Pierre Morel

Pierre Morel
Morel at the preview showing of Taken in Paris, 27 February 2008
Born (1964-05-12) 12 May 1964 (age 62)
France
OccupationsFilm director, cinematographer
Years active1988–present
Notable workDistrict 13
Taken
From Paris with Love

Pierre Morel (born 12 May 1964) is a French film director and cinematographer. His work includes District 13, From Paris with Love, and Taken.

Career

After spending his formative years in cinema school, Morel began his career in 2000 as a camera operator on Richard Berry's film L'Art (délicat) de la séduction.

The following year, he began a career as a cinematographer, working with such directors as Louis Leterrier, Corey Yuen, Nancy Meyers, Alek Keshishian, Luc Besson and Phillip Atwell. At the same time, he directed his first film District 13 in 2004, followed by Taken in 2008 and From Paris with Love in 2010. The Daily Telegraph criticised Taken as notable "mainly for its racist stereotyping of Arabs and eastern Europeans."

Morel was attached to Paramount's planned adaptation of Frank Herbert's Dune but left the project before it was cancelled. In 2015, he directed the action film The Gunman, starring Sean Penn, Javier Bardem and Idris Elba.

Filmography

Feature films

TitleYearCredited asNotesRef(s)
DirectorCinematographerOther
Race for Glory 1989 Yes 2nd assistant cameraman
Revenge of the Musketeers 1994 Yes Steadycam operator
Un indien dans la ville 1994 Yes Steadycam operator
L'Art (délicat) de la séduction 2001 Yes Cameraman
Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra 2002 Yes Steadycam operator
The Transporter 2002 Yes Yes Cameraman, steadycam operator
The Truth About Charlie 2002 Yes Cameraman
I, Cesar 2003 Yes Cameraman
Something's Gotta Give 2003 Yes Second unit cinematographer
L'Américain 2004 Yes Yes Cameraman, steaycam operator
District 13 2004 Yes
Unleashed 2005 Yes
Love and Other Disasters 2006 Yes
Taxi 4 2007 Yes
War 2007 Yes
Taken 2008 Yes
From Paris with Love 2010 Yes
The Gunman 2015 Yes
Overdrive 2017 Yes Producer
Peppermint 2018 Yes
Al Kameen 2021 Yes
Freelance 2023 Yes
Canary Black 2024 Yes
The Good Samaritan TBA Yes
The New Mrs. Keller TBA Yes

References

  1. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmreviews/3561225/Review-Redbelt-and-Taken.html Review: Redbelt, and Taken
  2. ↑ "Pierre Morel Takes Over Directing Duties on Dune". 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Anders, Charlie Jane. "Another director quits Dune, as time runs out on for the project". Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  4. ↑ "Idris Elba Eyes Pierre Morel's 'The Gunman'". vibe.com. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Race for Glory (1989)". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "La Fille de d'Artagnan (1993) Bertrand Tavernier". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Un Indien dans la ville (1994)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. ↑ "L'Art (délicat) de la séduction (2000)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. ↑ "Astérix et Obélix : Mission Cléopâtre (2001)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  10. ↑ "Le Transporteur (2002)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Truth About Charlie (2002)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "The Truth About Charlie". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  13. ↑ "Moi, César, 10 ans 1/2, 1 m 39 (2002)". Bifi.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  14. ↑ "Something's Gotta Give". American Film Institute. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  15. ↑ Goldstien, Patrick (20 February 2009). "For Pierre Morel, revenge thrillers are sweet". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  16. ↑ "L'American" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  17. ↑ "B 13 - Banlieue 13" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  18. ↑ "Danny the Dog" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Love and Other Disasters" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  20. ↑ "Toronto festival 'ratchets up acquisition frenzy'". Screen Daily. 7 August 2006.
  21. ↑ "Taxi 4" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  22. ↑ "War" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  23. ↑ "Taken" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "From Paris with Love" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  25. ↑ "The Gunman" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  26. ↑ "Overdrive" (in French). Bifi.fr. Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  27. ↑ Kit, Borys. "'Taken' Director Tackling Female Action Movie for Lakeshore". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  28. ↑ "Peppermint (2017) Pierre Morel". Bifi.fr. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  29. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (December 1, 2021). "Pierre Morel Action Film 'Al Kameen' Smashes UAE Box Office Records". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2026.
  30. ↑ Sim, Jonathan (2023-09-11). "Freelance Release Date Delayed for John Cena-led Comedy Movie". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  31. ↑ Ntim, Zac (November 1, 2022). "Canary Black: First-Look Image From Action Thriller Starring Kate Beckinsale & Rupert Friend — AFM". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
  32. ↑ "13 new films you won't want to miss from Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios this fall". Amazon. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 3 August 2024.
  33. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (November 17, 2025). "Daisy Ridley To Star In Pierre Morel Action-Thriller 'The Good Samaritan'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
  34. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda. "'Taken' Helmer Pierre Morel To Direct 'The New Mrs. Keller' With Claes Bang Set As Lead". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 16 October 2018.