Joe Cornish
Joseph Murray Cornish (born 20 December 1968) is an English comedian, and a film and television show maker. In 2011, Cornish released his directorial debut Attack the Block. He also co-wrote The Adventures of Tintin with Steven Moffat and Edgar Wright, and Ant-Man, with Wright, Adam McKay, and Paul Rudd.
Also recorded as Joseph Murray Cornish
Joe Cornish

Raffi Asdourian from New York, United States · Joe Cornish · CC BY 2.0
- Name
- Joe Cornish
- Birth Name
- Joseph Murray Cornish
- Born
- 20 December 1968
- Birthplace
- London, England
- Education
- Westminster School Bournemouth Film School
- Occupation
- * Comedian
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Languages
- English
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Authority files
wikidata · Q2070525 · wikipedia · Joe Cornish
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
The documentary record
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Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Complete reading chain (JSON)In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Joe Cornish • Birth Name — Joseph Murray Cornish • Born — 20 December 1968 • Birthplace — London, England • Education — Westminster School Bournemouth Film School • Occupation — * Comedian • screenwriter • director • producer • Years Active — 1995–present • Children — 1
Documentary record
Joe Cornish, a screenwriter, director, actor, film editor and filmmaker, was born on 20 December 1968 in London. The birth is recorded by the Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek.
Early life and education
Early life and education
Cornish grew up in Stockwell. His father, Michael Cornish, had written short stories and TV and radio plays as a young man. Cornish was privately educated at Westminster School in London, where he became friends with both Adam Buxton and Louis Theroux. After finishing school he went on to study at the Bournemouth Film School.
Career
Career
Cornish started his career in television before moving into film.
The Adam and Joe Show
The Adam and Joe Show
The Adam and Joe Show was an ironic pop culture sketch show written, presented and directed by the duo. The show found cult success during its four series between 1996 and 2001. The best-known segments featured hit feature films recreated with stuffed toys, British television shows parodied using Star Wars action figures, and Vinyl Justice, in which the pair invaded rock stars' homes and searched their record collections for embarrassing records. Since the end of show, Cornish has continued to work in British television and radio as a presenter, writer and director, both with and without Buxton. He wrote and presented the BBC Radio 4 film programme Back Row between 2002 and 2003. In 2001, he fronted the topical discussion show This Week Only, alongside Nick Frost and Lauren Laverne. In 2007, he and Buxton began presenting Adam and Joe, a radio show on BBC Radio 6 Music. This was put on hold during 2010 while Cornish directed Attack the Block; a new series began on Saturday 2 April 2011.
Future projects
Future projects
In May 2020, it was announced that Cornish would direct and write the TV series adaptation of Lockwood & Co. for Netflix. In April 2021, it was announced that Cornish would direct and write an adaptation of Starlight for 20th Century Studios. In May 2021, it was announced that Cornish would write, direct, and produce a sequel to Attack the Block. In October 2024, it was announced that Cornish would direct one of three live-action Lego movies for Universal Pictures. He will also be rewriting from previous drafts by Heather Anne Campbell and Simon Rich.
Abandoned projects
Abandoned projects
In June 2012, it was announced that Cornish had been signed as director of a future film adaptation of Neal Stephenson's classic 1992 novel Snow Crash for Paramount Pictures. Cornish later said that part of why the film wasn't made was due to working with Wright on Ant-Man. In 2017, Amazon Studios acquired the rights to the novel with the intent for a streaming series. In 2019, HBO Max acquired the rights, with Michael Bacall joining as writer. In July 2012, Cornish signed on to direct a film adaptation of the graphic novel Rust for 20th Century Fox. In September 2013, Carlos Saldanha was brought in to replace him. In March 2014, Cornish was hired by Universal Pictures to direct Section 6, based on the founding of MI6. However, the studio then faced a lawsuit from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Danjaq for perceived similarities to James Bond.
Filmography
Filmography
Film • Year — Title — Director — Writer — Executive Producer • 2011 — The Adventures of Tintin • Attack the Block • 2015 — Ant-Man • 2019 — The Kid Who Would Be King Cameo roles • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1999 — Notting Hill — Fan Receiving Anna's Autograph — Uncredited • 2004 — Shaun of the Dead — Zombie Shot by Soldiers • 2007 — Hot Fuzz — Bob • 2017 — Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Resistance Trooper — Uncredited Television • Year — Title — Director — Writer — Executive Producer • 2003 — Adam and Joe Go Tokyo • 2023 — Lockwood & Co.
