Stephen Sommers

Stephen Sommers

Born: March 20, 1962
in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Born and raised in Minnesota, Stephen Sommers went on to attend St. John’s University before transferring to the University of Seville in Spain.  After graduating, he spent the next several years managing rock bands throughout Europe. Relocating to Los Angeles, Sommers enrolled in the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts and spent the next three years earning a Masters Degree in Film Production.  Upon writing and directing an award-winning student film, Perfect Alibi, he was granted the opportunity to write and direct his first feature-length motion picture – a story set in the world of high school drag racing entitled Catch Me If You Can. From there, Sommers went on to create such well-known and beloved adaptations as The Adventures of Huck Finn and Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, both for Walt Disney Pictures.  He also wrote and executive produced Disney’s adventure film Tom and Huck before returning to the director’s chair for the suspense-thriller Deep Rising. The next year, Sommers wrote, directed and produced the first installment of The Mummy franchise for Universal Studios.  That film and its sequel, The Mummy Returns, have grossed over eight-hundred and forty million dollars worldwide.  His next monster blockbuster was the action-adventure epic Van Helsing, released in 2004, which did over three-hundred million dollars at the box office.  Following his producing duties on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor – which made the trilogy a billion dollar franchise - Sommers wrote, directed and produced G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra for Paramount Studios.  Stephen currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and their two daughters. Bio from official homepage.

Movies for Stephen Sommers...

Bloodsucking Cinema
Title: Bloodsucking Cinema
Character: Self
Released: October 26, 2007
Type: Movie
The sound of flapping bat wings, an empty coffin, glistening fangs, tiny punctures on the neck, the sensual taste of blood, a blank reflection, fear of the cross, and death from daylight. These are the creatures of the night, and as legendary (but fictional) vampire hunter Abraham Van Helsing exclaimed: "Gentlemen, we are dealing with the undead!" Perhaps the most enduring film genre of all time, vampire films continue to haunt us on the big screen. Why are we fascinated with the myth of these immortal souls? Could it be the living forever part, or perhaps the fact that they have an unearthly sexual attraction to both males and females? Whatever it is, audiences around the world can't seem to get enough of them.
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The Sci-Fi Boys
Title: The Sci-Fi Boys
Character: Self
Released: April 27, 2006
Type: Movie
Legendary all-stars of cinema bring to life the evolution of science-fiction and special effects films from the wild and funny days of B-movies to blockbusters that have captured the world's imagination. This is the story of the Sci-Fi Boys, who started out as kids making amateur movies inspired by Forrest J Ackerman's FAMOUS MONSTERS magazine and grew up to take Hollywood by storm, inventing the art and technology for filming anything the mind can dream.
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Building A Better Mummy
Title: Building A Better Mummy
Character: Himself (as Steven Sommers)
Released: September 28, 1999
Type: Movie
An in-depth look into the creative and technical processes that brought us the heart-stopping visual effects of the film, with director Stephen Sommers and the crew at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM).