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Kyle Newman
Kyle Newman
from Wikipedia

Kyle Newman (born March 16, 1976) is an American filmmaker, actor and author. He is best known for directing Fanboys (2009), and has since directed Barely Lethal (2015), and 1Up (2022).

Key Information

Early life and education

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Newman was born in 1976 in New Jersey. He has a brother named Kevin, who went on to work as a character designer for The Simpsons.[citation needed]

He is an honors graduate of New York University's School of Film/TV and the receipt of the Martin Scorsese Award for "Excellence in Directing". In 1998, Newman's short film Bitten by Love won the Coca-Cola Refreshing Filmmaker's Award while he was a student at New York University.[3]

Career

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Film

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In 2006, Newman began production on Fanboys, a Star Wars-themed comedy starring Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler and Sam Huntington. Initially set for release in August 2007, it was pushed back to January 2008 as Newman was given more funding to shoot addition scenes. However, reuniting the cast would only be possible that September, so it was pushed back again to early 2008. By the end of the year, Newman was not involved in reshoots, and the scenes were directed by Steven Brill. The film was eventually released in February 2009 to poor reviews. Newman later directed Barely Lethal for A24, which starred Hailee Steinfeld and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as 1Up for Lionsgate and Prime Video, a comedy set in the world of competitive esports starring Ruby Rose. He is set to direct a documentary for Hasbro, exploring the fifty-year history of Dungeons & Dragons.[4]

In 2016, Newman produced Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made, a documentary about three teenagers who set out to recreate Steven Spielberg's classic Raiders of the Lost Ark shot-for-shot in 1982, which was distributed by Drafthouse Films. He reteamed with director Jeremy Coon and Fanboys scribe Adam F. Goldberg to produce A Disturbance in the Force, a documentary about the making of The Star Wars Holiday Special. He is the co-creator, co-story writer of the Netflix Original animated feature film Gnome Alone. Newman also executive produced Happily, alongside Jack Black.

Other work

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2018 saw the release of his first book Art & Arcana: A Visual History via Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House in association with Wizards of the Coast. It received nominations for a Locus Award, a Diana Jones Award, and a Hugo Award.[5] Newman's second book Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook published in October 2020 by Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House in association with Wizards of the Coast, reunited the author team and became a New York Times bestseller and was adapted into a cooking show titled Heroes' Feast for Hasbro. In 2023, sequels to both books were published by Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House. Dungeons & Dragons: Lore & Legends tells the story of D&D's 5th Edition and Heroes' Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse is the planet-hopping follow-up cookbook.[6]

Newman has directed music videos for artists including Taylor Swift ("Style", "Clean"), Lana Del Rey ("Summertime Sadness") and Cyn ("House With A View", "Losing Sleep"), and created the video content for Swift's The 1989 World Tour.

Personal life

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In 2006, while working on the set of Fanboys, he met actress and former model Jaime King.[7] Newman proposed in spring 2007, and the two married on November 23, 2007[8] in an "intimate and relaxed" ceremony in Los Angeles at Greystone Park and Manor, where Newman had proposed.[9] Newman and King have two sons together;[10] Taylor Swift is godmother to their second son.[11]

In May 2020, King filed for divorce from Newman after 13 years of marriage.[12] King also filed a domestic violence prevention petition and was granted a temporary restraining order against Newman,[12] which was later withdrawn.[13] The divorce was finalized in September 2023.[14]

Newman has a son and daughter with his partner, singer-songwriter Cyn.[15][16]

Newman is a supporter of Premier League club Arsenal.[17]

Filmography

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Short film

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Year Title Director Producer Writer Editor Notes
1999 The Cyclist Yes Yes Yes Yes
1998 Bitten by Love Yes Yes Yes Yes
2000 Drone Yes Yes Yes No
2008 The Cube Yes No Yes No Made for Microsoft
2012 Latch Key No Yes No No Role: Mr. Kyle

Feature film

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Director

Year Title Notes
2004 The Hollow Television film; Role: Cool High School Dude
2009 Fanboys Also editor (Uncredited)
2015 Barely Lethal
2022 1Up Role: Iggy, Kong Coach
TBA Untitled Vigilante Project Also writer and producer

Story writer

Executive producer

Documentary works

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Short film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2004 Artflick.001 Yes Yes No
2013 The Return of Return of the Jedi: 30 Years and Counting Yes Yes Yes

