Gareth Huw Evans (born 1979 or 1980)[1] is a Welsh film director, screenwriter, editor, and action choreographer. He is best known for the Indonesian action crime films Merantau (2009), The Raid (2011), and The Raid 2 (2014), and for bringing the Indonesian martial art of pencak silat into world cinema through these films.[2] He is also known for co-creating, co-writing, co-directing, and executive producing the Sky Atlantic/AMC action crime drama television series Gangs of London (2020–present), alongside Matt Flannery, based on the 2006 video game of the same name.
Gareth Evans | |
|---|---|
 Evans in 2012 | |
| Born | Gareth Huw Evans 1979 or 1980 (age 44–45) Hirwaun, Wales |
| Alma mater | University of Glamorgan (MA) |
| Occupation(s) | Film director, screenwriter, editor, action choreographer |
| Years active | 2003–present |
| Spouse | Maya Barack-Evans |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editEvans was born and raised in Hirwaun, Cynon Valley.[1] He graduated from the University of Glamorgan (now the University of South Wales) with an MA in screenwriting.[3][4]
Career
editAfter directing a small-budget film called Footsteps, Evans was hired as a freelance director for a documentary about the Indonesian martial art pencak silat.[2] He became fascinated with it, and discovered Indonesian martial artist Iko Uwais, who was working as a deliveryman for a phone company. Evans cast Uwais in his 2009 film Merantau.[citation needed] He planned to produce a larger action film, but scaled the production budget down and created an action film called The Raid (2011). After the success of The Raid, the larger action film eventually became the basis for its sequel, The Raid 2: Berandal (2014).[5][6]
In late 2016, Evans started working on his next film, Apostle, which stars Dan Stevens. The film was released by Netflix on 12 October 2018.
In October 2017, TheWrap reported that Evans had pitched his idea for a Deathstroke solo film and is in early talks to write and direct. Evans also passed on directing a Justice League Dark film.[7] However, in April 2020, Evans said that the film had been delayed and that he was no longer actively involved with the project.[8]
Personal life
editEvans lived in Jakarta with his wife, Maya, and their daughter, until the family moved back to Wales in 2015.[1][9][10]
Filmography
editShort film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Samurai Monogatari | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
| 2013 | Safe Haven | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Segment of V/H/S/2 (Co-directed with Timo Tjahjanto) |
| 2016 | Pre Vis Action | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also cinematographer |
Feature film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Editor | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Footsteps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Role: Porn Den Videographer |
| 2009 | Merantau | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2011 | The Raid | Yes | Yes | Executive | Yes | Also action choreographer |
| 2014 | The Raid 2 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | |
| 2018 | Apostle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also action design team |
| 2025 | Havoc | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Post-production[11] |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Creator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Gangs of London | Yes | Yes | Yes | Episodes 1, 5, and most action sequences |
Awards
editIn November 2011, The Raid won the Midnight Madness Award at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2011.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c Hughes, Brendan (24 May 2012). "Gareth comes home for his film premiere". walesonline.co.uk.
The 32-year-old beamed with pride during the talk at the university's Atrium campus in the city as he answered questions from students eager to follow in his footsteps.
- ^ a b Brown, Todd (4 February 2009). "Gareth Evans and Iko Uwais talk MERANTAU". Twitch Film. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ "'The Raid' directed by Glamorgan graduate Gareth Evans released today". University of Glamorgan. 18 May 2012. Archived from the original on 15 May 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
- ^ Ludkin, Gareth (May 2012). "profile - Gareth Evans". Buzz: 22.
- ^ Gareth Evans – The Raid Interview at TIFF 2011. Tribute.ca. 8 September 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
- ^ Helen Barlow (15 June 2014). "Welsh director Gareth Evans' second 'Raid' movie is an all-action expansion of the first Indonesia-filmed hit". South China Morning Post.
- ^ Gonzalez, Umberto (25 October 2017). "Gareth Evans In Talks To Write & Direct A Deathstroke Solo Film". TheWrap. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Gareth Evans reveals pitch for his 'lean, visceral' Deathstroke movie that never happened (exclusive)". sports.yahoo.com. 29 April 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Director, Star of 'The Raid' Discuss the Movie". Jakarta Globe. 2 April 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2012.
- ^ Damon Wise (5 May 2012). "The Raid: how a Welsh director rocked the world of Asian action cinema". The Guardian.
- ^ "'Gangs of London' director Gareth Evans breaks down the making of brutal fight scenes and talks extreme violence on screen". uk.movies.yahoo.com. 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Sony Pictures Classics Releasing The Raid". Deadline Hollywood. 29 November 2011.
External links
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