Robert Neil Eggers is an American film director, screenwriter and production designer. He is best known for his acclaimed horror filmsThe Witch and The Lighthouse. Eggers began his career as a designer and director of theatre productions in New York before transitioning to working in film.
Personal life
Eggers grew up in Lee, New Hampshire. His parents are Kelly and Walter Eggers, and he has two brothers, Max and Sam. He moved to New York Cityin 2001 to attend an acting conservatory. He was inspired by his childhood in New England, when he frequently visited the Plimoth Plantation, to write his first feature. He is married to Alexandra Shaker.
Career
In 2015, Eggers made his directorial debut with horror film The Witch, based on his own script. The film premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 27, 2015. A24 acquired the film, and released it theatrically on February 19, 2016. Critical reception was largely positive, and the film earned over $40 million against a budget of $4 million. His follow-up film, the horror fantasyThe Lighthouse, also a period piece, was critically acclaimed. Eggers directed the film, and co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Max Eggers. It got an Academy Award nomination for best cinematography. In July 2015, it was reported that Eggers would write and direct a remake of the 1922 silent filmNosferatu, based on the Dracula mythology. The film is set to be produced by Jay Van Hoy and Lars Knudsen for Studio 8. In November 2016, Eggers expressed surprise that the Nosferatu remake was going to be his second film, saying "It feels ugly and blasphemous and egomaniacal and disgusting for a filmmaker in my place to do 'Nosferatu' next. I was really planning on waiting a while, but that's how fate shook out." Eggers had previously directed his high school's performance of the Nosferatu play, and was hired to direct a professional version of the play due to his work. Eggers credited this as the event that inspired him to pursue a career in filmmaking. The film has since been put on hold. Eggers is currently developing a "medieval epic" film called The Northman starring Nicole Kidman and Claes Bang, and a miniseries based on the life of Rasputin.