Film

Year Title Director Producer Himself
2013 Ralph McQuarrie: Tribute to a Master No Associate Yes
2015 Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made No Executive No
2023 A Disturbance in the Force No Yes Yes
TBA Untitled Dungeons & Dragons documentary Yes Executive No

Other works

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Theatre

Year Title Director Producer Writer
2012 Star Wars: Smuggler's Gambit – Live Stage Show Yes Yes Yes
2015 Star Wars: Smuggler's Bounty – Live Stage Show Yes Yes Yes
2017 Star Wars: Smuggler's Revenge – Live Stage Show Yes Yes Yes

Motion comic

Year Title Notes
2009–2010 Spartacus: Blood and Sand 2 episodes
2010 The Crazies 4 episodes

Music video

Year Title Artist Notes
2010 "Bury Me Alive" We Are the Fallen
2012 "Bel Air" Lana Del Rey
"Summertime Sadness" Co-directed with Spencer Susser
2015 "31 Seconds" Jaime King & J. Ralph
"Style" Taylor Swift
"Clean" (for The 1989 World Tour)
2022 "House With A View" Cyn
2023 "Losing Sleep"
"Clean (Taylor's Version)" Taylor Swift

References

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Bibliography

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Kyle Newman (born March 16, 1976) is an American filmmaker, author, and educator known for his work in and action films, as well as his contributions to literature. He directed the cult Fanboys (2009), which stars , , and in a story about Star Wars fans embarking on a quest to steal a print of the film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, and has since helmed action-comedies including Barely Lethal (2015) with and 1UP (2022) featuring . As an author, Newman co-authored the New York Times bestselling cookbook Heroes' Feast: The Official Cookbook (2017), which features recipes inspired by the role-playing game, along with other titles like Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana: A Visual History (2018), nominated for a for Best Art Book. Newman's early career included directing the horror film (2004), a modern retelling of the Headless Horseman legend starring , before gaining prominence with Fanboys, which premiered at the 2008 and became a fan favorite despite initial studio edits. He has expanded into music videos, helming Taylor Swift's "Style" (2015) from her album 1989 and "Summertime Sadness" (2012) by , blending his narrative style with pop visuals. In addition to filmmaking, Newman's writing on has earned acclaim, with Art & Arcana chronicling the game's artistic evolution through interviews and artifacts, and follow-ups like Heroes' Feast Flavors of the Multiverse (2020) extending the culinary theme across fantasy realms. In July 2025, Newman was appointed Director of the Broadcast Production Program at the Beverly Hills Unified School District, where he aims to integrate his production expertise into educational media training for students. He is the brother of Kevin Newman, known for work on and . Newman was previously married to actress from 2007 to 2022, with whom he shares two sons, and was awarded sole physical custody in March 2025 following a contentious .

Early life and education

Early years

Kyle Newman was born on March 16, 1976, in . He grew up in a creative family environment, with his brother Newman later becoming a character designer known for his work on and . From an early age, Newman was immersed in popular media, particularly films that ignited his lifelong passion for storytelling. His first vivid memory dates to the late summer of 1977, when, as a young child, he watched Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope at a drive-in theater alongside his family and cousins. This experience profoundly shaped him; remarkably, his first words at around one and a half years old were names of Star Wars action figures, such as "Tusken Raider" and "Greedo," spoken before he named family members. These formative encounters with cinema fostered Newman's early fascination with film, blending imaginative play with narrative worlds and laying the groundwork for his creative pursuits. This budding interest in eventually prompted him to seek formal training at .

Formal education

Newman attended 's Tisch School of the Arts, where he studied film and television production. He graduated with honors from the program, honing his skills in directing, , and through rigorous coursework that emphasized narrative storytelling and technical filmmaking techniques. In 1998, as a senior, Newman won the inaugural Refreshing Filmmaker Award, recognizing his thesis film work. Newman's academic experience was enriched by hands-on student projects, including several short films he wrote and directed, which allowed him to experiment with genre storytelling and character development under faculty guidance. These endeavors built his technical expertise in areas such as and , laying a foundational influence on his approach to .

