JON M. CHU
writer I director I producer
Jon M. Chu is known for his visually stunning blockbuster films as well as his works across various genres from groundbreaking digital series to commercials and even live concerts. His next film, JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS, is set for release in October of 2015 by Universal Pictures and is produced by Blumhouse Productions. Chu is currently in production on NOW YOU SEE ME 2, the sequel to the summer hit, which will have Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine return to their lead roles as Lizzy Caplan and Daniel Radcliffe join the cast. The film is scheduled to be released by Lionsgate on June 10, 2016.
Chu marked his directorial feature debut with 2008’s STEP UP 2: THE STREETS starring Briana Evigan and Channing Tatum. His use of movement and storytelling earned him a Teen Choice Award, a Breakout Director of the Year Award as well as an MTV Movie Award. It also became a global hit grossing over 150 million dollars worldwide. Chu followed that up with its’ sequel STEP UP 3D which went on to gross an astounding 165 million dollars worldwide.
For his next film, Chu decided to take on a totally different genre: the documentary. His film JUSTIN BIEBER: NEVER SAY NEVER was an innovative blend of concert film and biopic sparking an outbreak of Bieber Fever and cementing Justin’s place in pop culture history. The film would become the highest grossing concert themed movie of all time and usher in a new era of music documentary films to follow.
In 2012, Chu tackled his first action movie and biggest production: Paramount Picture’s G.I. JOE: RETALIATION the re-imagining of the popular toy and comic book franchise. Starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Bruce Willis, the film exploded to #1 at the Box Office and has since grossed over $370 million worldwide putting Chu into a rarefied category of tent pole movie director. And, then at the age of 33, one of the youngest in that category.
Meanwhile, Chu continues to innovate in the online media space where he was awarded an international Emmy as a digital pioneer. THE LXD, the world’s first dance adventure series, was described by AdAge as “the most beautifully filmed, elaborately staged web series in the history of the medium”. Chu’s Legion of Extraordinary Dancers have performed at the OSCARS, on So You Think You Can Dance and even have one of the most watched TEDtalks ever. Additionally Chu’s Premium YouTube Network DS2DIO (Dance Studio 2.0) has over 240,000 subscribers, and Jon personally has over 700,000 Twitter and Instagram followers. Chu also directed the music video for Justin Bieber’s “Beauty and a Beat” which has over 430 million hits and his musical “Click!” commercials for Microsoft’s SURFACE tablet have become an anthem for the new face of the company. This year, Chu was awarded a CLIO for his VIRGIN AMERICA “SAFETY DANCE” video which is played on every Virgin America flight across the country. The video went viral and has over 9 million hits and counting.
As the youngest of five children from Palo Alto, California, Jon M. Chu continues to use the influences of his childhood (family, technology, music and movement) to tell stories that connect with audiences around the world.
