Andrew Fleming

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Andrew Fleming
Born (1963-03-14) March 14, 1963
New York City, New York, United States
OccupationsScreenwriter, film director, television producer, television director, film producer, actor, television writer
Years active1988–present
Notable workBad Dreams, The Craft, Hamlet 2, Ideal Home
AwardsFilmOut San Diego Audience Award – Best Actor and Best Comedy (2018)

Andrew Fleming (born March 14, 1963) is an American screenwriter, film director, television producer, television director, film producer, actor, and television writer. He directed and wrote or co-wrote the films Bad Dreams, Threesome,[1] The Craft, Dick, Nancy Drew, Hamlet 2, Barefoot, and Ideal Home, and directed The In-Laws remake. He has also directed episodes of the television series Arrested Development and Grosse Pointe, among others.

Early life and education

Fleming grew up in Los Angeles, California,[2] and studied filmmaking at New York University film school, after early involvement with film and television projects during high school.[3]

Career

In 1988, Fleming made his feature film debut with the supernatural slasher Bad Dreams, which he co‑wrote and directed. The film starred Jennifer Rubin, Bruce Abbott, E. G. Daily, Dean Cameron, Harris Yulin, and Richard Lynch.[4][5][6]

In 1993, Fleming co‑wrote the screenplay for the thriller Every Breath, directed by Steve Bing. The film was produced by Motion Picture Corporation of America and starred Judd Nelson, Joanna Pacuła, and Patrick Bauchau.[7]

In 1994, Fleming wrote and directed the erotic dramedy film, Threesome, starring Lara Flynn Boyle, Stephen Baldwin, and Josh Charles. Partly based on his college experiences, it combined autobiographical elements with social commentary and received an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America.[8]

In 1996, Fleming directed the teen supernatural horror film The Craft, co‑written with Peter Filardi. The film starred Robin Tunney, Fairuza Balk, Neve Campbell, and Rachel True as four outcast teenage girls at a Los Angeles parochial high school who pursue witchcraft, with consequences.[9]

In 1999, Fleming directed the alternate history comedy film Dick, co‑written with Sheryl Longin. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, and Dan Hedaya, the film portrayed a comic reimagining of the Watergate scandal, in which two teenage friends inadvertently become the figure known as "Deep Throat," which ended the presidency of Richard Nixon.[10][11]

Fleming next directed the 2003 action comedy The In-Laws, a remake of the 1979 cult classic. Starring Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks, Robin Tunney, Ryan Reynolds, and Candice Bergen, the film was shot on location in Chicago. It received mixed to negative reviews and was a box office failure.[12][13]

Fleming returned in 2007 with the mystery comedy Nancy Drew, based on the novel series Nancy Drew. Starring Emma Roberts in the title role alongside Josh Flitter and Max Thieriot, the film follows Nancy as she relocates to Los Angeles with her father and becomes involved in solving a cold case surrounding the death of a movie star. It was released by Warner Bros. Pictures.[14][15]

Next year, Fleming directed the comedy Hamlet 2 (2008), co‑written with Pam Brady and starring Steve Coogan, Catherine Keener, Amy Poehler, and David Arquette. The film was shot primarily at a New Mexico high school in late 2007. It premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by Focus Features.[16][17]

After a series of comedy films in the 2000s, Fleming also worked on television shows such as Grosse Pointe and Arrested Development, and acting projects including a role in Fired Up!, before returning in 2014 with the romantic comedy Barefoot, starring Evan Rachel Wood and Scott Speedman. Based on Stephen Zotnowski’s original story and screenplay, it was distributed by Roadside Attractions. The film was produced by WhiteFlame Productions and premiered at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 2, 2014.[18]

Between 2014 and 2018, Fleming continued working on television shows, including The Michael J. Fox Show (2013–14) and Younger (2016–18), before returning with the comedy-drama Ideal Home, starring Steve Coogan, Paul Rudd, Alison Pill, Jake McDorman, and Jack Gore. The film was released in the United States on June 29, 2018, following its earlier screening at the Mardi Gras Film Festival on February 15, 2018.[19][20]

From 2018 to 2022, as part of his ongoing professional work in film and television, Fleming produced and directed episodes of shows including Insatiable, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings, Emily in Paris, and Uncoupled. He was also credited during this period as an executive producer on The Craft: Legacy, a supernatural horror film written and directed by Zoe Lister-Jones as a legacy sequel to Fleming’s 1996 film The Craft.