Film and TV
Cornish has made a number of behind-the-scenes documentaries/video diaries. They include Cornish following the making of Little Britain series 2, which was screened on BBC Three and is included on the Little Britain Series 2 DVD; a video diary of his brief cameo as a zombie, which appears on the UK Shaun of the Dead DVD; and Hot Fuzz: The Fuzzball Rally, where he followed his friends and collaborators, Edgar Wright, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg on the US press tour for their film Hot Fuzz. There have been two cuts of the Fuzzball Rally: a 28-minute version was included on the Hot Fuzz HD DVD (UK/US) and a 71-minute version was included on both the 3-Disc Collectors Edition DVD (US) and the Blu-ray Disc (US/UK) of Fuzz. The documentary caused the latter's certification to be changed from a 15 certificate to an 18 certificate, due to the very strong language the documentary contains. He made a brief appearance in Hot Fuzz as a white suited and bemasked Scenes-of-Crime Officer named "Bob". In 2017, he made a cameo in Star Wars: The Last Jedi alongside Wright, where both played Resistance fighters. In 2006, he was announced as co-writer on a feature film adaptation of the Marvel Comics comic book character Ant-Man, with Shaun of the Dead director Edgar Wright. Both Wright and Cornish received story by and screenplay credit on the finished film, after Wright's departure from the project in 2014. Wright and Cornish also rewrote Steven Moffat's script for The Adventures of Tintin co-starring Simon Pegg, for Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. In November 2013, Cornish was tipped to be J. J. Abrams' lead choice for director of the upcoming Star Trek Beyond. However, Roberto Orci was ultimately chosen to direct, before leaving the project in late 2014. Cornish has continued his work in television comedy, directing parts of the pilot of Modern Toss, and the pilot to Channel 4's Blunder. According to an interview in Word Magazine, he pulled out of directing the series of Blunder due to creative differences with Channel 4 and the production company. In early 2007, he directed the video for Charlotte Hatherley's single "I Want You to Know". Attack the Block On 13 May 2011, Optimum Releasing released Attack the Block, Cornish's directorial debut, which had his friend and collaborator Edgar Wright working as executive producer, and was produced by Film4, Big Talk Pictures, the UK Film Council and Optimum's French parent company StudioCanal (which would later rebrand Optimum under their name four months after the film's British release). The film is a science fiction action horror comedy set in South London that pitches a gang of youths against an alien invasion. The film initially had no US distributor, but after the reaction of the press and attendees at the SXSW premiere, the US rights were purchased by Screen Gems for theatrical release on 29 July 2011. The Kid Who Would Be King Cornish's second film was the fantasy adventure The Kid Who Would Be King, starring Louis Ashbourne Serkis. Filming took place in Tintagel. The film, also featuring Patrick Stewart and Rebecca Ferguson, was released on 25 January 2019.
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Joe Cornish, revision 1372400937 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Joe Cornish.
- 2.The Tall Guy: The Joe Cornish Interview – Channel 4
- 3.Adam and Joe: How We Met. The Independent on Sunday. 11 May 2003.
- 4.Joe, Adam and the Ant-man – The Independent
- 5.Some Groovy Attack the Block Updates – Shaun of the Dead With Aliens?
- 6.Instagram. www.instagram.com.
- 7.Hogan, Michael. Forget Christmas TV: Adam and Joe's 20th anniversary reunion podcast is the best present you'll get in 2016. The Telegraph. 25 December 2016.
- 8.BBC Radio 6 Music. Adam & Joe's Biography.
- 9.Freeman, Hadley. Trivia pursuits. The Guardian. 15 September 2001.
- 10.Shepherd, Jack. Star Wars: The Last Jedi: Edgar Wright posts photo of cameo. The Independent. 19 December 2017.
- 11.Corliss, Richard. Spielberg's 3-D Cartoon Adventure: It's Tintinastic!. Time. 21 December 2011.
- 12.Kroll, Justin. 'Star Trek 3' Orbits Director Joe Cornish. Variety. 2 November 2012.
- 13.Kroll, Justin. Roberto Orci Will No Longer Direct 'Star Trek 3'. Variety. 5 December 2014.
- 14.McWeeney, Drew. Review: Midnight movie 'Attack The Block' is an instant genre classic. Hitfix.
- 15.Singer, Matt. SXSW Hit "Attack the Block" Gets U.S. Distribution. IFC. 6 April 2011.
- 16.Hards, Shannon. Cast of major movie starring Sir Patrick Stewart pictured filming. cornwalllive. 17 October 2017.
- 17.Wiseman, Andreas. Edgar Wright, Nira Park, Joe Cornish & Rachael Prior Launch London & LA-based Film & TV Company Complete Fiction With Three Series in Works at Netflix. Deadline Hollywood. 19 May 2020.
- 18.Ritman, Alex. Netflix Unveils 7 New U.K. Originals From Rowan Atkinson, Joe Cornish, Sam Mendes and More. The Hollywood Reporter. 13 December 2020.
- 19.Joe Cornish to Direct Mark Millar's 'Starlight' Adaptation. The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-04-12.
- 20.John Boyega, Joe Cornish Reteaming for 'Attack the Block' Sequel. The Hollywood Reporter. 2021-05-17.
- 21.D'Alessandro, Anthony. Jake Kasdan, Patty Jenkins & Joe Cornish Set To Helm Lego Movies For Universal. Deadline Hollywood. October 31, 2024.
- 22.Joe Cornish signs up for 'Snow Crash'. Deadline Hollywood. 15 June 2012.
- 23.Gilchrist, Todd. Joe Cornish explains why a Snow Crash movie crashed, says it could be revived. Syfy. January 22, 2019.
- 24.Birnbaum, Debra. Amazon Increases Production Spending for 2018, Developing Three New Sci-Fi Series. Variety. September 28, 2017.
- 25.Andreeva, Nellie. ‘Snow Crash’ TV Series Adaptation From Michael Bacall & Joe Cornish In Works At HBO Max From Paramount TV. Deadline Hollywood. December 13, 2019.
- 26.Kit, Borys. ‘Adventures of Tintin’ Co-Writer Joe Cornish to Direct ‘Rust’ for Fox. The Hollywood Reporter. July 11, 2012.
- 27.Sneider, Jeff. ‘Rio’ Director Carlos Saldanha in Talks to Replace Joe Cornish on Fox’s ‘Rust’ (Exclusive). TheWrap. September 9, 2013.
- 28.Kit, Borys. Joe Cornish to Direct Universal’s Spy Movie ‘Section 6’. The Hollywood Reporter. March 18, 2014.
- 29.Johnson, Ted. MGM, James Bond Producers Sue Universal Over ‘Section 6’ Project. Variety. April 4, 2014.
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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