Recent from talks
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Jim Mickle
View on Wikipedia
Jim Mickle (born 1979)[1] is an American director and writer, known for such films as Mulberry Street, Stake Land, We Are What We Are and Cold in July. He also co-developed the SundanceTV series Hap and Leonard, and the Netflix series Sweet Tooth.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Jim Mickle was born in Pottstown, Pennsylvania in 1979.[1][2] Mickle was inspired to become a director after he saw Army of Darkness.[1] He attended New York University and graduated in 2002. He worked as a production assistant and grip on a series of films by first-time directors who had not gone to film school. The experiences were frustrating for him, and he described the films as vanity projects.[3] Mickle prefers directing and editing to writing, and he is attracted to the flexibility and intensity of horror films.[4]
Career
[edit]Mickle and Nick Damici met while working on a student thesis film in 2001. While there, they came up with the idea for a zombie film. This concept eventually morphed into their first collaboration, Mulberry Street, a horror film about gentrification in New York City.[3] Mickle's second film, Stake Land, was a New York Times Critics' Pick.[5] His 2013 film We Are What We Are was screened at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival[6] and in the Directors' Fortnight section at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.[7] He directed the film adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's novel Cold in July, in which Michael C. Hall starred,[8][9] and has worked on Esperanza, the story of a fatal wildfire in southern California, adapted by Sean O'Keefe from a book by John N. Maclean.[10] In 2016 Mickle & Damici developed the TV series Hap and Leonard, based on Joe R. Lansdale's novels, with Mickle directing multiple episodes during the series' three seasons.
Awards
[edit]| Year | Organization | Award |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Toronto After Dark Film Festival | After Dark Spirit Award[11] |
| 2007 | Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival | Special mention[12] |
| 2010 | Toronto International Film Festival | People's Choice Award[13] |
| 2011 | Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival | Special mention[14] |
| 2014 | Sitges Film Festival | Best director in Official Fantàstic Òrbita Category Awards for Cold in July |
Filmography
[edit]As director
[edit]| Title | Year | Metacritic | Rotten Tomatoes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Street | 2006 | N/A | 70%[15] | |
| Stake Land | 2010 | 66/100[16] | 75%[17] | |
| We Are What We Are | 2013 | 71/100[18] | 85%[19] | |
| Cold in July | 2014 | 73/100[20] | 84%[21] | |
| Hap and Leonard | 2016–2018 | 73/100[22] | 87%[23] | TV series |
| In the Shadow of the Moon | 2019 | 48/100[24] | 59%[25] | |
| Sweet Tooth | 2021–2024 | 78/100[26] | 92%[27] | TV series |
| God Country | TBA | TBD | TBD | [28] |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Brown, Todd (August 17, 2010). "The New American Horror: Jim Mickle". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on February 3, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Last chance to see horror of 'Mulberry Street'". Pottstown Mercury. December 6, 2011. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ a b Kipp, Jeremiah (March 27, 2008). "Nightmare on Mulberry Street: An Interview with Writer-Director Jim Mickle and Co-Writer-Actor Nick Damici". Slant Magazine. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Patterson, Cleaver (June 17, 2011). "Interview: Jim Mickle, Director of STAKE LAND". Starburst magazine. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (April 21, 2011). "Bringing on the Vampires in 'Stake Land'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "We Are What We Are". Sundance Film Festival. May 25, 2013. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ "List of films in Cannes Directors' Fortnight". Cannes.fr. May 25, 2013. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved May 25, 2013.
- ^ Golden, Grant (May 31, 2013). "Michael C. Hall Signs on for Film Adaptation of Cold In July". Paste. Archived from the original on September 22, 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Fleming, Mike (May 19, 2013). "Cannes: Backup Media, Memento Bring Heat To Fest Helmer Jim Mickle's 'Cold In July'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Myles, Sarah (January 8, 2015). "Jim Mickle To Direct Wildfire Drama Esperanza For Legendary". WeGotThisCovered.com. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
- ^ "Toronto After Dark Festival". TorontoAfterDark.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Black Tulip Award opnieuw naar Noorse film". Trouw (in Dutch). April 25, 2007. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ Voris, Robert (February 17, 2011). "IFC Midnight stakes a claim on 'Stake Land'". Variety. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "NIFFF Palmarès 2011". nifff.ch. Archived from the original on June 11, 2015. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Mulberry Street". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Stake Land". Metacritic. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Stake Land". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "We Are What We Are". Metacritic. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "We Are What We Are". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
- ^ "Cold in July Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "Cold in July". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Hap and Leonard Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "Hap & Leonard". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "In the Shadow of the Moon Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "In the Shadow of the Moon (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved October 12, 2019.
