# Jake Kasdan
**Jake Kasdan** (Jacob Kasdan, born 1974) is an American film and television director, screenwriter, and producer whose credits range from the 1998 detective comedy *Zero Effect* to the *Jumanji* films *Welcome to the Jungle* (2017) and *The Next Level* (2019) and the 2024 Christmas action film *Red One*.[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51851-jake-kasdan?language=en-US) He is the son of writer-director [Lawrence Kasdan](https://www.edgepedia.org/lawrence-kasdan), whose films include *Body Heat* (1981), *The Big Chill* (1983), and *Grand Canyon* (1991).[2](https://filmmakermagazine.com/1258-jake-kasdan-the-tv-set/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Jacob Kasdan, born 1974 in Detroit, Michigan[3](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-26903/) |
| Family | Son of Lawrence Kasdan; younger brother of screenwriter Jonathan Kasdan[2](https://filmmakermagazine.com/1258-jake-kasdan-the-tv-set/) |
| Feature debut | *Zero Effect* (1998), written and directed, starring Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) |
| Television | Directed the pilot of *Freaks and Geeks*, his first collaboration with executive producer Judd Apatow, and the pilot of *Undeclared*[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) |
| Signature comedy | *Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story* (2007), co-written with Apatow, earned him a Golden Globe nomination[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) |
| Blockbusters | *Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle* (2017), *Jumanji: The Next Level* (2019), *Red One* (2024)[1](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51851-jake-kasdan?language=en-US) |
| Upcoming | *Jumanji: Open World*, scheduled for release December 25, 2026[5](https://www.movieinsider.com/browse/movies?order=most-popular&people=8528&status%5B%5D=2&status%5B%5D=3&status%5B%5D=4&status%5B%5D=6&status%5B%5D=7) |
## Early life and family
Kasdan grew up around his father's film sets and decided he wanted to be a director by age five.[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/) His first screen appearances were as a child actor in small roles in three films his father directed: *The Big Chill* (1983), *Silverado* (1985), and *[The Accidental Tourist](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-accidental-tourist-film)* (1988).[3](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-26903/) His first professional job behind the camera was as a production assistant on *Grand Canyon* (1991).[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/)
While in high school he wrote and directed plays; his most successful, *The Behavioral Patterns of Funnyman Tyler Hudson*, also ran at the Hollywood Playhouse.[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/) In 1994, while his father was filming *Wyatt Earp*, Jake wrote a short film and compiled a companion book to the movie, which went unpublished after the film performed poorly at the box office.[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/)
## Zero Effect and television work
At 22, Kasdan wrote and directed his first feature, *Zero Effect* (1998), a private detective film starring [Bill Pullman](https://www.edgepedia.org/bill-pullman) and [Ben Stiller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-stiller).[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) The film received mixed reviews, and Kasdan moved to television for several years.[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/)
The move connected him with producer [Judd Apatow](https://www.edgepedia.org/judd-apatow). They met when Kasdan visited the set of *The Larry Sanders Show*, where Apatow was a writer and producer, and later shared an agent who recommended Kasdan to direct the pilot of *Freaks and Geeks*.[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/) Kasdan directed the pilot, served as a consulting producer through the series' run, and directed several episodes; he also directed the pilot of the Apatow-produced *Undeclared* and episodes of *Grosse Pointe*.[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) • [6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/) Apatow later said Kasdan's work on *Freaks and Geeks* "set the template for everything that we did, and, in a way, the template of everything that I've done since, in terms of combining comedy and drama."[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/)
Kasdan has continued to work in television between features. His credits include directing the pilot of the Fox series *New Girl* starring [Zooey Deschanel](https://www.edgepedia.org/zooey-deschanel), plus episodes of *Ben and Kate*, *The Grinder*, *Speechless*, *Fresh Off the Boat*, *Bless This Mess*, and *Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.* (2021).[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) • [8](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/doogie_-_jake_kasdan_0710db20.pdf) • [9](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0440458/) In a 2007 interview he described the difference between the two forms: television is "enormously collaborative," while feature directing can be "the best job in the world, but it can be incredibly lonely in the process."[10](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/0902-summer-2009/apatow-and-friends)
## Feature films
Kasdan returned to features with *Orange County* (2002), starring [Colin Hanks](https://www.edgepedia.org/colin-hanks) and [Jack Black](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-black).[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) In 2005 he wrote, directed, and produced *The TV Set*, a behind-the-scenes look at television pilot season starring [David Duchovny](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-duchovny) and Sigourney Weaver, with Apatow as executive producer; Kasdan has described it as a personal project, in contrast to the more popular comedy scripts he directs for others.[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) • [7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/) • [11](https://moviechat.org/tt0473709/The-TV-Set/58c7c605f9fcca09a0de7c5b/Interview-with-Jake-Kasdan) The Film Stories podcast later called it the film that "got lost a little" and "nearly disappeared."[12](https://filmstories.co.uk/podcast/podcast-in-conversation-with-jake-kasdan-red-one-zero-effect-the-tv-set-and-more/)
