Bryan Fuller

Bryan Fuller

Born (1969-07-27) July 27, 1969
Lewiston, Idaho
Occupation
  • Screenwriter
  • Television producer
Education USC School of Cinematic Arts
Period 1997–present
Genre
  • Drama
  • Science fiction
  • Comedy
  • Fantasy
  • Macabre
Notable works
Partner Scott Roberts (2006–present)

Bryan Fuller (born July 27, 1969) is an American screenwriter and television producer. Fuller has worked exclusively as a writer/producer in television, creating a number of critically acclaimed television series, including Dead Like Me, Wonderfalls, Pushing Daisies and Hannibal.

Early life

Fuller was born in Lewiston, Idaho and raised in Clarkston, Washington. After graduating from Clarkston High School, Fuller attended Lewis–Clark State College in Lewiston, Idaho. He later transferred to the USC School of Cinematic Arts, but dropped out and began working as an office temp for the next five years. He was raised Roman Catholic.[1]

Career

As a contributing writer, Fuller's work has been featured on several shows, including Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, earning twenty-two episode writing credits for the Star Trek franchise. Fuller is himself a fan of science fiction, and in an interview said that his favorite Star Trek series were the 1960s original, followed by Deep Space Nine, The Next Generation and Voyager. Fuller has called DS9 his favorite spin-off, stating: "There were lots of new and innovative things going on during Deep Space Nine and that's why it's my favorite of the new series'. It was much more character-based".[2] Fuller worked on the DS9 episodes "The Darkness and the Light" and "Empok Nor".

Fuller wrote the teleplay for the 2002 adaptation of Carrie, based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King. Next, he created Dead Like Me which ran on Showtime for two seasons from 2003 to 2004, although Fuller left early into the first season. He then co-created Wonderfalls with Todd Holland, which ran on Fox in 2004, with only four episodes being aired and the rest premiering on DVD. Near the end of 2004, Fuller got a pilot commitment from NBC for The Assistants,[3] although the show never got past the script stage. In 2005, Fuller wrote the pilot to the animated comedy The Amazing Screw-On Head for the Sci Fi Channel, which aired in 2006 but was not picked up for a series. He next worked on NBC series Heroes, where he joined as a consulting producer after the pilot and became a co-executive producer for the first season. He also wrote a couple episodes for Heroes, including "Company Man" which TV Guide named one of the 100 greatest episodes in television history.

Chi McBride and Bryan Fuller

Next he created Pushing Daisies, about a pie-maker (Lee Pace) who can bring dead things back to life temporarily, debuted on ABC on October 3, 2007. On July 17, 2008 the show was nominated for twelve Emmy Awards from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, including one for Fuller for Outstanding Writing of a Comedy Series. It ultimately won seven Emmy Awards: for Best Supporting Actress (Kristin Chenoweth), Best Art Direction, Best Costume, Best Music, Best Make-Up, Best Editing, and Best Direction of a Comedy Series (Barry Sonnenfeld). The second season of Pushing Daisies began October 1, 2008 on ABC. In mid-November, ABC announced that it would not order new episodes for season two after the 13th.[4] The series's final episode aired on June 13, 2009.[5]

With the cancellation of Pushing Daisies, Fuller signed a seven-figure, two-year deal with Universal Media Studios. He rejoined the writing staff of Heroes for the 20th episode of the third season, and again became a consulting producer, playing a "key role" on the writing staff.[6] After working on some of the story arcs for the next season of Heroes, Fuller announced he was moving on to other projects.[7] His next projects, both a result of the Universal deal and developed for NBC, were Sellevision, developed with Bryan Singer and based on the book of the same name by Augusten Burroughs, and No Kill, Fuller's first sitcom.[8] Neither project got past the scripting stage. Fuller's next project, again for NBC, was Mockingbird Lane, a revival of the classic sitcom The Munsters. A pilot was produced, but the show did not receive a series order, and the pilot aired as a Halloween special. Fuller next worked on Mind Fields with Lisa Joy for USA,[9] which was not picked up.

