Colin Trevorrow Bio
Colin Trevorrow (born September 13, 1976) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter whose work has helped define contemporary genre cinema. He made his feature directorial debut with Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), a comedy-sci-fi that earned him critical attention, followed by his blockbuster franchise entry Jurassic World (2015), which grossed over $1.6 billion worldwide. Trevorrow co-wrote and directed additional installments in the Jurassic World series, including Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Dominion (2022). He has also pursued ambitious projects beyond the Jurassic World universe and founded Metronome Film Co., a production company based in London and Los Angeles, aiming to develop original storytelling across film and television. Known for collaborative writing, hands-on directing style, and a penchant for large-scale, commercially successful genre cinema, Trevorrow remains an influential figure in modern Hollywood.
Early Life and Background
Colin Trevorrow was born on September 13, 1976, in San Francisco, California. He was raised in Oakland, California. His father was a musician who played in a country rock band, while his mother worked as a photographer and also operated a day-care center. His maternal grandmother was of Sephardic Jewish ancestry, with ancestors who settled in the Caribbean several centuries ago. This artistic household provided a creative environment that nurtured Trevorrow’s early interests in filmmaking and performance.
As a young boy, Trevorrow sang in the chorus of the San Francisco Opera, exposing him to performance at an early age. As a teenager, he began to distinguish himself in the film community, winning awards from the Mill Valley Film Festival and the San Francisco Youth Film Festival. These early accomplishments demonstrated his talent and dedication to the craft. He graduated from Piedmont High School in Piedmont, California, before pursuing higher education in New York.
Trevorrow earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in film and dramatic writing from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts in 1999. His formal training at NYU provided him with the technical skills and industry knowledge that would later prove essential in his career. During his time at NYU, he met Derek Connolly, a collaboration that would become one of the most productive partnerships in contemporary genre filmmaking.
Path to Director
While attending NYU, Trevorrow and Connolly first met and formed a connection. They later worked together as interns on Saturday Night Live, where they gained invaluable experience in professional television and film production. After graduating, Trevorrow began building his career with short films and independent projects. In 2002, he wrote and directed his first short film, Home Base. By 2012, this short had received over 20 million hits online, demonstrating the potential reach of digital content and Trevorrow’s ability to connect with audiences.
His first theatrical release came in 2004 with Reality Show, a documentary film about the failed production of a reality television show. This project showcased his versatility across different genres and formats. In 2006, Trevorrow sold his first spec script titled Tester to DreamWorks, marking his entry into the mainstream Hollywood studio system. By 2008, he had partnered with Connolly to write the buddy cop film script Cocked and Loaded, a collaboration that proved so enjoyable that Trevorrow decided to focus on collaborative screenwriting rather than solo projects.
The partnership between Trevorrow and Connolly would prove transformative for both careers. Their collaborative approach to storytelling, combining inventive premises with commercial appeal, became a hallmark of their work together. After years of developing projects for major studios, the duo was finally positioned to bring Trevorrow’s directorial vision to the big screen with Safety Not Guaranteed.
Colin Trevorrow Career
Early Career (2002–2011)
Following his 2002 short film Home Base, Trevorrow continued to develop his skills through various projects. Reality Show in 2004 marked his transition from short films to feature-length work, though it was the partnership with Derek Connolly that would define his early success. Their collaboration on Cocked and Loaded in 2008 established their working relationship and demonstrated their ability to create engaging commercial premises.
The period also included Trevorrow’s work selling the Tester script to DreamWorks in 2006, which opened doors to major studio involvement. However, Trevorrow remained committed to developing his own projects and maintaining creative control where possible. His background in both writing and directing gave him a unique perspective on bringing stories to the screen.
Breakthrough (2012–2015)
2012 marked Trevorrow’s breakthrough year with the release of Safety Not Guaranteed. The film was inspired by a classified advertisement that ran in a 1997 issue of Backwoods Home Magazine, featuring a person seeking a time-travel companion. The script, written by Derek Connolly with Trevorrow in mind as director, explored themes of romance, science fiction, and unconventional relationships. Safety Not Guaranteed received significant critical acclaim and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
The film also earned Trevorrow a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. This critical recognition established him as a filmmaker to watch in the independent film community and demonstrated his ability to handle nuanced material with humor and heart. Following the success of Safety Not Guaranteed, Trevorrow and Connolly were hired by Disney to write a remake of Flight of the Navigator, further solidifying their position in Hollywood.
The breakthrough moment came in 2015 when Trevorrow co-wrote and directed Jurassic World. The film, a reboot of the beloved Jurassic Park franchise, became a massive commercial success, earning more than $1.6 billion at the worldwide box office. Trevorrow also provided voice work for the character Mr. DNA in the film. Jurassic World demonstrated his ability to handle large-scale productions while maintaining engaging storytelling, and it positioned him as a major director in blockbuster cinema.
Notable Works and Milestones
The Jurassic World franchise became the defining achievement of Trevorrow’s career. He co-wrote the 2018 sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom and continued his involvement in the series by co-writing and directing Jurassic World Dominion in 2022. Beyond the Jurassic franchise, he directed The Book of Henry (2017) for Focus Features. He was also attached to direct Star Wars: Episode IX, titled Star Wars: Duel of the Fates, though he departed the project in 2017 due to creative differences, retaining story credit.
Recent Projects (2019–Present)
In 2019, Trevorrow founded Metronome Film Co., a film and television production company based across London and Los Angeles. The company aims to develop original storytelling across both mediums. Their first production under this banner is Deep Cover, set for release by Amazon MGM Studios on June 12, 2025. The company represents Trevorrow’s expansion into producing and developing projects beyond his directorial work.
Trevorrow has announced several ambitious projects in development. In 2021, he was attached to direct War Magician, a historical war film about Jasper Maskelyne, a British illusionist who used magic to defeat Nazis during World War II, with Benedict Cumberbatch attached to star. In 2023, he revealed he would direct and produce Atlantis for Universal Pictures, with Charmaine Degrate writing the script. In 2024, he was announced as a producer on Trash Mountain, with Lilly Wachowski directing. As of 2025, Trevorrow is in talks to direct a live-action adaptation of The Jetsons for Warner Bros. Pictures, with Jim Carrey set to play George Jetson. He is also developing an Area 51 thriller for Paramount Pictures and Maximum Effort.
Colin Trevorrow Awards
Throughout his career, Colin Trevorrow has received recognition for his work in independent filmmaking and blockbuster cinema. His feature directorial debut, Safety Not Guaranteed (2012), earned him several award nominations and wins from major film festivals. The film was recognized at the Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards, establishing his reputation as a promising new voice in cinema.
Colin Trevorrow Family
Colin Trevorrow is married to Isabelle Trevorrow. Together, they have two children. The family resides in the United Kingdom. Trevorrow has maintained a relatively private personal life despite his high-profile career in Hollywood.
Personal Life
Trevorrow lives with his wife, Isabelle, and their two children in the United Kingdom. Despite his success in Hollywood and his continued work with major American studios, he has chosen to make his home abroad. His personal life remains largely private, though his professional partnerships, particularly with Derek Connolly, have been a consistent element throughout his career. Trevorrow is known for his collaborative approach to filmmaking and his commitment to developing original storytelling across film and television through Metronome Film Co.