**Walk Hard and studio comedies.** In 2007 Kasdan co-wrote and directed *Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story*, a parody of musical biopics starring [John C. Reilly](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-c-reilly), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) He and Apatow wrote the script by phone over a couple of months, mapping out a story and then dividing sequences between them.[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/) He followed with the R-rated comedies *Bad Teacher* (2011), starring [Cameron Diaz](https://www.edgepedia.org/cameron-diaz) and [Justin Timberlake](https://www.edgepedia.org/justin-timberlake), and *Sex Tape* (2014), also with Diaz.[4](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx) • [13](https://www.hsx.com/security/view/JKASD)
## The Jumanji films and Red One
Kasdan directed *[Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle](https://www.edgepedia.org/jumanji-welcome-to-the-jungle)* (2017) and its sequel *Jumanji: The Next Level* (2019), which moved him from mid-budget comedy into large-scale franchise filmmaking.[6](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/) In a 2019 interview he described the *Next Level* production as a "filmmaking education" in making a big blockbuster.[14](https://www.slashfilm.com/573159/jake-kasdan-interview-jumanji-the-next-level/)
His next film was *Red One* (2024), a large, expensive Christmas action film starring [Dwayne Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/dwayne-johnson), which he discussed on the Film Stories podcast alongside his career from the microbudget *Zero Effect* onward.[12](https://filmstories.co.uk/podcast/podcast-in-conversation-with-jake-kasdan-red-one-zero-effect-the-tv-set-and-more/)
**Upcoming projects.** Kasdan is attached to direct *Jumanji: Open World*, in post-production for a December 25, 2026 release, reuniting Jack Black, Kevin Hart, Karen Gillan, and Dwayne Johnson; the story has Jumanji breaking free of its game console into the real world.[5](https://www.movieinsider.com/browse/movies?order=most-popular&people=8528&status%5B%5D=2&status%5B%5D=3&status%5B%5D=4&status%5B%5D=6&status%5B%5D=7) • [15](https://filmexpos.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CE26_PJ.pdf) Other projects in development or pre-production include *Bad Teacher 2*, *Foster The Snowman* for Apple Original Films, *My Spy*, and *Man Made*.[5](https://www.movieinsider.com/browse/movies?order=most-popular&people=8528&status%5B%5D=2&status%5B%5D=3&status%5B%5D=4&status%5B%5D=6&status%5B%5D=7) • [16](https://www.movieinsider.com/p8528/jake-kasdan)
## Working method
Kasdan's comedy work has been shaped by the Apatow circle's improvisational approach. On *Walk Hard*, he described a key scene with [John Michael Higgins](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-michael-higgins), cast days before shooting, whose improvised runs he called "improvisation as good as it gets," set against tightly designed production elements; he identified that contrast of tight craft and loose dialogue as what the movie would be.[7](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/) On Apatow-produced sets, he noted, everyone from the cinematographer to craft services is free to suggest a joke, and the director stays open to better ideas from others.[10](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/0902-summer-2009/apatow-and-friends)
## References
1. [Jake Kasdan, The Movie Database](https://www.themoviedb.org/person/51851-jake-kasdan?language=en-US)
2. [Jake Kasdan, The TV Set, Filmmaker Magazine (2007)](https://filmmakermagazine.com/1258-jake-kasdan-the-tv-set/)
3. [Jake Kasdan, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com.mx/actores/actor-26903/)
4. [Director's Chair: Jake Kasdan, Bad Teacher, Post Magazine (2011)](https://www.postmagazine.com/Publications/Post-Magazine/2011/July-1-2011/Directors-Chair-Jake-Kasdan-Bad-Teacher.aspx)
5. [Jake Kasdan Movies in Development, Production, and Post-Production, Movie Insider](https://www.movieinsider.com/browse/movies?order=most-popular&people=8528&status%5B%5D=2&status%5B%5D=3&status%5B%5D=4&status%5B%5D=6&status%5B%5D=7)
6. [Jake Kasdan Biography, Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/jake-kasdan/7905/)
7. [Comedy is 'Hard': Judd Apatow Interview, Backstage](https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/comedy-hard-judd-apatow-interview-17992/)
8. [Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. talent bio, Disney](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/doogie_-_jake_kasdan_0710db20.pdf)
9. [Jake Kasdan, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0440458/)
10. [Apatow & Friends, DGA Quarterly (2009)](https://www.dga.org/craft/dgaq/issues/0902-summer-2009/apatow-and-friends)
11. [Interview with Jake Kasdan, The TV Set, MovieChat](https://moviechat.org/tt0473709/The-TV-Set/58c7c605f9fcca09a0de7c5b/Interview-with-Jake-Kasdan)
12. [Podcast: In conversation with Jake Kasdan, Film Stories (2024)](https://filmstories.co.uk/podcast/podcast-in-conversation-with-jake-kasdan-red-one-zero-effect-the-tv-set-and-more/)
13. [Jake Kasdan, HSX StarBond profile](https://www.hsx.com/security/view/JKASD)
14. [Jake Kasdan Interview, Jumanji: The Next Level, SlashFilm (2019)](https://www.slashfilm.com/573159/jake-kasdan-interview-jumanji-the-next-level/)
15. [CineEurope 2026 Booking Guide, Boxoffice Pro](https://filmexpos.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/CE26_PJ.pdf)
16. [Jake Kasdan Film Credits, Movie Insider](https://www.movieinsider.com/p8528/jake-kasdan)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Film and television directors › Directors of the United States and Canada › Contemporary film directors › Directors debuting in the 1990s and 2000s*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license