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Derek Connolly

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Derek Connolly
Bornc. 1976 (age 49–50)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • film producer
Alma materTisch School of the Arts
Years active2005–present

Derek Connolly (born c. 1976)[1] is an American screenwriter and film producer. He is best known for writing well received blockbusters, including Jurassic World (2015), Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Detective Pikachu (2019). He has also written critically acclaimed genre films such as Safety Not Guaranteed (2012) and Deep Cover (2025) as well as a never produced original draft of Star Wars: Duel of the Fates, which was later released as Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.

Education

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Connolly attended Miami Palmetto Senior High School in Miami and New York University Tisch School of the Arts.[2]

Career

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Connolly rewrote Kong: Skull Island (2017), for Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures.[3] Connolly co-wrote early (and ultimately uncredited) drafts of Pacific Rim: Uprising with Guillermo del Toro, Jon Spaihts and Zak Penn; the final screenplay was by Steven S. DeKnight, Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder and T. S. Nowlin; based on characters by Travis Beacham and del Toro[4] Connolly and his writing partner Colin Trevorrow co-wrote the screenplays for Jurassic World (2015) and its sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and by February 2018, had written a story treatment for Jurassic World Dominion, was released on June 10, 2022.[5] Connolly and Trevorrow also co-wrote the first draft of Star Wars: Duel of the Fates, the final film of Star Wars sequel trilogy, but both left after Trevorrow stepped down as director, they were later replaced by J. J. Abrams (who directed Star Wars: The Force Awakens, eventually replaced Trevorrow as director) and Chris Terrio; however Connolly and Trevorrow received a story credit with Abrams and Terrio on Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Connolly was reported to be working on a remake of the film Flight of the Navigator,[6] an original Pixar film directed by Teddy Newton,[7] an adaptation of the Metal Gear video game series,[8] and a live action The Legend of Zelda film.[9]

Writing credits

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Year Title Director
2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Colin Trevorrow
2015 Jurassic World
2016 Monster Trucks Chris Wedge
2017 Kong: Skull Island Jordan Vogt-Roberts
2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom J. A. Bayona
2019 Pokémon Detective Pikachu Rob Letterman
2025 Deep Cover Tom Kingsley
2027 The Legend of Zelda Wes Ball

Production

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Year Title Director Notes
2012 Safety Not Guaranteed Colin Trevorrow Also writer

Story contributions

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Year Title Director Notes
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker J. J. Abrams Story only
2022 Jurassic World Dominion Colin Trevorrow Story only

References

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  1. ^ Sneider, Jeff (November 29, 2012), "Connolly: College partnership leads to 'Guaranteed' success", Variety, retrieved December 21, 2012
  2. ^ Kareem Tabsch (June 19, 2012), "Safety Not Guaranteed: Miami Screenwriter Derek Connolly Turned an Internet Meme Into an Indie Film Success Story", Miami New Times, archived from the original on January 30, 2013, retrieved December 21, 2012
  3. ^ Kit, Borys (August 18, 2015). "'Jurassic World' Writer Heads to 'Kong: Skull Island' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  4. ^ Kit, Borys (May 12, 2016). "Pacific Rim 2 Enlists Jurassic World Writer Derek Connolly (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  5. ^ Kroll, Justin (February 21, 2018). "Jurassic World 3 to Hit Theaters in June 2021". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  6. ^ Trumbore, Dave (November 27, 2012). "Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly to Rewrite FLIGHT OF THE NAVIGATOR Remake; Trevorrow May Direct". Collider. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  7. ^ "New Pixar Movie Coming From 'Safety Not Guaranteed' Writer Derek Connolly and 'Day & Night' Director Teddy Newton". slashfilm.com. November 29, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  8. ^ Kroll, Justin; Lang, Brent (November 8, 2017). "Jurassic World Scribe To Write Metal Gear Solid Film (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  9. ^ "'Legend Of Zelda' Live-Action Pic In Works At Sony With Wes Ball Directing, Nintendo Co-Financing". Deadline Hollywood. November 7, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
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