Professional career

Filmmaking

Kyle Newman's directorial debut came with the 2004 horror television film The Hollow, a loose reimagining of the Headless Horseman legend set in modern-day Sleepy Hollow. The story follows a group of teenagers, including a descendant of Ichabod Crane, who inadvertently summon the vengeful spirit during a Halloween gathering, leading to a series of brutal pursuits. Starring Kevin Zegers, Kaley Cuoco, and Nick Carter, the film premiered on ABC Family and received mixed-to-negative reviews for its formulaic teen horror tropes and uneven pacing, though it was praised for its energetic practical effects and atmospheric nods to Washington Irving's tale. Newman's breakthrough feature, Fanboys (2009), is a road-trip comedy deeply infused with Star Wars fandom, following four lifelong friends—Eric (), Hutch (), Windows (), and Linus ()—who embark on a cross-country quest in to steal a of The Phantom Menace from after learning one of them has terminal cancer. The casting included high-profile cameos from as Zooey and , alongside appearances by Star Wars alumni like and , emphasizing the film's celebratory take on geek culture. Production faced significant hurdles, including a modest $6 million budget that necessitated reshoots after studio interference from , which delayed release for over a year and sparked fan protests at theaters; despite initial critical backlash for its uneven tone—earning a 1.5/4 from —the film has achieved cult status among sci-fi enthusiasts for its heartfelt homage and quotable humor. In 2015, Newman directed Barely Lethal, an action-comedy blending spy thriller elements with high school drama, centered on 16-year-old operative Agent 84 (), who fakes her death to attend a suburban school and experience normal teenage life, only to face her ruthless mentor () and rival assassin (). co-stars as her handler, Hardcore, adding levity through over-the-top training sequences. Acquired and distributed by , the film highlighted Newman's knack for genre mashups but garnered lukewarm reception, with critics noting its derivative plot borrowed from films like Juno and Kill Bill, resulting in a 26% score despite Steinfeld's charismatic performance. Newman's most recent directorial effort, 1UP (2022), explores the world through the lens of gender dynamics, following gamer Vivian "V" Lee (), who quits her team after facing rampant and assembles an all-female squad to compete in a major tournament. Featuring as a coach and in a supporting role, the film addresses real-world issues in competitive gaming while delivering comedic set pieces around virtual battles and team rivalries. Released directly to streaming on Prime Video by Lionsgate, it received mixed reviews for its timely theme but predictable scripting, holding a 45% on and underperforming commercially compared to Newman's earlier works. As of 2025, Newman is developing several projects: Chewie, a biopic chronicling the life of Star Wars actor during the production of the 1977 original, acquired in 2012 with Mayhew's involvement before his 2019 passing; Emo Boy, an adaptation of Steve Emond's cult comic about a melodramatic teen granted "emo powers" through extreme emotions, optioned by Vanguard Films in 2008 with Newman attached to direct and co-write; and an untitled documentary co-directed with , which began production in 2022 and explores the game's 50-year history using archived footage. All remain in various stages of or production, reflecting Newman's interest in blending personal with character-driven narratives. Beyond directing, Newman has taken on production roles in several narrative features, including executive producing the 2021 dark Happily alongside , which reimagines classic tales with a satirical edge, and serving as co-creator and co-story writer for the 2018 animated film , a family adventure about a girl defending her home from mythical intruders. In 2025, he is producing Glendower, a project that received a Film . These credits underscore his collaborative approach to genre storytelling outside the .

