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Breck Eisner
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Michael Breckenridge Eisner (born April 26, 1970) is an American television and film director.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Eisner was born in California, the son of Jane Breckenridge, a business advisor and computer programmer, and Michael Eisner, the former Walt Disney Company chief executive. To avoid confusion with his father, he uses a short version of his middle name/mother's maiden name as his professional first name.[1] His mother is a Unitarian of Scottish and Swedish descent while his father is Jewish.[2]
Eisner attended Harvard High School (now Harvard-Westlake School), Georgetown University, majoring in both English and Theatre, and the University of Southern California's film school where he received a master's degree in film production.
Career
[edit]For a directing project at Georgetown, he filmed a contemporary riff on Alice in Wonderland, shooting scenes in the vast empty attic of Healy Hall on the campus, as well as in an abandoned circular trolley-car tunnel under Dupont Circle in Northwest, Washington, D.C. He also directed Shakespeare plays on the campus.
His MFA thesis film, Recon, a tech noir co-written and co-produced by Steven Cantor, stars Peter Gabriel, Elizabeth Peña and Charles Durning. Set in Los Angeles in 2007, Gabriel plays a weary detective who in order to catch a serial killer uses a new experimental technology, Recon, which allows him to see the last living minutes of the killer's victims through their eyes. Gabriel agreed to appear in the film after having been asked to by Cantor who had served with him on a media advisory board.[3] Peña came on board because she wanted to work with Gabriel while Durning had the same agent as Peña.[1] The film, made for a budget of $21,000, was shot in 1994 but completion took until 1996. It screened at the 53rd Venice International Film Festival, the Edinburgh International Film Festival and the Hamptons International Film Festival, among others.
Eisner had used some of Digital Domain's processors to render images for his film, and the company suggested he meet with some commercial production houses. Thus began his career as a director of commercials, and after only a year-and-a-half, Eisner had directed 14 high-profile spots. His first commercial was Budweiser's Powersurge, which aired during the 1997 Super Bowl. He also took the helm for Rold Gold pretzels' "Comrades" starring Jason Alexander, which featured Pretzel Boy on a rescue mission to the Mir space station. Eisner's two anti-smoking spots for the California Department of Health Services, "Gala Event" and "Funeral", were selected as Best Spots in back-to-back issues of Adweek. In addition, Eisner's "Mad Dog" for Coors's Zima aired during the Seinfeld finale and was chosen by USA Today's "Ad Meter" as the #1 spot. He has also done commercials for Sony, Sega and Coca-Cola.[4]
Eisner's success in the commercial world opened the door for him to direct the TV film The Invisible Man for the Sci Fi Channel. That led to an episode of DreamWorks Television's mini-series Taken (2002), executive-produced by Steven Spielberg and starring Dakota Fanning.
His first full-length effort was the crime drama Thoughtcrimes (2003), which was produced as a backdoor pilot and went straight to video. His theatrical directorial debut was the film Sahara (2005) starring Matthew McConaughey, Penélope Cruz and William H. Macy.[5] The film is considered one of the biggest financial failures in Hollywood history.[6][7][8]
Eisner currently works as a director of film and television. In October 2005, it was announced that Eisner would direct a remake of the classic monster film Creature from the Black Lagoon which was dropped in 2009 for unnamed reasons, and in February 2008, it was announced that he would direct The Crazies, a remake of the film of the same name, released in 2010.[9] In December 2009, it was announced he will direct the remakes of Flash Gordon and The Brood,[10] though he later backed out of the latter.[11] He is rumored to direct the remake of Escape from New York.[12] Eisner is set to direct the film adaptation of the Mark Wheatley comic book Blood of the Innocent.[13] In December 2010, he was in talks to direct the film adaption of the Hasbro board game Ouija.[14]
On March 5, 2013, Eisner was set to direct action fantasy film The Last Witch Hunter by Summit Entertainment based on Cory Goodman's script,[15] Melisa Wallack would re-write the script.[16] Vin Diesel stars as lead with Rose Leslie, Julie Engelbrecht, Michael Caine, Elijah Wood and Ólafur Darri Ólafsson.[17][18][19][20][21][22]
In April 2014, Sony Pictures Classics announced that Eisner would direct The Karate Kid sequel starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan.[23] In June 2014, Eisner left the project because of scheduling conflicts with The Last Witch Hunter,[24] released in 2015.[25]