- ^ "Sweet Tooth Reviews". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
- ^ "Sweet Tooth". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ Kit, Borys (December 14, 2021). "Netflix Teams With Legendary, 'Sweet Tooth' Showrunner for Fantasy Movie 'God Country' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Jim Mickle at IMDb
Jim Mickle
View on GrokipediaEarly life and education
Early years and influences
Jim Mickle was born in 1979 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, a small industrial borough in Montgomery County known for its working-class roots and proximity to Philadelphia. He grew up in nearby Douglassville, a rural suburb that shaped his early worldview amid a landscape of modest communities and traditional American values, fostering an appreciation for grounded, character-driven narratives in his later work. Raised in a close-knit family, Mickle is the son of James Douglas Mickle Sr. and Carole E. Jackson, alongside his younger sister, production designer Beth Mickle, with whom he shared a formative creative bond.[12][13][14] From a young age, Mickle developed a passion for horror and genre cinema, immersing himself in films that blended suspense, fantasy, and dark humor. A pivotal moment came at age 13, when he watched Sam Raimi's Army of Darkness (1992) while home sick from school; the film's inventive low-budget effects, irreverent tone, and epic storytelling profoundly impacted him, igniting his desire to pursue filmmaking as a career. This exposure to B-movies and zombie tropes not only sparked his interest in genre storytelling but also influenced his affinity for independent horror that explores human resilience amid chaos.[15][16][17] As a child in Douglassville, Mickle began experimenting with storytelling through amateur filmmaking, often collaborating with his sister Beth on short films using household resources, which honed his practical skills in narrative construction and visual experimentation. These early projects, rooted in genre literature and local folklore, laid the groundwork for his thematic focus on family dynamics and rural isolation, though he later pursued formal training at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.[18][14][19]University studies and initial film work
After graduating from Daniel Boone Area High School in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, Mickle moved to New York City to pursue his passion for filmmaking, immersing himself in the city's vibrant independent film scene.[20] This relocation followed his childhood interest in genre films, such as Army of Darkness, which had sparked his directorial ambitions.[16] Mickle enrolled at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he focused on film production within the undergraduate program.[21] During his studies, he honed his skills through hands-on projects, writing and directing three award-winning short films that showcased his emerging directorial style. These student efforts, often exploring genre elements and low-budget creativity, provided early opportunities to experiment with narrative tension and visual storytelling. He also met actor and screenwriter Nick Damici at NYU, with whom he collaborated on a student film in 2001 and later formed a longtime creative partnership. He graduated in 2002, equipped with a foundational understanding of production techniques.[22][23][1] Post-graduation, Mickle gained practical experience in the industry by taking entry-level roles on independent films in New York City, serving as a production assistant, grip, and storyboard artist.[24] These positions on low-budget projects and various indie shorts offered invaluable training in set operations, lighting, and pre-production collaboration. For instance, his work as a grip involved managing equipment on constrained shoots, while storyboard duties allowed him to contribute visually to emerging directors' visions, building his expertise amid the post-9/11 challenges of the local film landscape.[23][24]Professional career
Independent feature films
Mickle made his directorial debut with the 2006 horror film Mulberry Street, a low-budget production shot entirely in New York City that explores urban horror through the lens of a mysterious infection turning residents into rat-like creatures. Co-written and produced with frequent collaborator Nick Damici, the film weaves in themes of gentrification, portraying the plight of working-class tenants facing eviction amid a chaotic outbreak in a Manhattan apartment building. It premiered at the Stockholm International Film Festival on November 16, 2006.[23] In 2010, Mickle co-wrote and directed Stake Land, a post-apocalyptic vampire road movie that follows a grizzled hunter and a young orphan navigating a ravaged American landscape plagued by vampires and religious zealots. Again partnering with Damici on the screenplay, the film marked a step up in production scale from Mulberry Street, earning critical acclaim including a New York Times Critics' Pick review for its atmospheric tension and genre subversion. It achieved modest box office success, grossing $405,380 worldwide against a limited release.