Martin Campbell
Martin Campbell (born 24 October 1943) is a New Zealand film and television director and producer, long based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for his works in the action and thriller film genres, including the James Bond films GoldenEye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006), The Mask of Zorro (1998) and its sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005), Vertical Limit (2000), and The Foreigner (2017). Earlier in his career, he directed the critically acclaimed BBC drama serial Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned him a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.
Martin Campbell

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- Name
- Martin Campbell
- Born
- 24 October 1943
- Birthplace
- Hastings, New Zealand
- Occupation
- Director, producer
- Awards
- * BAFTA Best Director
- Nationality
- New Zealand
- Honours
- British Academy Television Awards
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Martin Campbell (born 24 October 1943) is a New Zealand film and television director and producer, long based in the United Kingdom. He is best known for his works in the action and thriller film genres, including the James Bond films GoldenEye (1995) and Casino Royale (2006), The Mask of Zorro (1998) and its sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005), Vertical Limit (2000), and The Foreigner (2017). Earlier in his career, he directed the critically acclaimed BBC drama serial Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned him a British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.
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Martin Campbell (born 1943) is a New Zealand actor, director and film director, among other activities. The actor was born in Hastings.
Works by Martin Campbell are held at Museum of Modern Art. The actor received British Academy Television Awards.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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In this article
Biography
Biography
He later directed the 2010 theatrical film adaptation of the serial.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Martin Campbell • Born — 24 October 1943 • Birthplace — Hastings, New Zealand • Occupation — Director, producer • Years Active — 1973–present • Awards — * BAFTA Best Director • Edge of Darkness (1985)
Life and career
Life and career
Born in Hastings, New Zealand, Campbell moved to London in 1966, to pursue his career as a cinematographer. He began his career as a director with 1973's The Sex Thief. He went on to direct two James Bond films, 1995's GoldenEye, starring Pierce Brosnan, and 2006's Casino Royale, starring Daniel Craig. At 62 years old, Campbell was the oldest director in the series' history, beating the previous record set by Lewis Gilbert. Campbell stated that he was offered the opportunity to direct further James Bond films after GoldenEye; however, he found the plots to be limiting and only considered directing further films if working with a new Bond actor – as he subsequently did with Daniel Craig on Casino Royale. He directed two Zorro films: The Mask of Zorro (1998) and The Legend of Zorro (2005), both starring Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Campbell also directed the 2011 film adaptation of the DC Comics superhero Green Lantern, as well as The Foreigner (2017), starring Jackie Chan. On television, Campbell directed the film Cast a Deadly Spell and oversaw some of the more action-oriented episodes from the TV series The Professionals (1977–1983). However, his best-known work is the 1985 BBC Television drama serial Edge of Darkness, for which he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Director in 1986. Campbell also directed a 2010 movie remake of Edge of Darkness, starring Mel Gibson and Ray Winstone. Campbell directed the first episode of the American TV series Last Resort and his upcoming film Cleaner is set to be released in 2025.
Unrealized projects
Unrealized projects
He almost remade El Cid (1961) under Arthur Sarkissian's deal with MGM in the 2000s. In June 2007, Campbell was in negotiations to replace Robert Schwentke as director of the film Unstoppable (2010). Campbell was involved until March 2009, when Tony Scott came on board as director. In October 2007, Variety reported that Naomi Watts would star in Universal's remake of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, to be directed by Campbell. The production was to have additionally starred George Clooney, and been a joint venture between Platinum Dunes and Mandalay Pictures. On June 16, 2009, Brad Fuller of Dimension Films stated that no further developments had taken place, commenting, "We keep trying, but I don't know." Campbell was eventually replaced as director by Platinum Dunes host Dennis Iliades in December 2009. In July 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that a film based on the 1980s series The Fall Guy was in development. DreamWorks Pictures had teamed up with producers Walter F. Parkes and Laurie MacDonald on the project, and Campbell was in talks to direct the film. In September 2020, Universal Pictures announced that The Fall Guy would star Ryan Gosling and be directed by David Leitch. Campbell was initially chosen to direct Hunter Killer, but, on 2 March 2016 it was announced that Donovan Marsh would direct the film. In 2017, it was announced that Campbell was set to direct a new adventure film, Treasure of Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves, adapted from the 1,001 Arabian Nights Tales. That year, Campbell was also attached to direct Across the River and Into the Trees, the Ernest Hemingway novel adaptation set for spring production shoot with Pierce Brosnan starring.
