The Wachowskis
Lana Wachowski (born Laurence Wachowski on June 21, 1965) and Lilly Wachowski (born Andrew Wachowski on December 29, 1967), siblings collectively known as The Wachowskis (formerly The Wachowski Brothers), are American film directors, writers and producers, most famous for creating The Matrix series. They are currently co-directing Cloud Atlas, based on the book by David Mitchell.
Lana Wachowski | |
|---|---|
| Born | Laurence Wachowski June 21, 1965 |
| Occupation | Filmmakers, producer, comic book writer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1994-Present |
| Spouse(s) | Thea Bloom (30 October 1993 - December 2002; filed for divorce) |
Lilly Wachowski | |
|---|---|
| Born | Andrew Paul Wachowski December 29, 1967 |
| Occupation | Filmmakers, producer, comic book writer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1994-Present |
| Spouse(s) | Alisa Blasingame |
Life and career
editLana Wachowski (formerly called Larry Wachowski) was born in Chicago in 1965. Lilly Wachowski (formerly called Andy Wachowski) followed in 1967. Their mother, Lynne (née Luckinbill), was a nurse and painter whose brother is actor Laurence Luckinbill. Their father, Ron Wachowski, was a businessman of Polish descent.[1][2] They went to Kellogg Elementary School, in Chicago's Beverly area, and graduated from Whitney Young High School, known for its performing arts and science curriculum, in 1983 and '86. Former students recall them playing Dungeons & Dragons and working in the school's theater and TV program. Andy then attended Emerson College in Boston, while Larry went to Bard College in New York. Both dropped out before graduating, and they ran a carpentry business in Chicago while creating comic books.[3]
Style
editThe siblings admit to a love for telling multipart stories. "Because we grew up on comic books and the Tolkien trilogy, one of the things we're interested in is bringing serial fiction to cinema," Lana (then Larry) has said. Lilly (then Andy) puts her desire to shake up viewers a bit more bluntly, "We think movies are fairly boring and predictable. We want to screw with audiences' expectations."[4]
Comic books
editPrior to working in the film industry, the Wachowskis wrote comic books for Marvel Comics' Razorline imprint, namely Ectokid (created by horror novelist Clive Barker) in 1993 as well as writing for EPIC Comics "Clive Barker's Hellraiser" and "Clive Barker's Nightbreed" comic series.
In 2003, they created Burlyman Entertainment and have released comic books based on The Matrix as well as two original bi-monthly series:
- Shaolin Cowboy – created, written, and art by Geof Darrow (with the Wachowskis contributing an opening dialogue to each issue)
- Doc Frankenstein – created by Geof Darrow and Steve Skroce (written by the Wachowskis, with art by Skroce)
Personal life
editRumors that Larry Wachowski was a cross-dresser or transitioning gender spread in the early 2000s, though neither sibling has spoken directly on the subject.[5] The Hollywood Reporter and the New York Times have referred to the Wachowskis as "Andy and Lana (formerly Larry) Wachowski",[6][7] and Deadline.com has referred to the duo as "Andy and Lana Wachowski."[8] On some documents she appears as Laurenca Wachowski.[9][10][5]
Lilly Wachowski has been married to Alisa Blasingame since 1991.[11]
Future films
editThe Wachowskis are collaborating with Tom Tykwer on Cloud Atlas, an adaptation of David Mitchell's novel of the same name, for Warner Bros. Pictures. Tykwer and The Wachowskis collaborated on the screenplay and are co-directing the film, leading their own crews that are working in parallel.[12] The film is set for release in late 2012.
Warner Bros. have expressed interest in Hood, a modern adaptation of the Robin Hood legend, which the Wachowskis wrote and plan to direct. They also wrote an Iraq war-set gay romance conspiracy thriller titled CN-9, however the project failed to find financing.[6] Jupiter Ascending, an original science fiction screenplay by the Wachowskis, is set to be made into a film by Warner Bros. The studio is looking for a major star to lead the cast, ahead of a planned spring 2012 start date.[13]
Filmography
edit| Year | Film | Credited as | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Directors | Writers | Producers | ||
| 1995 | Assassins | No | Yes | No |
| 1996 | Bound | Yes | Yes | No |
| 1999 | The Matrix | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| The Matrix Revolutions | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| The Animatrix | No | Yes | Yes | |
| 2006 | V for Vendetta | No | Yes | Yes |
| 2007 | The Invasion[14] | No | Yes | No |
| 2008 | Speed Racer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2009 | Ninja Assassin | No | No | Yes |
| 2012 | Cloud Atlas | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Games
edit- Enter the Matrix (2003)
- The Matrix: Path of Neo (2005)
- The Matrix Online (2005–2009) (provided the theme for the first year[15][16])
References
edit- ^ "Andy Wachowski Biography (1967-)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Wachowski Brothers Reload". The World of English. Retrieved 2007-09-30.
- ^ "Wired 11.11: Matrix Revelations". Wired.com. 2009-01-04. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Larry Wachowski". Filmbug. 2005-02-25. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ a b Damon Wise. "Cut and run". The Guardian.
- ^ a b Borys Kit. "EXCLUSIVE: Wachowskis, Warner Bros. Take Aim With 'Hood'". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/06/business/media/around-world-in-one-movie-film-financings-global-future.html?pagewanted=all
- ^ Mike Fleming. "Focus Features And Tom Hanks Sign On For Wachowski-Directed 'Cloud Atlas'". Deadline.com.
- ^ "Pictures fuel Matrix sex change rumours". News.ninemsn.com.au. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ "Wired 11.11: Matrix Revelations". Wired.com. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ "Andy Wachowski Biography". Yahoo Movies. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ Roxborough, Scott (August 22, 2011). "Wachowskis, Tom Tykwer Set for 'Cloud Atlas' Shoot Mid-September". The Hollywood Reporter.
{{cite web}}: Text "accessdate-December 3, 2011" ignored (help) - ^ Fleming, Mike (October 20, 2011). "Lana and Andy Wachowski Return To Sci-Fi Action Arena With 'Jupiter Ascending'". Deadline. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
- ^ "Hidden 'Invasion'". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Paul Chadwick (2005-04-11). "The Matrix Online - PC Feature at IGN". Uk.pc.ign.com. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
- ^ "Paul Chadwick . Net - The Matrix Online". Paulchadwick.net. Retrieved 2011-07-01.
External links
edit- Lana Wachowski at IMDb
- Andy Wachowski at IMDb
- Die Wachowski-Geschwister, biography. (in German)
- Matrix Revelations, Wired article about the Wachowski brothers.
- REDIRECT Template:The Wachowskis
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