[25][26] Mickle's 2013 film We Are What We Are serves as an English-language remake of the 2010 Mexican horror Somos lo que hay, centering on a reclusive rural family bound by a ritualistic tradition of cannibalism following the death of their matriarch. The story delves into themes of familial duty, religious fervor, and inherited violence, with sisters Iris and Rose taking on burdensome roles in their father's secretive practices. Featuring notable casting including Julia Garner as Rose, the film premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival before screening in the Directors' Fortnight section at the Cannes Film Festival.[27][28][29] The 2014 neo-noir thriller Cold in July, adapted from Joe R. Lansdale's 1989 novel, follows a Texas everyman who shoots an intruder and becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving corrupt law enforcement and vigilante justice. Mickle co-wrote the screenplay with Damici, emphasizing gritty Southern Gothic elements and moral ambiguity, bolstered by performances from Michael C. Hall as the protagonist, Don Johnson as a boozy private eye, and Sam Shepard as a vengeful father. The film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, showcasing Mickle's evolving command of genre-blending narratives.[30][31] Throughout these early features, Mickle progressed from micro-budget guerrilla-style horrors like Mulberry Street—made for under $250,000—to more polished genre entries with festival premieres at major events such as Sundance and Cannes, often leveraging his writing partnership with Damici to infuse personal stakes into supernatural and thriller frameworks. This strategic focus on international festivals helped secure distribution and build his reputation in the indie horror scene.[32][23]Television series and streaming projects
Jim Mickle's transition to television marked a significant evolution in his career, allowing him to explore serialized storytelling within genre frameworks while leveraging larger production resources. Following his success with independent films like the 2014 adaptation of Joe R. Lansdale's Cold in July, Mickle co-developed the SundanceTV series Hap and Leonard (2016–2018), drawing on his prior experience with Lansdale's material to delve into episodic narratives of crime and camaraderie.[33] This project, co-created with longtime collaborator Nick Damici, adapted Lansdale's novels set in 1980s East Texas, emphasizing themes of Southern Gothic friendship amid economic desperation and moral ambiguity during the Reagan era.[33] Mickle directed the pilot episode and several others, including the Season 3 installment "The Two-Bear Mambo," where he structured the six-episode seasons as interconnected chapters to maintain narrative momentum akin to a page-turning novel.[34] The series starred Michael K. Williams and James Purefoy as the titular duo—Hap Collins, a white liberal activist, and Leonard Pine, a Black Vietnam veteran—navigating pulp-infused plots involving sunken treasures, murder mysteries, and racial tensions, with Mickle incorporating improvisational elements like martial arts sequences to heighten authenticity.[33] Despite critical acclaim for its character-driven approach, Hap and Leonard was canceled after three seasons in May 2018, with SundanceTV citing undefined reasons amid efforts by author Lansdale to rally fan support for renewal.[35][36] Building on this television experience, Mickle directed the Netflix streaming thriller In the Shadow of the Moon (2019), a standalone project that blended science fiction with crime drama. Co-written by Gregory Weidman and Geoff Tock, the film follows Philadelphia police officer Thomas Lockhart (Boyd Holbrook) as he investigates a serial killer whose murders recur every nine years, unraveling a time-travel conspiracy that challenges his understanding of justice and reality.[37] Mickle, who also served as producer, navigated production challenges in Toronto, including balancing the film's ambitious genre fusion of psychological thriller and temporal paradox without on-location shooting in Philadelphia, while maintaining a grounded tone amid escalating stakes.[38] The narrative's structure, spanning decades, highlighted Mickle's skill in visual storytelling to convey obsession and redemption, though the project's development faced hurdles in securing Netflix's greenlight due to its intricate plot.[38] Starring alongside Holbrook were Cleopatra Coleman, Bokeem Woodbine, and Michael C. Hall, whose ensemble dynamic amplified the film's exploration of personal loss intertwined with speculative elements.