Paul Harris Boardman is an American screenwriter and film producer, best known for his work in the horror genre. Boardman has written screenplays and produced projects for various studios, networks, and production companies, including Netflix, TriStar, Disney, Miramax, NBC, Blumhouse, Lionsgate, Bruckheimer Films, IEG, APG, Sony, Lakeshore, AMC, Screen Gems, MTV, Fox, Universal and MGM.
Early life Boardman grew up in the Appalachian region of Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Sewanee with honors degrees in English literature and psychology. At Sewanee, he was the editor, a columnist, and a cartoonist for the university newspaper (The Sewanee Purple), a trombonist in the university's wind ensemble, and played wide receiver on the football team. Boardman earned an M.A. in creative writing from Johns Hopkins University, and also studied at St John's College, Oxford, and the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.
Career After writing his first feature scripts while still a student at USC's School of Cinematic Arts, Boardman began working with fellow screenwriter Scott Derrickson, working as a script doctor on Dracula 2000 and co-writing Urban Legends: Final Cut, and he also co-wrote and directed the second unit for Derrickson's directorial debut Hellraiser: Inferno, a direct-to-video sequel to the long-running horror franchise. In the early 2000s, Boardman and Derrickson co-wrote an adaptation of the epic sci-fi Hyperion novels by Dan Simmons that had Leonardo DiCaprio attached to star and Martin Scorsese attached as director. Boardman was the co-writer and producer of The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005), Derrickson's critically praised second film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.Fleming 2004. He has also worked on production rewrites of The Messengers, Scream 4, and Poltergeist. Boardman produced the 2008 remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still for Fox.Siegel 2007. He wrote and produced Devil's Knot, about the West Memphis Three, based on the book by Mara Leveritt, starring Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth and directed by Atom Egoyan. It had its world premiere at the 2013 Toronto Film Festival, and was released in 2014.Ford 2013. In addition, Boardman wrote The Substitute for producer Sam Raimi, Mandate, and Columbia Pictures,Graser 2009. and he wrote a suspense thriller, The Living, for Lakeshore Entertainment, which he was also attached to produce.McNary 2009.
Boardman was co-writer and executive producer on Thunderstruck, a sci-fi drama pilot for AMC,Gallagher 2011. and he co-wrote and was attached to executive produce a drama pilot for MTV. Boardman also adapted Stephen King's The Tommyknockers for The Konigsberg/Sanitsky Company and NBC.
In October 2011, it was announced that Boardman would co-write the horror-thriller Two Eyes Staring for Summit Entertainment, starring Charlize Theron, who was also attached to produce.Kit 2011. In September 2012, it was announced that Boardman would adapt the James Patterson bestseller Guilty Wives for Maven Pictures, and also executive produce the film.Kit 2012.
Boardman co-wrote and executive produced the supernatural thriller Deliver Us from Evil for Screen Gems and producer Jerry Bruckheimer. It began filming in June 2013 and was released on July 2, 2014.Turek 2013. In October 2020, it was announced that Netflix had greenlit the supernatural horror series Archive 81, which Boardman wrote and developed based on the popular podcast created by Marc Sollinger and Daniel Powell, and Boardman will executive produce.Porter 2020.
Boardman's other screenplays in development include The Birds for Universal Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, and Platinum Dunes, and Tom Slick, Mystery Hunter for Bluestone Entertainment and Teakwood Lane Productions.
Filmography
Year Film Credit Notes1995Love in the RuinsWritten byCo-wrote with Scott Derrickson2000Urban Legends: Final CutHellraiser: InfernoWritten by, second unit directorCo-wrote with Scott Derrickson, direct-to-videoDracula 2000Uncredited rewriteCo-wrote with Scott Derrickson2005The Exorcism of Emily RoseWritten by, producer2007The MessengersUncredited rewrite2008The Day the Earth Stood StillProducer2011Scream 4Uncredited production rewrite2013Devil's KnotScreenplay by, producerCo-wrote with Scott Derrickson2014Deliver Us from Evil2015PoltergeistUncredited script work2016CellSpecial thanks 2022 Archive 81Writer, developed by, executive producer
Notes
References Fleming, Michael (2004-9-23). "Linney in Line for 'Exorcism'". Variety. Retrieved 2012-8-8. Siegel, Tatiana (2007-11-5). "'Earth' Welcomes Jennifer Connelly". Variety. Retrieved 2012-8-8. Ford, Rebecca (2013-10-7). "Image Picks Up West Memphis Three Pic 'Devil's Knot'". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2013-11-26. Graser, Marc (2009-10-1). "Spooky Haunts Family Audiences". Variety. Retrieved 2012-8-8. McNary, Dave (2009-10-18). "Lakeshore taps 'The Living' director". Variety. Retrieved 2012-8-8. Gallagher, Brian (2011-11-11). "AMC picks up 'Thunderstruck'". Movieweb.com. Retrieved 2012-8-8. Kit, Borys (2011-10-18). "Charlize Theron Horror Thriller to be Directed by Scott Derrickson". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-8-8. Kit, Borys (2012-9-6). "James Patterson Novel Getting Movie Adaptation from 'Emily Rose' Writer". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-9-10. Turek, Ryan (2013-11-13). "Sinister Director's 'Beware the Night' Moves into 2014". Shock Till You Drop. Retrieved 2013-11-19. Porter, Rick (2020-10-26). "Netflix Snags 'Archive 81' Horror Series Based on Podcast". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2021-7-4.
External links
Interview with Paul Harris Boardman about 'Emily Rose' The Exorcism of Emily Rose: Interview with Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson