceived in the early 1970s in the form of a novel.
In the early 1980s Cronenberg attempted to make a film adaption of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein that took place in the modern day.Template:Sfn Cronenberg wrote an original script for Universal after Videodrome titled Six Legs, but the film was never made, although aspects were incorporated into The Fly and Naked Lunch.Template:Sfn
Since the 1980s, Cronenberg had planned on directing a film called Red Cars, about the 1961 Grand Prix automobile race won by Phil Hill.[43] Unable to get the project funded, he adapted his screenplay in the form of an artbook, published in 2005.
Cronenberg was offered the role of director for Witness while it was under the name Come Home, but declined as he "could never be a fan of the Amish". He was also offered the director's position for Return of the Jedi, Flashdance, Top Gun, and Beverly Hills Cop.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn[44] Marc Boyman offered Cronenberg the position of director for The Incubus, but declined although this led to Boyman producing The Fly and Dead Ringers.Template:Sfn
Cronenberg also worked for nearly a year on a version of Total Recall (1990), but experienced "creative differences" with producers Dino De Laurentiis and Ronald Shusett; a different version of the film was eventually made by Paul Verhoeven. Cronenberg related in his 1992 memoir, Cronenberg on Cronenberg that, as a fan of Philip K. Dick—author of "We Can Remember it For You Wholesale", the short story upon which the film was based— his dissatisfaction with what he envisioned the film to be and what it ended up being pained him so greatly that, for a time, he suffered a migraine just thinking about it, akin to a needle piercing his eye.[45]
In 1993, Cronenberg signed a deal with Paragon Entertainment Corporation in which he would create a six-part television series called Crimes Against Nature for CBC Television. Cronenberg described the series as "William Burroughs meets Jean-Luc Godard's Alphaville."[46] He started writing it on August 1, and filming was meant to begin in February 1994 using 35 mm film. The show was set in 2010 and was about members of the "Flesh Squad" police force. Carol Reynolds, the president of Paragon Entertainment, stated that each episode would cost between $500,000-600,000.[47][48]
In the mid-1990s, he was attached to direct a version of American Psycho, with a screenplay adaptation by the author himself Bret Easton Ellis and with Brad Pitt starring in the role of Patrick Bateman. Cronenberg's vision of the film would have concluded with a musical number involving Barry Manilow's "Daybreak" and Bateman on the World Trade Center.[49]
In 1998, author Patricia Anthony stated that Cronenberg would direct the adaptation of her novel Brother Termite written by John Sayles, and to be executive produced by James Cameron. The premise follows an alien race that co-exists with man on Earth, influencing human society.[50]
In 1999, Cronenberg was reportedly interested in taking the helm of Charlie Kaufman's adaptation of Confessions of Dangerous Mind, with Sean Penn at that time circlingTemplate:Definition needed to star.[51] The following year, he was circlingTemplate:Definition needed to direct Basic Instinct 2 for which he had a "good script" and Rupert Everett in the lead, but MGM said no because the actor is gay.[52] At one stage, Cronenberg was going to make The Singing Detective as a horror film, with Al Pacino starring.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". In 2004, Cronenberg was attached to direct London Fields, based on Martin Amis' 1991 novel of the same name.[53]
In the mid-2000s, Cronenberg had adapted and was planning to direct an adaptation of The White Hotel by D. M. Thomas.[54]
For a time it appeared that, as Eastern Promises producer Paul Webster told Screen International, a sequel was in the works that would reunite the key team of Cronenberg, Steven Knight, and Viggo Mortensen. It was slated for production by Webster's new company Shoebox Films in collaboration with Focus Features, and shot in early 2013.[55] In 2012, Cronenberg said the Eastern Promises sequel had fallen through due to budget disagreement with Focus Features.[56]
In 2010, it was announced that Cronenberg would be directing an adaption of As She Climbed Across the Table by Jonathan Lethem. The following year, Media Rights Capital picked up the project, with Bruce Wagner set to write the script.[57]
In the October 2011 edition of Rue Morgue, Cronenberg stated that he has written a companion piece to his 1986 remake of The Fly, which he would like to direct if given the chance. He has stated that it is not a traditional sequel, but rather a "parallel story".[58]
In March 2012, Media Rights Capital announced that Cronenberg would be directing and executive producing the television pilot Knifeman, adapted by Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald from Wendy Moore's 2005 novel about a radical surgeon who goes to extraordinary lengths to uncover secrets of the human body.[59]
As of 2022, Cronenberg was working to turn his novel Consumed into his next film.[60][61][62][63]
Personal life
Cronenberg lives in Toronto.Template:Sfn He married his first wife, Margaret Hindson, in 1972: their seven-year marriage ended in 1979 amidst personal and professional differences. They had one daughter, Cassandra Cronenberg. His second wife was film editor Carolyn Zeifman, to whom he was married from 1979 until her death in 2017.[64] The couple met on the set of Rabid while she was working as a production assistant.[64] They have two children, Caitlin and Brandon.[65] In the book Cronenberg on Cronenberg (1992), he revealed that The Brood was inspired by events that occurred during the unraveling of his first marriage, which caused both Cronenberg and his daughter Cassandra a great deal of turmoil. The character Nola Carveth, mother of the brood, is based on Cassandra's mother. Cronenberg said that he found the shooting of the climactic scene, in which Nola was strangled by her husband, to be "very satisfying".Template:Sfn
