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The 15 best filmmakers under 35 who will shape the future of Hollywood
It's already happened with the likes of Ryan Coogler ("Black Panther") and Damien Chazelle ("La La Land"), but there are a handful more that are ripe for some major breakthroughs. These are the directors who will continue to shape Hollywood for years to come.
Here are 15 of the best filmmakers working today under 35:
Antonio Campos
Only 34, Campos has four features and episodes of “The Punisher” and “The Sinner” under his belt — not to mention the numerous other titles he’s produced. He’s best known for his slow burn style of dark material like “Simon Killer” and “Christine.”
Damien Chazelle
He’s a best director Oscar winner and one of the most sought-after filmmakers in Hollywood — and he’s only 33. The “La La Land” director has dazzled audiences with his original storytelling that also includes the acclaimed “Whiplash” and the upcoming Neil Armstrong biopic, “First Man,” starring Ryan Gosling.
Ryan Coogler
Believe it or not, there’s a director younger than Chazelle that everyone in Hollywood is drooling over. Coogler, 31, has just come off directing the historic box office hit “Black Panther.” This is after two other acclaimed movies, Sundance winner “Fruitvale Station” and “Creed.” Coogler pretty much has his pick of anything he wants in the industry for the foreseeable future.
Gia Coppola
The granddaughter of Francis Ford Coppola, Gia, 31, showed she had the family skills with her debut “Palo Alto” in 2014. She will next adapt a biopic of children’s book author, Dare Wright.
J.D. Dillard
The 28 year old’s breakout came with the indie sci-fi movie “Sleight” in 2016 that got him a lot of attention out of Sundance. He’s got a horror movie in the can and is eyeing a remake of “The Fly.”
Xavier Dolan
The 29-year-old Canadian actor-director has already got six features and is beloved by many. He’ll next have an all-star cast of Kit Harrington, Natalie Portman, Bella Thorne, and Jacob Tremblay in the movie “The Death and Life of John F. Donovan.”
Duffer brothers
Matt and Ross, 34, have become major players in the industry after their Netflix hit “Stranger Things.” It will be fascinating how they follow up this sensation.
Lena Dunham
Though a polarizing figure, at 31 Dunham is an incredible talent who with “Girls” has cemented herself as a go-to in front of and behind the camera. She’s landed a new show at HBO starring Jennifer Garner that's a retelling of the UK series “Camping.”
Carlos López Estrada
The 29 year old was the talk of this year’s Sundance as his debut feature “Blindspotting” is an intense (and funny) look at race and a gentrifying Oakland (the movie comes out in the summer).
Greta Gerwig
After years as the darling indie actress, Gerwig has come into her own as a director with the Oscar-nominated “Lady Bird” this past year. She hasn’t announced what she’s directing next, but we’ll be first in line to see it.
Hiro Murai
Directing a majority of the episodes on “Atlanta,” Murai, 34, is one of the main creatives responsible for its lush look and fresh storytelling alongside show creator Donald Glover.
Safdie brothers
Josh, 33, and Benny, 32, have become the directors who actors from Robert Pattinson to Jonah Hill have called up to make challenging movies that the Hollywood studios would never touch. With their latest, “Good Time” (starring Pattinson), the brothers have only gained more confidence and desire to disrupt the studio system.
Justin Simien
Following the Sundance hit “Dear White People,” Simien, 34, has parlayed that into a Netflix series based on the movie and is on the forefront of storytellers looking to tell diverse stories through the mainstream.
Rebecca Thomas
Responsible for the infamous episode 7 of season two of “Stranger Things,” Thomas, 33, is not letting that slow her down. She has the live-action “The Little Mermaid” movie on deck and a sci-fi movie written by the “Jurassic World” director Colin Trevorrow and his writing partner, Derek Connolly.
Jordan Vogt-Roberts
Meshing pop-culture and monsters together with “Kong: Skull Island,” Vogt-Roberts, 33, is rumored next to be taking on a big screen adaptation of the popular video game “Metal Gear Solid.”