Authorship

Kyle Newman's authorship primarily centers on collaborative works tied to the (D&D) franchise, blending historical analysis, visual documentation, and culinary interpretations of the game's lore. His contributions emphasize the cultural and artistic dimensions of the role-playing game, drawing on extensive research and partnerships with D&D historians and creators. These books have garnered critical recognition and commercial success, highlighting Newman's role in bridging gaming heritage with accessible, illustrated narratives. In 2018, Newman co-authored Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana: A Visual History with Michael Witwer, Jon Peterson, and Sam Witwer, published by Ten Speed Press. The book chronicles the evolution of D&D through over 400 pieces of artwork, sketches, and ephemera spanning five decades, including essays on key editions, designers, and cultural impact. It received nominations as a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Art Book and the Locus Award for Best Art Book, underscoring its significance in genre nonfiction. Newman's culinary foray into D&D authorship came with Heroes' Feast: The Official D&D Cookbook (2020), co-authored with Witwer, Peterson, and Witwer, which became a New York Times . Featuring 80 recipes inspired by the game's setting—such as "Elven Bread" and "Orcish Skewers"—the book integrates lore descriptions, cooking instructions, and thematic pairings to evoke adventuring experiences. Its success reflects the growing mainstream appeal of D&D, with sales driven by the game's resurgence via . This was followed by Heroes' Feast: Flavors of the (2023), a sequel expanding on the original with over 75 new recipes exploring diverse D&D settings like and , again co-authored with the same team. The volume introduces multiverse-spanning themes, including planar-inspired dishes and beverage pairings, further enriching the game's narrative through gastronomic storytelling. Newman also contributed to Dungeons & Dragons: Lore & Legends: A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition (2023), co-authored with Witwer, Peterson, and Witwer. This 416-page illustrated guide details the development of fifth edition through interviews with designers, artwork from core rulebooks, and tracing its decade-long influence on modern gaming culture. Published by , it builds on Art & Arcana by focusing on contemporary evolution and community impact, contributing to the franchise's ongoing popularity. Newman's writing process in these works often incorporates visual storytelling techniques, influenced by his filmmaking background in sci-fi and fantasy genres, to create immersive prose that mirrors cinematic pacing and scene-setting in textual descriptions of art and recipes.

Other professional roles

In addition to his feature films, Newman has directed several high-profile music videos, showcasing innovative visual storytelling through techniques like double-exposure and vintage aesthetics. He helmed Taylor Swift's "Style" in 2015, a dreamy blending archival with new Los Angeles-shot scenes to depict a cyclical romance, featuring Dominic Sherwood as Swift's love interest. For Lana Del Rey, Newman co-directed "Summertime Sadness" ( ) in 2012 with Spencer Susser, creating an emotionally charged, retro-inspired video that captured themes of longing and loss through dramatic black-and-white imagery and symbolic elements like crashing waves. He also directed Del Rey's "Bel Air" that same year, emphasizing ethereal, paradise-lost motifs in a concise promotional clip. These collaborations highlighted Newman's ability to adapt his filmmaking style to pop music's demands, often incorporating personal connections—such as his friendship with Swift's associate —to foster creative synergy. Beyond directing, Newman produced supplementary content for major artists, including lyric videos and tour visuals. For , he directed the "Clean" lyric video in 2015 and created behind-the-scenes and performance footage for her , featuring collaborations with artists like to enhance live show projections and promotional materials. In July 2025, Newman was appointed Director of the Broadcast Production Program at the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD), a role aimed at expanding hands-on training in , television, and narrative arts for high school students. Drawing on his industry experience, he leads to equip participants with practical skills in production, editing, and storytelling, preparing them for careers in media while integrating professional-grade equipment and mentorship opportunities into the district's educational framework. As of November 2025, Newman has launched new initiatives for the KBEV student broadcast network, taking the program to innovative heights. Newman has also ventured into game design, particularly within the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) universe. In 2023, he co-created Dungeons & Dragons: Trials of Tempus, an officially licensed cooperative board game that adapts D&D mechanics for tabletop play, emphasizing narrative-driven quests and character progression to engage both newcomers and longtime fans. This project built on his earlier D&D-related work, including co-authoring illustrated histories that explore the game's visual and cultural evolution.

Personal life

Marriage and divorce

Kyle Newman married actress Jaime King on November 23, 2007, in Los Angeles. The couple separated in May 2020, when King filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences after nearly 13 years of marriage; reports at the time indicated Newman had begun a new relationship, of which King was unaware during the initial filing. Newman and King reached a settlement on September 19, 2023, agreeing to divide their community property and debts, establish spousal and child support obligations, and share joint physical and legal custody of their children on an initial 50/50 basis. The divorce received official finalization from the Los Angeles Superior Court on May 14, 2024, terminating their marital status effective that date. Post-finalization, a highly contentious custody dispute unfolded from late 2024 into 2025. In October 2024, Newman petitioned for sole physical and legal custody in filings, alleging King had repeatedly appeared intoxicated or under the influence of substances while supervising the children, including documented incidents where the children called him in distress describing her as "drunk" or "strung out," and citing her history of issues that posed risks to their well-being. On March 11, 2025, the court granted Newman sole physical custody, while retaining joint legal custody with Newman given tie-breaking authority; King was mandated to complete a six-month inpatient rehabilitation program for drugs and alcohol prior to regaining visitation rights, amid evidence from drug tests and witness accounts supporting Newman's claims. In April 2025, King publicly responded to the ruling, describing the custody battle as "scary" and stating that the system is "really unfair." This prolonged legal conflict strained family dynamics and stability.