In November 2024, it was announced that a production company Expanding Universe co-founded by Eisner with Naren Shankar, Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck has a development deal with Amazon MGM Studios, with their first project, television adaptation of The Captive's War trilogy, being directed and co-executive produced by Eisner.[26][27]
Personal life
[edit]In 2006, he married Georgia Leigh Irwin in a ceremony officiated by a Roman Catholic priest and held at her parents' house.[28] Irwin's father is a real estate broker in Palm Springs who developed and sold the resort La Mancha; and her maternal grandfather, Carroll Rosenbloom, was the owner of the Los Angeles Rams and the Baltimore Colts.[28]
Filmography
[edit]Short film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Recon | Yes | Yes | Eisner's MFA thesis film for the University of Southern California |
Feature film
[edit]Director
- Sahara (2005)
- The Crazies (2010)
- The Last Witch Hunter (2015)
Producer
- A Sound of Thunder (2005)
Actor
| Year | Title | Role | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Auteur Theory | Moshe | Segment Brooklyn Will Be Ours |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | The Invisible Man | Episode "Pilot" |
| 2001 | Wilder | Unaired pilot |
| 2002 | Taken | Episode "Jacob and Jesse" |
| 2003 | Thoughtcrimes | TV movie |
| 2006 | Beyond | Unaired pilot |
| 2008 | Fear Itself | Episode "The Sacrifice" |
| 2017 | The Brave | Episode "It's All Personal" |
| 2017–2022 | The Expanse | 14 episodes |
Accolades
[edit]Eisner has earned Hugo Award nomination for Best Dramatic Presentation in 2020 for directing "Cibola Burn" episode of The Expanse.[29] He got an award in this category for directing this show, in 2022 for "Nemesis Games" and in 2023 for "Babylon's Ashes".[30][31]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Terry Kattleman, The Next …, Advertising Age's Creativity, Vol. 5, Issue 5, June 1997, p. 44.
- ^ Pinsky, Mark I. The Gospel According to Disney. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 123–129. ISBN 978-0-664-23467-6.
- ^ Kathy DeSalvo, First Time Out, Director Eisner Breaks into Big Time, Shoot, Vol. 38, Issue 6, February 7, 1997, p. 7.
- ^ William C. Martel, Breck Eisner, Shoot, Vol. 39, Issue 42, Supplement Directors, October 16, 1998, pp. 38 & 132.
- ^ "Breck Eisner biography and filmography | Breck Eisner movies". Tribute. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Biggest Box-Office Bombs of All Time Archived July 23, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Bunting, Glenn F. (April 15, 2007). "$78 million of red ink?". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Glenn F. Bunting, Jurors hear tales of studio maneuvering, Los Angeles Times, March 5, 2007.
- ^ Icons of Fright
- ^ Central, Dread. "Breck Eisner Talks The Crazies, Flash Gordon, and What's Up with The Brood". Dread Central.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2012. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Miska, Brad (February 20, 2010). "Breck Eisner NOT Attached to 'The Brood' Remake". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Miska, Brad (April 23, 2010). "'Crazies' Director to 'Escape From New York'". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Barton, Steve (October 2, 2012). "Godzilla vs. Biollante Roaring its Way to Blu-ray". Dread Central. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Barton, Steve (February 18, 2013). "Producer Exits Jurassic Park 4 Star Wars". Dread Central. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 5, 2013). "Breck Eisner To Helm 'The Witch Hunter' For Summit/Emmett/Furla; Vin Diesel Circling Title Role". Deadline. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Yamato, Jen (March 31, 2014). "'Dallas Buyers Club's Melisa Wallack To Polish Vin Diesel's 'Last Witch Hunter'". Deadline. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Vin Diesel in Talks for Summit's 'The Last Witch Hunter'". thewrap.com. September 6, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ "'Game of Thrones' Actress Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter'". hollywoodreporter.com. July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
- ^ Yamato, Jen (September 3, 2014). "German Actress Julie Engelbrecht Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter'". Deadline. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ McNary, Dave (July 21, 2014). "Michael Caine Joins Vin Diesel in 'Last Witch Hunter'". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Yamato, Jen (August 4, 2014). "Elijah Wood Joins 'The Last Witch Hunter'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (August 5, 2014). "'True Detective's' Olafur Darri Olafsson Joins Vin Diesel in 'The Last Witch Hunter' (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ McNary, Dave (April 7, 2014). "Jaden Smith's 'Karate Kid' Sequel Draws Breck Eisner to Direct". Variety. Variety.com.
