Gerard Johnstone
- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Gerard Johnstone is a New Zealand screenwriter, director, and producer renowned for his unique ability to blend sharp comedy with high-tension horror. He gained international recognition as the creative force behind the global hit M3GAN (2023), which became a viral sensation and a major box office success for Blumhouse and Universal Pictures.
Johnstone first made waves in the industry with the award-winning sitcom The Jaquie Brown Diaries (2008-2009), which he co-created, wrote, and directed. He transitioned to feature films with his directorial debut, the horror-comedy Housebound (2014). The film premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW and is often cited as a modern cult classic for its inventive take on the haunted house genre.
Following his success in horror-comedy, Johnstone directed several high-profile television projects, including the 2016 reboot of Terry Teo and the action-adventure series The New Legends of Monkey (2018). His reputation for balancing tone and genre led to him being handpicked by producer James Wan to helm the M3GAN franchise.
Recently, Johnstone returned to write and direct the sequel, M3GAN 2.0 (2025), expanding the universe of the iconic AI doll. His upcoming projects include directing a live-action Monster High film for Mattel and Universal Pictures, further cementing his place as a leading director in the reimagining of classic and contemporary monster properties.
Johnstone first made waves in the industry with the award-winning sitcom The Jaquie Brown Diaries (2008-2009), which he co-created, wrote, and directed. He transitioned to feature films with his directorial debut, the horror-comedy Housebound (2014). The film premiered to critical acclaim at SXSW and is often cited as a modern cult classic for its inventive take on the haunted house genre.
Following his success in horror-comedy, Johnstone directed several high-profile television projects, including the 2016 reboot of Terry Teo and the action-adventure series The New Legends of Monkey (2018). His reputation for balancing tone and genre led to him being handpicked by producer James Wan to helm the M3GAN franchise.
Recently, Johnstone returned to write and direct the sequel, M3GAN 2.0 (2025), expanding the universe of the iconic AI doll. His upcoming projects include directing a live-action Monster High film for Mattel and Universal Pictures, further cementing his place as a leading director in the reimagining of classic and contemporary monster properties.
