Joe Johnston
Joseph Eggleston Johnston II (born May 13, 1950) is an American film director, writer, and visual effects artist best known for such effects-driven films as "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" (1989), "Jumanji" (1995), and "Jurassic Park III" (2001). These movies include a number of period films such as "The Rocketeer" (1991), "The Wolfman" (2010), and "" (2011). Johnston also directed the biographical drama "October Sky" (1999). Early life. Johnston was born in Austin, Texas, and attended California State University, Long Beach, and Pasadena's Art Center College of Design. Career. Design and visual effects. Much of the work  at the beginning of Johnston's screen career combined design and special effects. He began his career as a concept artist and effects technician on the first "Star Wars" film, directed by George Lucas, co-created the design of Boba Fett in "The Empire Strikes Back", and was art director on one of the effects teams for the sequel "Return of the Jedi". His association with Lucas would later prove fruitful, when he became one of four to win an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects for Lucas and Steven Spielberg's film "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Johnston continued  to work on many films as an effects expert. He was also associate producer on fantasy "Willow", and production designer on two mid-80s TV movies which featured the Ewoks seen in "Return of the Jedi". Johnston is also author of "Star Wars" novel "The Adventures of Teebo: A Tale of Magic and Suspense", which ties into "Return of the Jedi" (New York: Random House, 1984; , ). In 1984, Lucas gave Johnston a sabbatical, with salary, and paid his tuition to attend the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Johnston left after a year, saying he "was asked not to return" because he  broke too many rules. Directing. Johnston made his directorial debut in 1989 with hit comedy adventure "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids", starring Rick Moranis. He followed it with comic-book adaptation "The Rocketeer" (1991). The film was a commercial failure, as was his next, the animated and live-action "The Pagemaster", starring Macaulay Culkin. Johnston rebounded, directing the family hit "Jumanji", starring Robin Williams. The film overcame lukewarm reviews to gross over $260 million. Johnston was set to direct "Hulk", but dropped out in July 1997. Johnston then switched gears from effects-driven action films to the more personal  October Sky (1999), starring a teenage Jake Gyllenhaal as a 1950s West Virginia high school student who dreams of being a rocket scientist for NASA against his father's wishes. Johnston's first project of the 2000s was the sequel "Jurassic Park III", which made over US$300 million at the box office. Johnston followed it with western "Hidalgo", starring Viggo Mortensen. Johnston then took a six-year directorial break before signing on at a month's notice to take over the 2010 remake of 1941 horror classic "The Wolfman". Shot in England, the film starred Benicio del Toro and  Anthony Hopkins. In part thanks to his experience with the period superhero film "The Rocketeer", Johnston was selected to direct Marvel Studios superhero adaptation "". Released on July 22, 2011, the film stars Chris Evans as the comic book hero and Hugo Weaving as his archenemy the Red Skull. In 2012, Johnston directed the thriller "Not Safe for Work" for Blumhouse Productions. On December 12, 2017, "The Hollywood Reporter" reported that Johnston would helm 32 days of reshoots on the film "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" due to its director Lasse Hallström being unavailable. On December 5, 2019, it was  reported that Joe Johnston was in negotiations with Disney to direct "Shrunk", a legacy sequel to "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids". Official confirmation of his involvement as director came on February 5, 2020.