# Kyle Newman
**Kyle Newman** (born 1976) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author best known for directing the [Star Wars](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-wars) fandom comedy *Fanboys* (2009), the action-comedy *Barely Lethal* (2015), and the esports comedy *1UP* (2022), and for co-authoring the New York Times bestselling book *Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Morristown, New Jersey, USA[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman) |
| Feature directing | *The Hollow* (2004), *Fanboys* (2009), *Barely Lethal* (2015), *1UP* (2022)[3](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2010644/) |
| Producing | Producer of *A Disturbance in the Force* (2023) and *Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made* (2015); executive producer of *Happily* (2021)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman) |
| Writing | Story for the animated film *Gnome Alone* (2017); screenwriter on *Fanboys*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-142983/filmographie/) |
| Books | *Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana* (New York Times bestseller, Hugo Award and Locus Award nominated) and *Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) |
| Music videos | Taylor Swift ("Style", "Clean", 1989 World Tour content), Lana Del Rey ("Summertime Sadness"), Cyn ("House with a View")[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) |
| Training | Honors graduate of NYU's Tisch School of Film/TV; recipient of the Martin Scorsese Award for Excellence in Directing; Directors Guild of America member[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) |
## Background
Newman was born in [Morristown, New Jersey](https://www.edgepedia.org/morristown-new-jersey), in 1976.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman) He describes Star Wars as formative from the start: his first memory is of a drive-in theater conversation about seeing *A New Hope*, probably in the late summer of 1977, and his first words were Star Wars action figure names.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview) He studied film at NYU's Tisch School in the late 1990s, graduating with honors and receiving the school's Martin Scorsese Award for Excellence in Directing.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) • [5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
## Fanboys
Newman's breakthrough feature grew out of a screenplay he first heard about as a student. Written by Ernie Cline, later the author of *Ready Player One*, the story followed a group of Star Wars die-hards on a road trip to [Skywalker Ranch](https://www.edgepedia.org/skywalker-ranch); when Newman first encountered it in the late 1990s it was set in the present, before *The Phantom Menace* had been released.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview) The project stalled for several years until 2004, when a producer friend asked Newman to read the script; he joined immediately, and Cline ended up sharing final credit with [Adam F. Goldberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-f-goldberg), a friend of Newman's from NYU.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
The film, released in 2009, stars [Kristen Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/kristen-bell), Seth Rogen, Jay Baruchel, Dan Fogler, Sam Huntington, and [Chris Marquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/chris-marquette), with metafictional cameos by Star Wars veterans [Carrie Fisher](https://www.edgepedia.org/carrie-fisher), Billy Dee Williams, and Ray Park, along with William Shatner and the Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes pairing.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) • [5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview) Set in 1998, the plot centers on childhood friends who decide to steal an early print of *The Phantom Menace* from Skywalker Ranch after one of them, Linus, is diagnosed with terminal cancer.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
**Lucasfilm's involvement.** Although studio executives responded well to the script, the production needed [George Lucas](https://www.edgepedia.org/george-lucas)'s approval. After a call with [Lucasfilm](https://www.edgepedia.org/lucasfilm) established that the film celebrated rather than mocked fandom, Lucas signed on, and the studio permitted the production to film on-site at Skywalker Ranch, which Newman said was the first outside production allowed to shoot there.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview) One detail was assembled in post-production: Fisher's reply "I know" to Linus's "I love you" came from an unused audio take recorded during the filming of *Return of the Jedi*, included with the approval of Lucas and Fisher.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
**The cancer subplot dispute.** The studio asked Newman to cut the cancer subplot, a request he refused from the outset, arguing that hundreds of test-screening attendees had never flagged the material on a single test card. The released film retains the subplot, minus one or two small visual moments, such as a shot of a pill bottle thrown into the [Grand Canyon](https://www.edgepedia.org/grand-canyon).[6](https://www.bullz-eye.com/2009/05/18/interview-with-kyle-newman/)
Newman has repeatedly discussed a sequel. He, the cast, the writers, and the producers have talked about continuing the story as a film or television series set in the present day, with the characters as spouses and parents; the main obstacle is that the film's rights have changed hands several times.[5](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
## Later films and producing
After *Fanboys*, Newman directed the action-comedy *Barely Lethal* (2015), starring [Hailee Steinfeld](https://www.edgepedia.org/hailee-steinfeld) and Samuel L. Jackson for A24 Films, and *1UP* (2022), starring Ruby Rose for Lionsgate and BuzzFeed Studios, set in the world of competitive esports.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) His first feature, *The Hollow*, was released in 2004.[3](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2010644/) AlloCiné also credits him with directing the shorts *War Monkeys* (2007), *Emo Boy* (2009), *Chewie* (2013), and *Secret Agency* (2015), and an untitled [Dungeons & Dragons](https://www.edgepedia.org/dungeons-and-dragons) documentary listed for 2024.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-142983/filmographie/)
As a producer, Newman shepherded *Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made* (2015), a documentary about three teenagers who set out to recreate [Steven Spielberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/steven-spielberg)'s *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981) shot for shot, distributed by Drafthouse Films and Neon.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) He executive produced the 2021 thriller *Happily* and produced the 2023 documentary *A Disturbance in the Force*, about the *Star Wars Holiday Special*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman) On Rotten Tomatoes, *A Disturbance in The Force* is his highest-rated credit at 100 percent from critics, and *Barely Lethal* his lowest at 26 percent.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman)
## Music videos and commercial work
Newman has directed videos for [Taylor Swift](https://www.edgepedia.org/taylor-swift) ("Style", "Clean", and 1989 World Tour content featuring [Selena Gomez](https://www.edgepedia.org/selena-gomez) and Haim), Lana Del Rey ("Summertime Sadness"), and Cyn ("House with a View", guest starring Katy Perry), with his video work described as garnering billions of views.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) His commercial and branded clients have included Microsoft, Interscope Records, Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro), The Coca-Cola Company, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Fox, BuzzFeed, and Lionsgate, among others.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/)
## Books
Newman is a New York Times bestselling author. He worked on *Dungeons & Dragons: Art & Arcana*, a history of the role-playing game that was nominated for Hugo and Locus Awards, and on *Heroes' Feast: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cookbook*, which debuted on major bestseller lists including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) He has been at work on further books for Penguin Random House.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/)
## Personal life
Newman married actress Jaime King.[3](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2010644/) Sources differ on the number of his children: IMDb states he resides in Los Angeles with his three sons, James Knight, Leo Thames, and Etienne Noel,[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/) while elCinema reports two children.[3](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2010644/)
## References
1. [Kyle Newman (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1381100/)
2. [Kyle Newman, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/kyle-newman)
3. [Kyle Newman, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2010644/)
4. [Kyle Newman : Filmographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-142983/filmographie/)
5. [Fanboys Director Kyle Newman On Celebrating Star Wars Fandom & Hopes for Sequel, SYFY WIRE (August 22, 2023)](https://www.syfy.com/syfy-wire/fanboys-director-kyle-newman-retrospective-interview)
6. [Interview with Kyle Newman, Bullz-Eye (May 18, 2009)](https://www.bullz-eye.com/2009/05/18/interview-with-kyle-newman/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Film people and crafts › Directors, producers, and screenwriters › Film directors by country and region › North and South American directors › Contemporary American directors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; 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