In a September 2013 interview, Cronenberg revealed that film director Martin Scorsese admitted to him that he was intrigued by Cronenberg's early work but was subsequently "terrified" to meet him in person. Cronenberg responded to Scorsese: "You're the guy who made Taxi Driver and you're afraid to meet me?"[66] In the same interview, Cronenberg identified as an atheist. "Anytime I've tried to imagine squeezing myself into the box of any particular religion, I find it claustrophobic and oppressive," Cronenberg elaborated. "I think atheism is an acceptance of what is real." In the same interview, Cronenberg revealed that it depends on the "time of day" as to whether he is afraid of death. He further stated that he is not concerned about posthumous representations of his film work: "It wouldn't disturb me to think that my work would just sink beneath the waves without trace and that would be it. So what? It doesn't bother me."[66]
In Cronenberg on Cronenberg, the director further elaborated that he was raised in a secular Jewish home, and while he and his family had no disdain towards any religion, such matters were not discussed. In the same book, Cronenberg said that in his teens he went through a phase where he wondered about the existence of God, but ultimately came to the conclusion that the God concept was developed to cope with the fear of death.[45] In a 2007 interview, Cronenberg explained the role atheism plays in his work. He stated, "I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."[67][68]
In Cronenberg's later films (e.g. A History of Violence, Eastern Promises and A Dangerous Method) openly religious characters become more common. During an interview for A History of Violence, Cronenberg even chose to identify as a materialist rather than an atheist, stating, "I'm not an atheist, but for me to turn away from any aspect of the human body to me is a philosophical betrayal. And there's a lot of art and religion whose whole purpose is to turn away from the human body. I feel in my art that my mandate is to not do that."[69]
Filmography
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| Year | Title | Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Stereo | Film Canada Presentations |
| 1970 | Crimes of the Future | New Cinema Enterprises |
| 1975 | Shivers | Cinépix Film Properties |
| 1977 | Rabid | Cinépix Film Properties / New World Pictures |
| 1979 | Fast Company | Admit One Presentations / Danton Films |
| The Brood | New World Pictures | |
| 1981 | Scanners | New World Pictures / Manson International |
| 1983 | Videodrome | Universal Pictures |
| The Dead Zone | Paramount Pictures | |
| 1986 | The Fly | 20th Century Fox |
| 1988 | Dead Ringers | |
| 1991 | Naked Lunch | |
| 1993 | M. Butterfly | Warner Bros. |
| 1996 | Crash | Alliance Communications |
| 1999 | eXistenZ | Alliance Atlantis |
| 2002 | Spider | Cineplex Films |
| 2005 | A History of Violence | New Line Cinema |
| 2007 | Eastern Promises | Focus Features |
| 2011 | A Dangerous Method | Sony Pictures Classics |
| 2012 | Cosmopolis | Entertainment One |
| 2014 | Maps to the Stars | Focus World |
| 2022 | Crimes of the Future | Sphere Films |
| 2024 | The Shrouds |
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Cronenberg has appeared on various "Greatest Director" lists. In 2004, Science Fiction magazine Strange Horizons named him the second greatest director in the history of the genre, ahead of better known directors such as Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, Jean-Luc Godard, and Ridley Scott.[70] In the same year, The Guardian listed him 9th on their list of "The world's 40 best directors".[71] In 2007, Total Film named him as the 17th greatest director of all time.[72] Film professor Charles Derry, in his overview of the horror genre Dark Dreams, called the director one of the most important in his field, and that "no discussion of contemporary horror film can conclude without reference to the films of David Cronenberg."[73]
Cronenberg received the Special Jury Prize at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival for Crash.[74] In 1999, he was inducted onto Canada's Walk of Fame,[75] awarded the Silver Bear Award at the 49th Berlin International Film Festival.[76] and that November received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award, Canada's highest honour in the performing arts.[77]
In 2002, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada, and was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada (the order's highest rank) in 2014.[78] In 2006 he was awarded the Cannes Film Festival's lifetime achievement award, the Carrosse d'Or.[79] In 2009 Cronenberg received the Légion d'honneur from the government of France.[80] The following year Cronenberg was named an honorary patron of the University Philosophical Society, Trinity College Dublin.[81] In 2012, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[82]
The opening of the "David Cronenberg: Evolution" Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) exhibition occurred on October 30, 2013. Held at the TIFF Bell Lightbox venue, the exhibition paid tribute to the director's entire filmmaking career and the festival's promotional material referred to Cronenberg as "one of Canada's most prolific and iconic filmmakers". The exhibition was shown internationally following the conclusion of the TIFF showing on January 19, 2014.[66][83]
In 2014, he was made a Member of the Order of Ontario in recognition for being "Canada's most celebrated internationally acclaimed filmmaker".[84]
In April 2018, it was announced that Cronenberg would receive the honorary Golden Lion at the 75th Venice International Film Festival.[85]
References
Bibliography
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External links
- Template:First word/ Template:PAGENAMEBASE at IMDbTemplate:EditAtWikidataScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- The Literary Adaptations of David Cronenberg (via LitReactor, 2011)
- David Cronenberg Bibliography (via UC Berkeley)
- David Cronenberg Profile by The New York Times Magazine (September 2005)
- Teleplay episode "The Italian Machine" online at the Channel4 website (RealMedia)
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". "I'm an atheist," Cronenberg said."
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". "I'm simply a nonbeliever and have been forever. ... I'm interested in saying, 'Let us discuss the existential question. We are all going to die, that is the end of all consciousness. There is no afterlife. There is no God. Now what do we do.' That's the point where it starts getting interesting to me."
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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