Personal life

Fleming is gay, and based his 2018 film Ideal Home on his own experiences as a gay parent, helping to raise the son of his partner of 23 years.[21]

Filmography

Films

Year Title Director Writer Executive producer Ref.
1988 Bad Dreams Yes Yes No
1993 Every Breath No Yes No
1994 Threesome Yes Yes No
1996 The Craft Yes Yes No
1999 Dick Yes Yes No
2003 The In-Laws Yes No No
2007 Nancy Drew Yes Yes No
2008 Hamlet 2 Yes Yes Yes
2014 Barefoot Yes No No
2018 Ideal Home Yes Yes No
2020 The Craft: Legacy No No Yes

Acting

Year Title Role Ref.
2009Fired Up!Klete Vanderjack
2010Easy ADoctor
2011Friends with BenefitsDriver
2014AnnieCleve Sweetzer

Television shows

Year Title Director Producer Notes Ref.
2000–01 Grosse Pointe Yes Consulting 16 episodes
2005 Arrested Development Yes No Episode: "Queen for a Day"
Head Cases Yes No Episode: "Pilot"
2007 The Loop Yes No Episode: "Windows"
2011 Franklin & Bash Yes No 2 episodes
2013 Wedding Band Yes No Episode: "99 Problems"
New Girl Yes No Episode: "The Box"
2013–14 The Michael J. Fox Show Yes No 4 episodes
2014–15 Bad Judge Yes No 4 episodes
2015 Odd Mom Out Yes Executive 4 episodes
Difficult People Yes No Episode: "Library Water"
Red Oaks Yes No 2 episodes
2016 Lady Dynamite Yes No 2 episodes
2016–18 Younger Yes No 7 episodes
2018–19 Insatiable Yes Executive 8 episodes
2019 Dolly Parton's Heartstrings Yes No Episode: "Jolene"
2020–present Emily in Paris Yes Executive Seasons 1-4
2022 Uncoupled Yes No 4 episodes

TV movies

Year Title Director Producer Writer Ref.
2002 Paranormal Girl Yes Yes Yes
2009 No Heroics Yes No No

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2009 Gold Derby Awards Original Song Hamlet 2 Nominated
OFTA Film Awards Best Music, Original Song Nominated
2014 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Panavision Spirit Award for International Camera Barefoot Nominated
2018 Edinburgh International Film Festival Audience Award Ideal Home Nominated
FilmOut San Diego Audience Award Best Actor and Best Comedy Won [22]

References

  1. Janet Maslin (April 8, 1994). "Menage a Trois With Hip Pretensions". The New York Times.
  2. Dickson, Andrew (March 1, 2016). "How we made The Craft". The Guardian. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  3. Juergens, Brian (August 27, 2008). "Interview with "Hamlet 2" director Andrew Fleming". AfterElton.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2009. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  4. Canby, Vincent (April 8, 1988). "Review/Film; It's the Guru's Ghastly Ghost Calling". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  5. Harrington, Richard (April 8, 1988). "Bad Dreams: A Doze of Horror". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  6. Thomas, Kevin (April 8, 1988). "Bad Dreams". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  7. McCarthy, Todd (June 9, 1993). "Every Breath". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  8. Maslin, Janet (April 8, 1994). "Review/Film; Menage a Trois With Hip Pretensions". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  9. Brennan, Judy (May 6, 1996). "The Craft' Has the Knack for Scaring Up an Audience". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  10. Gajewski, Ryan (June 17, 2022). "'Dick' Director on Challenges of Making a Watergate Comedy and Whether It Could Be Done Today". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  11. Harris, Scarlett (August 6, 2024). "'Dick' at 25: The Watergate Satire's Director and Writer on Putting Michelle Williams and Kirsten Dunst in Nixon's White House". IndieWire. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  12. Lumenick, Lou (April 3, 2003). "IN-LAWS' UP". New York Post. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  13. "The In-Laws (2003)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on November 12, 2017. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  14. Scott, A. O. (June 14, 2007). "Movie Review: A disappointing 'Nancy Drew' is too cute and pseudo-smart". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  15. "'Nancy Drew'". ABC News. May 3, 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  16. Corliss, Richard (August 21, 2008). "Hamlet 2: The First One Was Better". Time. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  17. Holden, Stephen (August 22, 2008). "'Hamlet 2': The Bard as slapstick". The New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  18. Harvey, Dennis (February 18, 2014). "Film Review: 'Barefoot'". Variety. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  19. Palace, Steve (July 6, 2018). "Interview: 'Ideal Home' Director Andrew Fleming". The Hollywood News. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  20. Barber, Laurence (January 10, 2018). "Mardi Gras Film Festival launches 25th anniversary program". Star Observer. Retrieved June 10, 2026.
  21. Shulman, Randy (June 21, 2018). "Andrew Fleming based gay comedy Ideal Home on his own life". Metro Weekly. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  22. Roka, Les (July 13, 2018). "Detailed look at the slate for 15th Utah Film Center's Damn These Heels LGBTQ Film Festival". The Utah Review. Retrieved June 10, 2026.