Jeffrey Clark Wadlow (born March 2, 1976) is an American filmmaker. He is best known for writing, producing and directing feature films, including Kick-Ass 2 (2013), Truth or Dare (2018), Fantasy Island (2020), and Imaginary (2024). In 2022, Wadlow was nominated for a DGA award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Children's Programs.
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Early life
Wadlow was born in Arlington, Virginia, the son of Emily Couric, a state senator, and R. Clark Wadlow. He is the nephew of journalist Katie Couric. Wadlow attended Dartmouth College, graduating with a B.A. in history and film. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he attended the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television on a USC Associates Endowment Scholarship for academic achievement. Wadlow graduated from USC in 2001.
Career
Writing and directing
Wadlow's short film, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), received more than two dozen awards, including: Best Short Film at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, Best Short Film at the St. Louis International Film Festival, the George Méliès Cinematography Award at the Taos Talking Picture Festival, and a Student Award at USA Film Festival.
In 2005, Wadlow came up with the idea for his theatrical directorial debut Cry Wolf with the money Wadlow won in the 2002 Chrysler Million Dollar Film Competition.
In 2008, Wadlow directed the film Never Back Down, starring Djimon Hounsou and Sean Faris. The movie won the MTV movie award for "Best Fight."
In 2013, Wadlow also wrote and directed Kick-Ass 2, the sequel to the 2010 black comedy superhero film Kick-Ass.
Wadlow wrote and directed True Memoirs of an International Assassin in 2016, starring Kevin James and Andy Garcia, which was among the first original feature films for Netflix.
Wadlow directed, executive produced and co-wrote the horror film, Truth or Dare, starring Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey, in 2018. The premise of the movie surrounds the popular party game, Truth or Dare, and the deadly results that ensue from a group of friends playing while on a spring break trip to Mexico.
In 2020, Wadlow directed, produced and co-wrote the film Fantasy Island, inspired by a 1970s television show with the same name. That same year, Wadlow wrote the story and co-wrote the screenplay for the action thriller Bloodshot, starring Vin Diesel and based on the 1990s comic book.
In 2022, Wadlow directed and executive produced The Curse of Bridge Hollow, a Halloween movie streaming on Netflix starring Marlon Wayans.
Wadlow's forthcoming horror film, Imaginary, which he directed, produced and co-wrote, was scheduled for release in 2024. The film grapples with the idea of a childhood imaginary friend, in this case a Teddy bear, turning evil. The film is Wadlow's third collaboration with Jason Blum and is financed by Blumhouse Productions and Lionsgate Films.
Acting
In 2001, Wadlow played a small role in Pearl Harbor and a professor on an episode of the sci-fi television series Roswell. The following year, Wadlow performed in the short, tHE tOWeR oF BabBLe (2002), which he also co-wrote and directed. In 2007, Wadlow played Billy in the independent romantic comedy, I'm Through with White Girls (2007), starring Anthony Montgomery.
The Adrenaline Film Project
Wadlow founded The Adrenaline Film Project in 2004 during the Virginia Film Festival. An annual event, the project involves teams of amateur filmmakers (aged high school and college) writing, casting, directing, and editing short films in a 72 hour time frame under the mentorship of Wadlow and other industry leaders. Each film, with a duration or five minutes or less, is screened at the end of the competition to be judged for the three cash awards: audience, mentor and jury prizes.
