Martin Campbell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Campbell
Campbell at CES 2012
Born	(1943-10-24) 24 October 1943 (age 81) Hastings, New Zealand
Occupation	Director
Years active	1973–present
Spouse(s)	Valarie Trapp ​ ​ (m. 2002; div. 2006)​ Sol E. Romero ​ (m. 2006)​
Awards	BAFTA Best Director Edge of Darkness (1986)

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

Life and career

Born in Hastings, New Zealand, Campbell moved to London, where he began his career as a director of action television series in the 1970s. He went on to direct two James Bond films, 1995's GoldenEye, starring Pierce Brosnan, and 2006's Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig. At 62 years old, Campbell was the oldest director in the series' history, beating the previous record set by Lewis Gilbert. Campbell stated that he was offered the opportunity to direct further James Bond films after GoldenEye; however, he found the plots to be limiting and only considered directing further films if working with a new Bond actor – as he subsequently did with Daniel Craig on Casino Royale.

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

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

Unrealized projects

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

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

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

Personal life

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

Selected filmography

Films

Television

See also

In Spanish: Martin Campbell para niños

• List of New Zealand film makers