- ^ Yamato, Jen (June 25, 2014). "Breck Eisner Out For 'Karate Kid 2′ As Sony, Overbrook Hire New Scripting Duo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
- ^ Moore, Debi (August 6, 2015). "New Trailer for The Last Witch Hunter Will Live Forever". Dread Central. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ Pinto, Jordan (November 22, 2024). "Team behind The Expanse launches sci-fi prodco, agrees Amazon development deal". C21media. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (November 21, 2024). "'The Expanse' Creators Set 'Captive's War' TV Series at Amazon, Launch New Media Company Expanding Universe (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
- ^ a b "Georgia Irwin and Breck Eisner". The New York Times. June 25, 2006. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. April 7, 2020. Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "2021 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. December 18, 2021. Archived from the original on January 3, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Hugo Awards". World Science Fiction Society. September 4, 2022. Archived from the original on September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
External links
[edit]
Breck Eisner
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
Family background
Breck Eisner was born on December 24, 1970, in Los Angeles, California.[1] He is the son of Michael Eisner, who served as chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Company from 1984 to 2005, and Jane Breckenridge, a philanthropist and co-founder of The Eisner Foundation.[1][5][2] Eisner grew up in an affluent, entertainment-connected household in Los Angeles, with early exposure to Hollywood stemming from his father's executive roles at major studios including Paramount Pictures and Disney.[6][7] He has two brothers, Eric Eisner, a film producer, and Anders Eisner.[7][8]Academic pursuits
Breck Eisner attended Harvard-Westlake School, a prestigious preparatory institution in Los Angeles.[9] Eisner then enrolled at Georgetown University, where he majored in English and Theater, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992.[10] His undergraduate coursework emphasized dramatic arts and literature, laying a foundational understanding of storytelling essential for his future directing career.[1] Following his bachelor's, Eisner advanced his training at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts in film directing in 1995.[11] During his graduate studies, he directed early student projects, including the short film Recon, his MFA thesis production that highlighted innovative visual techniques in a tech-noir narrative.[12]Professional career
Early directing work
Breck Eisner transitioned from his education at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts, where he earned an MFA in 1995, to professional directing by entering the advertising industry. In October 1996, he joined Palomar Pictures in Los Angeles as a commercial director, having no prior experience in the field but quickly securing assignments from major agencies.[12][11] His early work demonstrated a flair for dynamic visuals and narrative depth, drawing from his student film Recon (1996), which impressed industry professionals and helped launch his career.[13] By 1997, Eisner had directed high-profile television commercials for brands including Nike, Pepsi, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Sega, and Kodak. Notable among these was a Clio Award-winning Budweiser spot aired during the 1997 Super Bowl, praised for its creative execution, as well as a commercial featuring Jason Alexander that highlighted his ability to blend humor with polished production values.[14][15][16] His collaborations with agencies such as DDB Needham and Wieden+Kennedy on these projects built a robust portfolio, earning him recognition for innovative visual effects and compelling storytelling within the constraints of 30-second formats.[12][13] Eisner's commercial success paved the way for his work on the sci-fi TV movie Thoughtcrimes (2003), a USA Network original he directed. The film follows Freya McAllister, a young woman who discovers her telepathic abilities and becomes an asset in a government program combating crime, marking Eisner's first feature-length project and showcasing his skill in handling speculative fiction on a television budget.[17][18] This work, produced by USA Network, represented a key step in his evolution from short-form advertising to longer-form storytelling, further solidifying his reputation in the industry.[19]Feature film projects
