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James Gunn is a filmmaker, writer and actor known for his cult films Tromeo and Juliet and Slither.  Originally from St. Louis, Missouri Gunn developed a love of film at a very young age. By the time he was 12, he began making eight-millimeter films of the macabre and absurd, a talent that would lend itself to Gunn's unusal...More

James Gunn is a filmmaker, writer and actor known for his cult films Tromeo and Juliet and Slither. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri Gunn developed a love of film at a very young age. By the time he was 12, he began making eight-millimeter films of the macabre and absurd, a talent that would lend itself to Gunn's unusal and successful film career.

After receiveing his MFA in creative writing from Columbia University, Gunn began working with "America's leading B-Movie production company," Troma Entertainment. During his time with Troma, Gunn wrote and co-directed the independent cult hit Tromeo and Juliet in 1996. He also co-wrote the book All I Need to Know about Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger, with Troma's President Lloyd Kaufman. After contributing to several other films and shorts for Troma, Gunn moved to Los Angeles in 2000 and penned the critically acclaimed novel The Toy Collector. He also wrote and acted in the film The Specials featuring Rob Lowe and his brother Sean Gunn.

In 2002, Gunn wrote his first major Hollywood screenplay Scooby-Doo and also the sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed in 2004. In 2006, Gunn wrote and directed the horror-comedy Slither featuring Elizabeth Banks. Slither was voted "Best Horror film of 2006” by Rue Morgue Magazine. Gunn also won a Saturn Award and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his work on the film. Gunn's next projects included the 2008 comedy shorts Humanzee! and Sparky and Mikaela. That same year, he was also featured as one of the judges on the VH1 reality television show Scream Queens. Gunn's latest film includes the 2010 superhero satire comedy Super starring Rainn Wilson Ellen Page, Liv Tyler and Kevin Bacon. In 2011, Gunn also helped develop the action video game Lollipop Chainsaw for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.