Evan_Spiliotopoulos
Evan Spiliotopoulos
Greek-American screenwriter, film producer and director
Evangelos Spiliotopoulos (Greek: Ευάγγελος Σπηλιωτόπουλος; born c. 1973) is a Greek-American screenwriter, film producer, and film director.
Evan Spiliotopoulos | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1973 (age 50–51) |
| Nationality | Greek-American |
| Occupation(s) | Screenwriter, film producer, film director |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Known for | The Jungle Book 2 Pooh's Heffalump Movie Hercules The Huntsman: Winter's War Beauty and the Beast |
Spiliotopoulos was born in Greece, and graduated from high school there.[1] Soon after, he moved to the United States and attended the University of Delaware to get an undergraduate degree in film theory. He then attended American University for a master's degree in screenwriting.[1] After moving to Los Angeles in 1995, his first job in the industry was in a television film Trial by Fire as an intern.[1]
In the 2000s, Spiliotopoulos wrote several animated projects for Walt Disney Pictures. He was attached to write a prequel of to the classic animated Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs film.[2] However, the project was finally cancelled when Pixar was acquired by The Walt Disney Company in 2006.
In April 2009, Spiliotopoulos was set to write the screenplay for the action film Wanted 2, a sequel to the 2008 film Wanted.[3]
In June 2013, Universal acquired the remake rights to the Japanese 2007 anime film Vexille and set Spiliotopoulos to write the screenplay.[4]
In July 2014, Spiliotopoulos was hired by 20th Century Fox to write the script for the 2014 novel Seven Wonders written by Ben Mezrich.[5] Spiliotopoulos had already rewritten the script of the horror film Ouija, but his draft wasn't used in the film.[6]
In 2014, Spiliotopoulos re-wrote the screenplay for the action-adventure fantasy film Hercules, originally written by Ryan J. Condal.[7] Brett Ratner directed the film which released on July 25, 2014 by Paramount Pictures.[8]
Spiliotopoulos wrote the screenplay of action-adventure fantasy film The Huntsman: Winter's War, along with Craig Mazin, and rewritten by Frank Darabont. Cedric Nicolas-Troyan directed the film, which was released on April 22, 2016 by Universal Pictures.[9]
Spiliotopoulos and Stephen Chbosky wrote Disney's live action musical romantic fantasy film Beauty and the Beast, which was directed by Bill Condon.[10] The film was released on March 17, 2017.
Spiliotopoulos received a "story by" credit, with David Auburn, for the Charlie's Angels reboot film of 2019, which was written and directed by Elizabeth Banks.[11]
In 2021, Spiliotopoulos' directorial debut, the horror film The Unholy was released.[12]
Theatrical release
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | The Jungle Book 2 | Steve Trenbirth | |
| 2004 | Art Heist | Bryan Goeres | |
| 2005 | Pooh's Heffalump Movie | Frank Nissen | |
| 2006 | Khan Kluay | Kompin Kemgumnird | English-language version |
| 2007 | Battle for Terra | Aristomenis Tsirbas | |
| 2014 | Hercules | Brett Ratner | |
| 2016 | The Huntsman: Winter's War | Cedric Nicolas-Troyan | |
| 2017 | Beauty and the Beast | Bill Condon | |
| 2019 | Charlie's Angels | Elizabeth Banks | |
| 2021 | The Unholy | Himself | Also producer |
| Snake Eyes | Robert Schwentke | ||
| 2023 | The Pope's Exorcist | Julius Avery |
Direct-to-video
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Bare Witness | Kelley Cauthen | |
| 2004 | The Lion King 1½ | Bradley Raymond | Additional Screenplay Material |
| Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers | Donovan Cook | ||
| 2005 | Tarzan II | Brian Smith | Additional Story Material |
| Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie | Elliot M. Bour Saul Andrew Blinkoff |
||
| 2007 | Cinderella III: A Twist in Time | Frank Nissen | Additional Screenplay Material |
| 2008 | The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Beginning | Peggy Holmes | |
| The Nutty Professor | Logan McPherson Paul Taylor |
||
| 2009 | Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure | Klay Hall | |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Legion | Jon Hess | TV movie |
| The Outsider | David Bishop | ||
| 2014 | Mini Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | Frank Nissen | Episode "Roo and Lumpy" |
- "Q&A with Evan Spiliotopoulos". scriptsandscribes.com. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- Armstrong, Josh (August 14, 2013). "Mike Disa and The Seven Dwarfs: How the Snow White prequel became a Dopey movie". Animated Views. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
- "'Pooh's Heffalump Movie' writer tapped to pen 'Wanted 2'". ew.com. April 17, 2009. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- Kroll, Justin (June 5, 2013). "Universal Acquires 'Vexille' with Evan Spiliotopoulos Adapting (EXCLUSIVE)". variety.com. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- Ford, Rebecca; Kit, Borys (July 8, 2015). "'Hercules' Writer in Talks to Adapt Fox's 'Seven Wonders' (Exclusive)". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
- Kit, Borys (19 April 2011). "Evan Spiliotopoulos to Pen Universal's 'Ouija'". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- GOLDSTEIN, GARY (July 25, 2014). "Review: Dwayne Johnson's 'Hercules' packs action-filled punch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- "Hercules (2014)". boxofficemojo.com. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- Kroll, Justin (January 20, 2015). "Cedric Nicolas-Troyan to Replace Frank Darabont as 'Huntsman' Director". variety.com. Retrieved September 13, 2015.
- Kroll, Justin (June 4, 2014). "Bill Condon to Direct Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Film for Disney". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- Ford, Rebecca (December 16, 2015). "'Charlie's Angels' Reboot Lands Writer (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 3, 2018). "Evan Spiliotopoulos and Sam Raimi Team On James Herbert Novel 'Shrine' at Screen Gems". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 19, 2019.