Fuller owns Living Dead Guy Productions.[10]

Fuller is also a partner in Fuller + Roberts Co. LLC, a Los Angeles-based shop featuring vintage and custom home furnishings. Profiled in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and chosen by Elle Decor (Feb/March issue) as one of the "What's Hot! Shops" of 2011, Fuller opened the West Hollywood showroom with interior decorator Scott Roberts.[11]

Fuller's next project was the Hannibal Lecter series Hannibal, which premiered on NBC in 2013, and renewed for a second season in 2014.[12] Fuller had developed High Moon for Syfy, based on the book The Lotus Caves, which filmed a pilot in late 2013, but was not given a series order.[13]

Fullerverse

Nicknamed the "Fullerverse" by Fuller's fans, all of Fuller's series are implied to take place in the same universe.

Marianne Marie Beetle (played by actress Beth Grant) first appears in the Wonderfalls episode "Muffin Buffalo", and has subsequently appeared in the Pushing Daisies episode "Comfort Food"[14] and in the pilot of Mockingbird Lane.[15] Similarly, Gretchen Speck-Horowitz (played by Chelan Simmons) first appears in the Wonderfalls episode "Pink Flamingos" and subsequently appeared in the Hannibal episode "Amuse-Bouche", reverting to her maiden name after her divorce.[16]

Meanwhile, in the Pushing Daisies episode "Bzzzzzzzzz!", Ned mentions that he works for Happy Time Temp Agency when trying to go undercover. Happy Time Temp Agency is the place where Georgia "George" Lass works in Dead Like Me.[17]

Also, the fictional brand "Lil' Ivey's" first appeared in the Wonderfalls episode "Cocktail Bunny" on a box of cocktail cherries and later appeared in the Pushing Daisies episode "Kerplunk", this time on a bag of macaroni.[18]

In a more subtle nod, Fuller has also reinterpreted a few of his characters in later series.[19] Georgia "George" Lass (played by Ellen Muth), having first appeared in Dead Like Me was reinterpreted as Georgia Madchen (also played by Muth) in the Hannibal episodes "Buffet Froid" and "Relevés". This similarity is furthered by their last names: "lass" is an English synonym for girl while "Mädchen" is a German word meaning the same. In another nod to Georgia Lass being a reaper (therefore both dead and alive) in Dead Like Me, in Hannibal Georgia Madchen is a killer who suffers from numerous medical conditions including Cotard's syndrome, a delusion disorder that has her convinced she is actually dead.[20][21] In a similar manner, Reggie Lass from Dead Like Me (played by Britt McKillip) was reinterpreted as Miriam Lass (played by Anna Chlumsky), who first appears in the Hannibal episode "Entrée".[22] Similarly, in the Hannibal episode "Takiawase", an acupuncturist (played by Amanda Plummer) who is under investigation for lobotomizing patients is named Katherine Pimms, which is also the cover name used by Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (played by Anna Friel) in multiple episodes of Pushing Daisies.[23]

A visual nod to Wonderfalls was given in the Heroes first season episode "Seven Minutes to Midnight" when the smoosh-faced wax lion central to Wonderfalls was seen on a bedside table.[24]

Personal life

Fuller is openly gay.[25][26] He is in a long-term relationship with decorator Scott Roberts.[27][28]

Frequent casting

Actor Carrie (2002) Dead Like Me (2003–04) Wonderfalls (2004) Pushing Daisies (2007–09) Mockingbird Lane (2012) Hannibal (2013–15) High Moon (2014) American Gods (2017–)
Jodelle Ferland
Chelan Simmons
Katharine Isabelle
Ellen Muth
Jewel Staite
Neil Grayston
Caroline Dhavernas
Lee Pace
Diana Scarwid
Beth Grant
Ellen Greene
Kristin Chenoweth
Raúl Esparza
Molly Shannon
Orlando Jones
Gina Torres
Eddie Izzard
Charity Wakefield
Gillian Anderson
Demore Barnes
Jonathan Tucker
Jeremy Davies
Chris Diamantopoulos

Television

Year Film Role Notes
1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Writer 2 episodes
1997–2001 Star Trek: Voyager Writer, story editor and co-producer 81 episodes
2002 Carrie Writer and executive producer Television film
2003–04 Dead Like Me Creator, writer, executive producer and consulting producer 29 episodes
2004 Wonderfalls Creator, writer and executive producer 13 episodes
2006 The Amazing Screw-On Head Developer, writer and executive producer Pilot
2006–09 Heroes Writer, consulting producer and co-executive producer 33 episodes
2007–09 Pushing Daisies Creator, writer and executive producer 22 episodes
2012 Mockingbird Lane Developer, writer and executive producer Pilot
2013–15 Hannibal Developer, writer and executive producer 39 episodes
2014 High Moon Developer, writer and executive producer Pilot
2017 American Gods Developer, writer and executive producer
2017 Star Trek: Discovery Co-creator, writer and executive producer
TBA Untitled Amazing Stories Revival Developer, writer and executive producer