[37] Mickle's most extensive television commitment came with Sweet Tooth (2021–2024), a Netflix fantasy drama series he developed, showran, wrote, directed, and executive-produced, adapting Jeff Lemire's DC comic into a three-season post-apocalyptic tale of hybrid human-animal children. Set in a world ravaged by a virus that birthed these "hybrids" while decimating humanity, the series centers on Gus (Christian Convery), a deer-boy seeking his origins, accompanied by protector Jepperd (Nonso Anozie) in a journey blending adventure, horror, and hope.[39] Mickle shaped the multi-season arc to emphasize emotional resonance over the comic's darker edges, infusing a tone of optimism and humanity's capacity for redemption, particularly through Gus's "superpower" of hope amid themes of environmental rebirth and coexistence.[39] For visual effects, he prioritized practical prosthetics and creature designs for hybrids, combining old-school techniques with digital enhancements to create a tactile, wondrous quality, while directing key episodes to ensure narrative cohesion across the ensemble cast including Stefania LaVie Owen and Adeel Akhtar.[40] The series culminated in Season 3's finale episode "This Is a Story," where Gus confronts unimaginable loss and makes a pivotal choice determining the fate of humans and hybrids, providing closure to the overarching quest.[41] This pivot from independent cinema to television and streaming enabled Mickle to harness expanded budgets for elaborate world-building and diverse casts, contrasting the constraints of his early features while preserving his auteur voice in genre-driven serialization. Through Hap and Leonard and Sweet Tooth, he demonstrated proficiency in showrunning, scaling personal stories into broader arcs that explore societal fractures, with Netflix's platform amplifying his reach beyond SundanceTV's niche audience.[5]Upcoming projects
Jim Mickle is attached to direct God Country, a Netflix adaptation of the Image Comics graphic novel by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw, which follows an elderly Texan man battling dementia who discovers a mythical sword amid a tornado, restoring his vitality and pitting him against supernatural adversaries in a fantastical confrontation.[42] The project, co-developed by Legendary Entertainment, has Mickle co-writing the script with Jacqueline Goldfinger and remains in development as of 2025, with the option renewed annually despite delays from the writers' strike, COVID-19, and Mickle's other commitments.[43] No casting has been confirmed, though the story blends fantasy elements with themes of aging and otherworldly horror set against a Western backdrop.[42] In October 2024, Legendary Entertainment and Bandai Namco announced that Mickle would write and direct a live-action adaptation of the iconic Gundam anime franchise, focusing on its mecha sci-fi universe of giant robots and interstellar conflict.[44] Production began in early 2025, marking Mickle's entry into high-budget franchise filmmaking through this collaboration.[45][46] Reports in March 2025 indicated final discussions with Sydney Sweeney for a lead role, which she confirmed in November 2025, though details on the plot and full cast remain under wraps.[47][48][49] These projects reflect Mickle's evolving career trajectory from independent genre films toward larger-scale adaptations at studios like Legendary and Netflix, building on the success of Sweet Tooth as a launchpad for such opportunities.[44] This shift introduces challenges in scaling his intimate, atmospheric style to franchise demands while maintaining thematic depth in horror, sci-fi, and real-world dramas.[43]Awards and recognition
Film festival awards
Jim Mickle's early feature films garnered significant attention on the international festival circuit, with premieres at prestigious events like Sundance and Cannes serving as key platforms for critical acclaim and awards recognition. His debut film, Mulberry Street (2006), received the Spirit Award at the 2007 Toronto After Dark Film Festival, honoring its innovative approach to horror storytelling. Additionally, it earned a Special Mention at the 2007 Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival, highlighting its cult appeal within genre cinema circles. For Stake Land (2010), Mickle won the People's Choice Award in the Midnight Madness program at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, reflecting audience enthusiasm for its post-apocalyptic vampire narrative. The film further received a Special Mention at the 2011 Neuchâtel International Fantasy Film Festival, underscoring its strong reception among fantasy and horror enthusiasts. Mickle's recognition culminated with the Best Director award for Cold in July (2014) at the Sitges Film Festival, celebrating his stylistic evolution in the thriller genre.Television and industry nominations