Personal life
Personal life
Martin Campbell has been married to his wife, Sol E. Romero, since 2006. Previously in 2002 he had married Valarie Trapp but they divorced in 2006.
Television
Television
• Years — Title — Notes • 1978–80 — The Professionals — 5 episodes • 1980 — Minder — 2 episodes • Shoestring — Episode "The Teddy Bears' Nightmare" • 1981 — Bergerac — Episode "Nice People Die in Bed" • 1983 — Reilly, Ace of Spies — 6 episodes • 1984 — Charlie — 4-part miniseries • 1985 — Edge of Darkness — 6-part miniseries BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series/Serial • 1986 — Screen Two — Episode "Frankie and Johnnie" • 1991 — Cast a Deadly Spell — TV movie • 1993 — Homicide: Life on the Street — Episode "Three Men and Adena" • 2003 — 10-8: Officers on Duty — 2 episodes • 2012 — Last Resort — Episode "Captain" • 2013 — Reckless — Unaired pilot • 2014 — Warriors
Identity
Identity
Martin Campbell is recorded with the occupation music video director. Recorded with the occupation film producer. Recorded as film producer, actor and director.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1943
Martin Campbell was born on 24 October 1943.
2002
Martin Campbell 2002 06 23 SNWMF (2024) is digitised and catalogued by Internet Archive.
Films
• Year — Title — Notes • 1973 — The Sex Thief • 1975 — Eskimo Nell • Three for All • 1976 — Intimate Games — Uncredited • 1988 — Criminal Law • 1991 — Defenseless • 1994 — No Escape • 1995 — GoldenEye • 1998 — The Mask of Zorro • 2000 — Vertical Limit — Also producer • 2003 — Beyond Borders • 2005 — The Legend of Zorro • 2006 — Casino Royale — Nominated—BAFTA Award for Outstanding British Film • 2010 — Edge of Darkness • 2011 — Green Lantern • 2017 — The Foreigner • 2021 — The Protégé • 2022 — Memory • 2024 — Dirty Angels — Also writer • 2025 — Cleaner • 2026 — Just Play Dead
Primary material
Documents and archives
Institutional database
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q282033: Martin Campbell
Scholarly · Wikimedia Foundation
reference work
- “Martin Campbell”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
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.Saville productions | martin campbell.
- 2.Holmes, Adam. What Would Bring Goldeneye And Casino Royale's Director Back To James Bond. Cinema Blend. 3 October 2017.
- 3.Barton, Steve. Birds Remake Director Martin Campbell Flies the Coop. DreadCentral. 22 June 2012.
- 4.O'Connor, John J. Review/Television; A Detective and Sci-Fi In Los Angeles Magic. The New York Times. C11. 1991-09-10. 0362-4331.
- 5.Kroll, Justin. 'One Piece' Breakout Taz Skylar Joins Daisy Ridley In 'Cleaner'. Deadline. 11 October 2023.
- 6.Brodesser, Claude. Smith to pen 'Cid' redo. Variety. February 17, 2004.
- 7.Marc Graser, Tatiana Siegel. Naomi Watts set for 'Birds' remake. Variety. October 18, 2007.
- 8.Bloody Disgusting. George Clooney in Talks to Topline 'The Birds'.
- 9.Giroux, Jack. Until Birds Start Killing People in Cool Ways, 'The Birds' Remake Won't Happen. Film School Rejects. April 27, 2012.
- 10.Miller, Ross. 'The Birds' Remake Gets A New Director?. Screen Rant. 2009-12-03.
- 11.Miska, Brad. Rumor Control: 'The Birds' Remake Begins at the 'Last House on the Left'?. Bloody Disgusting. 4 December 2009.
- 12.Zeitchik, Steven. Hollywood falls for 'The Fall Guy': Lee Majors series is latest reboot candidate. Los Angeles Times. 1 July 2010.
- 13.Fleming Jr, Mike. Martin Campbell To Direct 'Treasure Of Ali Baba & The 40 Thieves'. Deadline. September 6, 2017.
- 14.Nair, Drishya. Martin Campbell says director Forster messed up 'Quantum of Solace'. International Business Times. 19 June 2011.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
Institutional database
Wikidata, structured authority record Q282033: Martin CampbellWikimedia Foundation
Verifiedreference work
Partially resolved
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 14 August 2026.
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