Patty Jenkins is an American filmmaker who has accomplished a lot in a short period of time. She has directed the feature films Monster, Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman 1984, and her work on Monster earned her the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and the Franklin J. Schaffner Award. After the success of Wonder Woman and its sequel, Jenkins has become a household name and is one of the most talked-about directors in Hollywood. In this blog post, we will take a look at the surprising success of Patty Jenkins and her career as a director. The Surprising Success of Wonder Woman Director Patty Jenkins
Patty Jenkins’ Early Life and Career
Patty Jenkins is an iconic American filmmaker and has made waves in the industry with her success. She is known for directing the blockbuster hits Monster, Wonder Woman, and Wonder Woman 1984. Before she became a successful director, Jenkins had a long career in the entertainment industry.
Jenkins was born in 1970 in California and grew up in a family of artists. Her mother was a painter, her father a cinematographer, and her brother a musician. From a young age, Jenkins was surrounded by creative influences which contributed to her own unique creativity.
Before beginning her film career, Jenkins attended The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City and graduated with honors in 1991. After college, she worked as an editor on documentaries and short films before taking the plunge into feature film directing. Her first feature film, Monster, was released in 2003 and won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. It also earned Jenkins an Academy Award nomination for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).
Since then, Jenkins has gone on to direct many more successful films, most notably Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman 1984. She was the first woman to direct a big-budget superhero movie and her success has encouraged more women to pursue film directing. Jenkins has been praised for her work on both of the Wonder Woman movies and she continues to break new ground in the industry.
It’s clear that Patty Jenkins is a talented filmmaker who has pushed boundaries and inspired other women to follow in her footsteps. Her early career in editing and documentary filmmaking combined with her excellent eye for storytelling has allowed her to create remarkable stories that have resonated with audiences around the world. The Surprising Success of Wonder Woman Director Patty Jenkins
Monster (2003)
Patty Jenkins first came to prominence in 2003 when she wrote and directed the critically acclaimed film Monster. The film, which starred Charlize Theron, tells the story of serial killer Aileen Wuornos and her journey from a life of prostitution to one of incarceration. Monster was praised for its strong performances, thoughtful direction, and frank exploration of the brutal realities of being a female prostitute.
Jenkins’ work on Monster earned her several awards, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature and a nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards. This was only the beginning for Patty Jenkins, as she soon went on to direct two of the highest grossing films of all time – Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).
The success of both films is largely due to Jenkins’ skillful direction, as well as her willingness to create strong female characters that could be seen as relatable by audiences. The influence of Monster can be seen in Wonder Woman, as it shares similar themes such as the power of inner strength, standing up to oppression, and justice.
Patty Jenkins has become a symbol of female empowerment and resilience through her work on Monster and Wonder Woman. Her successes have set the stage for more women to take the helm of major studio projects and prove that women can be successful directors.
Wonder Woman (2017)
Patty Jenkins is the visionary director behind the 2017 hit superhero movie, Wonder Woman. Her stellar directing and writing skills earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature for Monster and a nomination for a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for Wonder Woman. With such an impressive start to her career, it’s no wonder that Jenkins has become one of the most successful female directors in Hollywood.
Jenkins made her feature film debut with Monster in 2003, which stars Charlize Theron as real-life serial killer Aileen Wuornos. The film was a critical and commercial success, with Theron winning an Academy Award for Best Actress. Jenkins followed up the success of Monster with Wonder Woman in 2017, a superhero action-adventure film starring Gal Gadot as the title character. The movie proved to be an even bigger success than Monster, grossing $821 million worldwide and becoming the highest-grossing film directed by a woman.
The success of Wonder Woman continued with Wonder Woman 1984, which was released in 2020 and grossed over $830 million. Jenkins’ impressive directing and writing skills also landed her a nomination for Best Director at the 2021 Golden Globes.
As one of the most successful female directors in Hollywood, Patty Jenkins is a prime example of how hard work and dedication can pay off. She has already achieved more in her career than many filmmakers twice her age, and she continues to break down barriers for female filmmakers everywhere.
What’s Next for Patty Jenkins?
Patty Jenkins has come a long way since her early success with Monster. Since then, she has directed Wonder Woman and its highly successful sequel, Wonder Woman 1984. With these two blockbuster hits, Patty Jenkins has firmly cemented her name in the world of film-making. But what does the future have in store for the director?
For starters, Jenkins is currently set to direct Star Wars: Rogue Squadron for Disney. This will be her first venture into the sci-fi genre, as well as her first foray into the world of Lucasfilm and Disney. The film is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2022, so fans of Jenkins’ work will have plenty to look forward to in the coming years.
Another project that Jenkins is attached to is The Underground Railroad. This series, which she is directing and producing, is based on Colson Whitehead’s acclaimed novel of the same name. It follows a group of slaves who escape a Georgia plantation via a secret underground railroad. Jenkins will also direct and produce an adaptation of an upcoming biography of iconic singer Aretha Franklin.
Jenkins has also signed on to direct two feature films for DC Comics. One of these projects is slated to star Gal Gadot reprising her role as Wonder Woman, while the other will reportedly be based on the popular comic book The Killing Joke. Jenkins’ involvement in both projects suggests that DC is looking to build up its film universe with more female-driven stories.
No matter what the future holds for Patty Jenkins, one thing is for sure: she is here to stay as one of Hollywood’s leading directors. With so many exciting projects in the works, there is no doubt that fans will be eagerly awaiting Jenkins’ next project.