Jim Mickle's contributions to television, particularly as creator, director, and writer of the Netflix series Sweet Tooth (2021–2024), have earned him notable nominations from major industry guilds, reflecting his adept handling of genre storytelling in a family-oriented format. In January 2025, he was nominated by the Directors Guild of America (DGA) for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Children's Programs for directing the season 3 finale episode "This Is a Story."[50] This recognition highlights his work on the episode, which he also wrote, delivering a poignant conclusion to the series' narrative arc centered on the hybrid boy Gus's quest for belonging amid a post-apocalyptic crisis.) The DGA category specifically honors directors who perform all traditional directorial duties—including oversight of original photography—for programs primarily intended for audiences aged 12 and under, requiring an on-screen "Directed By" credit.[51] Earlier accolades for Sweet Tooth further underscore Mickle's industry standing. In 2022, he shared a nomination for the Children's & Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Single-Camera Program with directors Toa Fraser, Robyn Grace, and Alexis Ostrander, acknowledging the collaborative vision that shaped the series' early episodes. That same year, Mickle received a Children's & Family Emmy nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Young Teen Program for his work on the show, shared with writer Justin Boyd. Additionally, in 2024, he earned a Writers Guild of America (WGA) nomination for Children's Episodic, Long Form and Specials for co-writing the season 2 finale "The Ballad of the Last Men" with Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt.[52] No similar guild nominations were recorded for his earlier series Hap and Leonard (2016–2018). These honors represent a significant evolution in Mickle's career, shifting from independent film accolades to prestigious television guild recognitions and signaling his rising influence in streaming content. Sweet Tooth's broader acclaim, including 20 Emmy nominations and four wins across its run, provided the platform for such visibility.[44]Filmography
Feature films as director
Jim Mickle's feature films as a director span horror, thriller, and science fiction genres, often exploring themes of isolation and survival within constrained budgets. His debut, Mulberry Street (2006), marked his entry into low-budget independent cinema, while later works like Cold in July (2014) demonstrated growing production scale and wider distribution. The following table catalogs his directed feature films chronologically, including critical reception metrics from Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic where available, key production details, and brief notes.| Year | Film | Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer | Metacritic Score | Budget | Distributor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Mulberry Street | 70% [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mulberry_street) | N/A | $60,000 [] (https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/17245-mulberry-street) | Genius Products (DVD release) | Low-budget horror about a rat plague in New York; featured early collaboration with actor/co-writer Nick Damici. |
| 2010 | Stake Land | 75% [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stake_land) | 66/100 [] (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/stake-land/) | $625,000 [] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stake_Land) | IFC Films [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/stake_land) | Post-apocalyptic vampire road movie; produced by Larry Fessenden's Glass Eye Pix; praised for its moody cinematography. |
| 2013 | We Are What We Are | 85% [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/we_are_what_we_are_2013) | 71/100 [] (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/we-are-what-we-are-2013/) | Not publicly disclosed | Entertainment One [] (https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/sundance-2013-eone-nears-deal-414651/) | Remake of the Mexican film Somos lo que hay; premiered at Sundance; starred Julia Garner in a breakout role. |
| 2014 | Cold in July | 84% [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cold_in_july_2014) | 73/100 [] (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/cold-in-july/) | Not publicly disclosed | IFC Films [] (https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/sundance-film-review-cold-in-july-1201067814/) | Neo-noir thriller adapted from Joe R. Lansdale's novel; starring Michael C. Hall and Don Johnson in lead roles; Sundance premiere. |
| 2019 | In the Shadow of the Moon | 59% [] (https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/in_the_shadow_of_the_moon_2019) | 48/100 [] (https://www.metacritic.com/movie/in-the-shadow-of-the-moon-2019/) | Not publicly disclosed | Netflix [] (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8110640/companycredits/) | Time-travel sci-fi thriller; Netflix original starring Boyd Holbrook; marked Mickle's shift to larger-scale streaming production. |
.jpg)