Family

Kyle Newman shares two sons with his ex-wife : James Knight Newman, born on October 6, 2013, and Leo Thames Newman, born on July 16, 2015. In March 2025, a court awarded Newman sole physical custody of James and Leo, with King required to complete a rehabilitation program prior to regaining visitation rights, following a contentious custody dispute. Newman has two children with his wife, singer (born Nabozny): son Etienne Noel Newman, born on February 17, 2021, and daughter Beatrix Rose Newman, born on August 23, 2023. Newman and married in an intimate ceremony in on May 20, 2023. The family resides in , where Newman primarily raises all four children. Newman has publicly described fatherhood as challenging yet fulfilling, stating in June 2025 that "being a father of four is downright hard, but I couldn't imagine my life any other way."

Filmography

Feature films

Kyle Newman's feature film credits as director are detailed below, drawn from verified production records.
Film TitleYearRoleMedium
2004DirectorTV movie
Fanboys2009DirectorTheatrical
2015DirectorTheatrical
1UP2022DirectorStreaming
ChewieTBADirectorUpcoming

Documentaries

Kyle Newman has primarily contributed to documentaries as a , often focusing on themes of fan-driven and pop culture phenomena, particularly within the realms of and adventure cinema.
TitleYearRoleNotes
2016Chronicles the decades-long effort by three childhood friends to remake as a fan project.
2023Explores the production and legacy of the 1978 .
Untitled DocumentaryTBACo-directorCo-directed with ; chronicles the history of the game using over 400 hours of archived footage.

Music videos and shorts

Newman's early career in filmmaking began with short films that showcased his emerging directorial style, often exploring themes of perception, emotion, and the . His debut short, The Cyclist (1997), follows a man's journey through , earning early recognition for its introspective narrative. This was followed by Bitten by Love (1998), a romantic drama that won the Refreshing Filmmaker's Award while Newman was a student at New York University's Tisch of the Arts. Drone (2000), a sci-fi-inspired piece examining religion and childhood in a dystopian setting, further demonstrated his versatility in genre storytelling. Later, The Cube (2008) served as the opening act for an interactive online filmmaking contest sponsored by , blending suspense with audience participation elements. These shorts provided foundational experience that influenced his approach to visual pacing and thematic depth in subsequent works. Newman transitioned into music videos in the late 2000s, directing for prominent artists and emphasizing cinematic visuals, emotional resonance, and innovative editing. His collaborations often featured high-profile cameos and production values comparable to feature films. Below is a selected list of his music videos and notable shorts:
TitleYearArtist/Project
The Cyclist1997Short film
Bitten by Love1998Short film
Drone2000Short film
Bury Me Alive2010We Are the Fallen
Summertime Sadness2012Lana Del Rey (co-directed with Spencer Susser)
Bel Air2012Lana Del Rey (co-directed with Spencer Susser)
31 Seconds2015Jaime King feat. J. Ralph
Style2015Taylor Swift
Clean (1989 World Tour)2015Taylor Swift
House with a View2022Cyn (featuring Katy Perry)
Losing Sleep2023Cyn
Clean (Taylor's Version) lyric video2023Taylor Swift
The Cube2008Short film (Act I for Microsoft contest)
These projects, particularly the music videos, highlighted Newman's ability to adapt narrative techniques from his shorts to concise, music-driven formats, informing his broader visual storytelling in longer-form content.

Bibliography

Books

TitleYearPublisherRoleNotes
Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana: A Visual History2018Ten Speed PressCo-author (with Michael Witwer, Sam Witwer, and Jon Peterson)Finalist for the Hugo Award; Finalist for the Locus Award; Nominated for the Diana Jones Award.
Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook2020Ten Speed PressCo-author (with Jon Peterson and Michael Witwer)New York Times bestseller.
Heroes' Feast: Flavors of the Multiverse: An Official D&D Cookbook2023Ten Speed PressCo-author (with Jon Peterson, Michael Witwer, and Sam Witwer)
Dungeons & Dragons: Lore & Legends: A Visual Celebration of the Fifth Edition2023Ten Speed PressCo-author (with Michael Witwer, Jon Peterson, and Sam Witwer)

References

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