Breck Eisner's transition to feature films began with the 2005 adventure Sahara, an adaptation of Clive Cussler's 1992 novel of the same name, starring Matthew McConaughey as explorer Dirk Pitt and Penélope Cruz as archaeologist Eva Rojas.[20] The production faced significant challenges, including budget overruns that escalated from an initial $80 million to $160 million, compounded by extensive location shooting in Morocco and the United Kingdom, leading to lawsuits between Paramount Pictures and Cussler over creative differences.[21] Despite these issues, the film emphasized grand-scale action sequences amid North African deserts, though it received mixed reviews for its uneven pacing and reliance on formulaic tropes, with critics noting the entertaining yet preposterous chases involving vehicles and historical artifacts like a lost Civil War ironclad.[20] Sahara ultimately grossed $119 million worldwide against its inflated costs, marking a modest commercial underperformance. Eisner's sophomore effort, the 2010 horror remake The Crazies, reimagined George A. Romero's 1973 low-budget film, centering on a small Iowa town contaminated by a biological toxin that drives residents to violent madness, led by Timothy Olyphant as Sheriff David Dutten.[22] Produced on a $20 million budget, the film prioritized a claustrophobic yet expansive rural setting to heighten tension, earning praise for its atmospheric dread and use of practical effects in depicting the infected's grotesque transformations and improvised kills, which avoided overreliance on digital gore.[23] Reviewers highlighted the film's taut suspense and character-focused survival dynamics amid escalating chaos, distinguishing it from zombie fare by emphasizing psychological unraveling over mindless hordes.[24] It achieved solid financial success, grossing $55 million worldwide.[25] In 2015, Eisner directed The Last Witch Hunter, a fantasy action vehicle for Vin Diesel as the immortal Kaulder, the last of an ancient order battling witches in a hidden supernatural underworld coexisting with modern New York.[26] The $90 million production showcased ambitious world-building through elaborate production design, including mystical lairs and lore-rich artifacts, bolstered by digital visual effects that brought ethereal witch realms to life.[26] While commended for its immersive mythology and Diesel's committed performance, the film drew criticism for plot inconsistencies, such as vague backstories for its immortal protagonist and recycled conflicts in the script by three writers, resulting in a convoluted narrative that undermined the action's momentum.[27] It grossed $147 million globally, reflecting moderate viability for a genre entry.[28] Throughout the 2010s, Eisner was attached to several unproduced genre projects, including a remake of John Carpenter's Escape from New York for New Line Cinema and a reimagining of the Flash Gordon franchise for Columbia Pictures, underscoring his affinity for dystopian sci-fi and pulpy adventure remakes.[29] These attachments, developed alongside producer Neal H. Moritz, highlighted Eisner's interest in high-concept worlds blending action with speculative elements, though both stalled due to studio shifts and scripting hurdles.[30] Eisner's directing style across these features consistently favors epic landscapes to amplify scale and isolation, as seen in Sahara's sweeping desert vistas and The Crazies' vast Midwestern plains, which frame human vulnerability against overwhelming environments.[31] He integrates practical horror techniques for visceral impact, particularly in The Crazies, where tangible makeup and stunts enhance the film's grounded terror, while maintaining character-driven action that grounds fantastical stakes in personal motivations, evident in The Last Witch Hunter's focus on Kaulder's cursed longevity.[32] This approach, influenced by his early commercial work's visual precision, prioritizes immersive spectacle without sacrificing relational dynamics.[33]Television directing
Breck Eisner has directed numerous episodes across various television series, bringing his expertise in genre storytelling to serialized formats that demand tight pacing and escalating narratives. His most extensive work came on The Expanse (2015–2022), the Syfy and Amazon Prime Video science fiction series, where he helmed multiple episodes, including the Season 1 premiere "Dulcinea." In this installment and others, Eisner emphasized meticulous sci-fi world-building and layered political intrigue, capturing the tensions of a colonized solar system through dynamic camera work and atmospheric tension that heightened the ensemble cast's interpersonal conflicts.[34] Eisner's contributions extended to fantasy and cyberpunk projects, where he adeptly balanced visual spectacle with thematic depth. He directed episodes of The Librarians (2014–2018) on TNT, such as "And the Crown of King Arthur," blending high-stakes fantasy adventure with the show's ensemble dynamics to create engaging, character-focused escapades that explored mythology in a modern context. Similarly, he helmed the Season 1 finale of Altered Carbon (2018) on Netflix, adapting Richard K. Morgan's cyberpunk novel to delve into themes of immortality and fractured identity, using innovative framing and effects to depict consciousness transfer and dystopian societies. His approach in these series prioritized serialized arcs, ensuring each episode advanced broader plotlines while delivering standalone excitement.