Award and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2005 Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Comedy Wonderfalls Nominated
2007 Writers Guild of America Award New Series Heroes Nominated
2007 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series Heroes Nominated
2008 Writers Guild of America Award New Series Pushing Daisies Nominated
2008 Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Comedy Pushing Daisies Nominated
2008 Edgar Award Best Television Episode Teleplay Pushing Daisies Nominated
2008 Hugo Award Best Dramatic Presentation - Long Form Heroes Nominated
2008 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series Pushing Daisies Nominated
2014 The Dan Curtis Legacy Award Won

References

  1. ScreenCrush magazine: "Bryan Fuller On ‘Hannibal’ Season 3, A ‘Silence of the Lambs’ Reboot and ‘American Gods’" by Erin Whitney December 8, 2015 | "what I love about working with Michael Green is that we were both raised from a religious backgrounds. He was raised Jewish and I was raised Catholic"
  2. Taylor, Robert (2006-10-26). "Reflections: Talking with Bryan Fuller". Comic Book Resources.com. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
  3. "Wonderfalls cocreator Bryan Fuller sells pilot to NBC". November 12, 2004. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  4. "ABC cancels "Pushing Daisies," "Eli Stone" — Slice of SciFi". Sliceofscifi.com. 2008-11-21. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  5. Lowe, Al (2009-06-13). "Pushing Daisies TV Show – Pushing Daisies Photos & Videos, Pushing Daisies Reviews & Pushing Daisies Recaps | TWoP". Televisionwithoutpity.com. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  6. "UMS Deal". Hollywood Reporter. 2008-12-03. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  7. "Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news". Aintitcool.com. Retrieved 2011-08-26.
  8. Schneider, Michael (September 9, 2009). "Fuller, Singer sell NBC on Burroughs". Variety. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  9. Levine, Stuart (May 17, 2012). "USA casts broad development net". Variety. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  10. "ABC Adds 10 Newcomers". Thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  11. "About Us – FULLER + ROBERTS Co.". Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  12. "'Hannibal' Renewed For Season 2: NBC Picks Up Bryan Fuller Series for a Second Helping". Huffingtonpost.com. 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  13. "'High Moon': Bryan Fuller's Syfy pilot adds 'Heroes' and 'Black Donnellys' alums". Zap2it. August 22, 2013. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  14. "Marianne Marie Beattle (Character) : from "Pushing Daisies" (2007)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  15. Archived November 4, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  16. Roots, Kimberly (2012-09-27). "Hannibal Casts Chelan Simmons – Season 1". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  17. "Pushing Daisies Season Premiere Review: "Bzzzzzzz!"". Tor.com. 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  18. "Endings, as it is known, are where we begin". Fuckyeahbryanfuller.tumblr.com. 2009-06-22. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  19. Roots, Kimberly (2013-01-31). "Hannibal Season 1 Cast – Ellen Muth". TVLine. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  20. Eric Goldman 30 May 2013 (2013-05-30). "Hannibal: "Buffet Froid" Review". IGN. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  21. "Bryan Fuller interview: Pushing Daisies, High Moon, Star Trek, Dead Like Me & more...". Den of Geek. 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  22. "Twitter / BryanFuller: .@AnnaChlumsky on #HANNIBAL". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2013-11-03.
  23. Todd VanDerWerff. "Hannibal's Bryan Fuller on that terrifying cliffhanger · The Walkthrough · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  24. http://www.cbr.com/behind-the-eclipse-heroes-episode-8/
  25. Stevenson, Alexander (2008-09-17). "Being Gay is the Least Interesting Thing About Bryan Fuller | NewNowNext - Page 2". Thebacklot.com. Retrieved 2015-11-12.
  26. Prudom, Laura (2015-06-04). "Hannibal' Showrunner Bryan Fuller Says Season 3 is the 'Series I've Always Wanted To Make". Variety.
  27. Keeps, David A. (2007-10-11). "Producer Fuller rights his boathouse". Denver Post.
  28. Archived November 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
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