Michael De Luca

Michael De Luca
De Luca at the 2011 Toronto
International Film Festival
Born (1965-08-13) August 13, 1965 (age 59)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Executive, producer, writer
EmployerWarner Bros.
TitleChairperson and CEO of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group
Spouse
Angelique Madrid
​
(m. 2009)​
Children2

Michael De Luca (born August 13, 1965) is an American film studio executive, film producer and screenwriter. He is also the former president of production at both New Line Cinema and DreamWorks. De Luca has been nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Picture. De Luca formerly served as the chairman of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion Picture Group and currently serves as a co-chairperson and CEO of Warner Bros. Pictures Group (now known as Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group).

Early life

De Luca was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. His mother was a German-Jewish immigrant, and his father, who was Italian American and Catholic, worked at ConEdison.[1][2] De Luca began pursuing a career in show business in 1986. Originally tapped to work as a story editor, he rose fairly quickly through the ranks, thanks in part to his mentor, chairman and co-founder of New Line Cinema Robert Shaye. De Luca completed his degree from Tisch School of the Arts of New York University in 1995.[3]

Career

De Luca began his career in 1988, working as a writer on the TV series Freddy's Nightmares. In 1990, De Luca made his debut in the film industry as an associate producer on Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, which was quickly followed by his writing/producing role on the film Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare.

He wrote the 1994 horror film In the Mouth of Madness, directed by John Carpenter. De Luca co-wrote the story for the 1995 film adaptation of the popular British comic book character Judge Dredd, starring Sylvester Stallone as the eponymous lead.[4] In 1996, De Luca, was approached by the producers Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore for Star Trek: Voyager and pitched an idea which turned into an opportunity to write an episode for the series, Threshold.

De Luca is a former President of Production for New Line Cinema. During his tenure at New Line Cinema, he oversaw a variety of films that would come to define the studio, including Seven, Friday, Boogie Nights, Austin Powers, Rush Hour, Blade, American History X, and Magnolia.

After New Line Cinema, De Luca became President of Production at DreamWorks, his tenure lasting from 2001 to 2004.

After his contract with DreamWorks ended, De Luca signed a production deal with Sony Pictures and started his own production company, Michael De Luca Productions. His first release under his production company was Ghost Rider (2007) starring Nicolas Cage, followed by 21 and The Love Guru (both 2008) starring Mike Myers.

He was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar two years in a row for The Social Network (2010) and Moneyball (2011). He received a third nomination in 2014 for producing Captain Phillips by Paul Greengrass.

De Luca also produced the 2011 remake of the cult classic vampire horror film Fright Night. De Luca and Dana Brunetti reunited for Fifty Shades of Grey, the 2015 film adaptation of the best-selling novel of the same name.[5][6] It was a massive financial success, becoming one of the highest-grossing R-rated films of all time.

On January 3, 2020, it was announced that De Luca had been appointed Chairman of the MGM Motion Picture Group.[7] In July 2022 he and Pamela Abdy left for Warner Bros. Pictures Group, taking up the roles of co-chairpersons and CEO, respectively.[8]

Personal life

De Luca was previously in a relationship with actress Julianne Moore, star of New Line's Boogie Nights.[9]

In 2009, he married actress Angelique Madrid (born 1974) from Ft. Worth, Texas, who was a contestant on the first season of ABC's The Bachelor. They have two children.[2]

Filmography

Film

Executive producer

Co-executive producer

Producer

Writer

Miscellaneous crew
Year Film Role
1989 A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child Production executive
2003 Old School
Thanks
Year Film Role
1996 Bed of Roses Thanks
1997 Spawn
Boogie Nights Special thanks
2008 Tropic Thunder The producers wish to thank
2011 Tower Heist Special thanks
2018 The Sisters Brothers The producers would like to thank
2021 The Suicide Squad The filmmakers wish to thank
Licorice Pizza Special thanks

Television

TV specials

Executive producer

Year Title Notes
2006 The Way Television pilot
2013 Mob City
2015 Childhood's End
2017 Embeds
2018 Escape at Dannemora
2020−21 The Baby-Sitters Club
2021 American Rust
2024 Shōgun
TBA Hue 1968

Writer

Year Title
1988−89 Freddy's Nightmares
1991−93 Dark Justice
1996 Star Trek: Voyager
Miscellaneous crew
Year Title Role
1988−90 Freddy's Nightmares Executive consultant
Executive: New Line Cinema
1991 Dark Justice Executive story consultant
As an actor
Year Title Role
2006 The Sopranos Cop

References

  1. ^ "Michael De Luca Biography (1965–)". Filmreference.com. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Galloway, Stephen. "The Confessions of Mike De Luca". The Hollywood Reporter.
  3. ^ "NYU Alumnus Mark Bridges Wins Oscar for Best Costume Design for "The Artist"". New York University. February 27, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
  4. ^ "Judge Dredd". June 30, 1995. Retrieved October 31, 2016 – via IMDb.
  5. ^ "The Social Network Producers Team Up Again For Fifty Shades of Grey Adaptation". BusinessInsider.com. Retrieved July 10, 2012.
  6. ^ "'Sony Fires Up 'Gran Turismo' Movie With 'Fifty Shades' Producers". The Wrap. July 23, 2013. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013.
  7. ^ "MGM Film Boss Jonathan Glickman Exiting; Mike De Luca To Become Chairman Of Film Group". Deadline Hollywood. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  8. ^ Kim Masters (July 28, 2022). "Alan Horn on Rejoining Warner Bros.: "I See Myself as a Consigliere"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
  9. ^ "Livin'Thing". Grantland.
  10. ^ Kit, Borys (November 15, 2019). "Amblin, Michael De Luca Tackling 'Martian' Author's Fantasy Graphic Novel 'Cheshire Crossing' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 2, 2020.