[35] In procedural dramas like The Brave (2017) on NBC, Eisner directed episodes that adapted his polished commercial style to television's episodic structure, focusing on rapid mission sequences and emotional stakes for elite operatives. Known for efficient shooting schedules, he often completed complex scenes within constrained timelines, a skill honed from early career commercials and applied to TV's demanding production cycles. Eisner also excelled at enhancing visual effects on limited budgets, integrating practical and digital elements seamlessly—as seen in The Expanse's elaborate single-take action sequences that merged multiple locations for immersive realism without excessive post-production costs. This efficiency allowed for ambitious genre visuals, such as interstellar chases and cybernetic augmentations, while maintaining narrative momentum. His feature film experience briefly informed these TV efforts by infusing cinematic action fluidity into shorter formats.[36][37][38]Production company and recent developments
In late 2024, Breck Eisner co-founded Expanding Universe Productions, a multi-platform content company specializing in science fiction narratives with expansive world-building and elevated storytelling, alongside The Expanse showrunner Naren Shankar and authors Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (collectively known as James S.A. Corey).[4][39] The venture secured a development deal with Amazon MGM Studios to produce original sci-fi content across television and film, building on Eisner's prior directing experience with The Expanse.[4][40] The company's inaugural project is the TV adaptation of James S.A. Corey's The Captive's War trilogy for Amazon Prime Video, announced in November 2024 and currently in development as of 2025.[4][39] Eisner serves as director for select episodes and co-executive producer, with the series depicting a group of prisoners rising against an interstellar empire in a narrative inspired by the biblical Book of Daniel, expanding elements of the Expanse universe through themes of catastrophe and rebellion.[4][41] In 2025, Eisner contributed a new audio commentary track to the 15th-anniversary 4K UHD release of his 2010 horror film The Crazies, released by Lionsgate on May 13, where he discussed directing techniques and the film's horror elements alongside legacy extras.[42][43][44]Personal life
Marriage and family
Breck Eisner married Georgia Leigh Irwin, a television director and producer, on June 24, 2006, in a ceremony attended by family and friends.[45] The couple first met as students at Georgetown University, where Irwin's then-boyfriend appeared in one of Eisner's student films, though they reconnected years later at their 10-year class reunion.[45] Both graduated from Georgetown in 1992.[45] Eisner and Irwin became engaged during a trip to Thailand in March 2005.[45] The couple has two children: a son named Noah, born in 2008, and a daughter named Grace.[46] Eisner and his wife maintain a private family life, rarely sharing personal details publicly, though they have made occasional joint appearances at industry events and family-oriented philanthropy gatherings connected to the Eisner Foundation.[7]Residences and lifestyle
Breck Eisner was a long-time resident of Bel-Air in Los Angeles, owning a custom compound that overlooks the Stone Canyon Reservoir.[47][48] The 4,349-square-foot property, originally built in 1981 and reconstructed in 2007, embodies a nature-focused design inspired by resorts in Bali and Thailand, with tiered architecture, expansive views, and dedicated creative spaces including a detached two-story workshop.[47][48] In July 2024, Eisner listed the compound for $14 million; it sold on August 15, 2025, for $9,386,040.[47][48][49] Eisner maintains a lifestyle that balances his directing career with family commitments, including service on the board of the Eisner Foundation, which funds arts education and youth programs.[2][50]Filmography
Feature films
- Sahara (2005) – Director[1]
- The Crazies (2010) – Director[1]
- The Last Witch Hunter (2015) – Director[1]
Television episodes
- The Invisible Man: "Pilot" (Season 1, Episode 1, 2000) – Director[51]
- Taken: "Jacob and Jesse" (Season 2, Episode 5, 2002) – Director[52]
- Thoughtcrimes (TV movie, 2003) – Director[17]
- Beyond (TV movie, 2006) – Director[53]
- Fear Itself: "The Sacrifice" (Season 1, Episode 1, 2008) – Director[54]
- The Expanse: "Dulcinea" (Season 1, Episode 1, 2015) – Director
- The Brave: "It's All Personal" (Season 1, Episode 4, 2017) – Director[36]
- The Expanse: Additional episodes, including season premieres and finales from seasons 2 through 6 (2017–2022) – Director[55]