Adam Saunders

Saunders graduated high school at Richardson High School, earned a drama degree from Duke University, and a master's in acting from the Yale School of Drama.^[4][5][6]

In 2007, Saunders started Footprint Features, a Los Angeles-based production company.^[3]

In 2011, Saunders produced and acted in Family Weekend, starring Kristin Chenoweth, and Joey King. The film was written by Matt K. Turner, directed by Benjamin Epps, and executive produced by the Bedford Falls Company.^[7] In 2013, he produced and acted in About Alex, starring Aubrey Plaza, Max Greenfield, Jason Ritter, and Jane Levy, and written and directed by Jesse Zwick. The film was executive produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz and played at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival.^[8] In 2017, he produced and acted in Oren Uziel's crime thriller Shimmer Lake which was named as Variety’s 2017 standout for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.^[9]

In 2018, Saunders produced the Netflix romantic comedy When We First Met starring Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario, written by John Whittington (screenwriter) and directed by Ari Sandel. The film was produced alongside Mason Novick and Wonderland Sound and Vision.^[10]

In 2022, Saunders made his directorial film debut with Dotty & Soul,^[11] an indie comedy^[6] in which he starred alongside Tony and Emmy winner Leslie Uggams.^[2][12] Dotty & Soul premiered at the 2022 San Diego Film Festival.^[13][14] In 2023, it sold to Showtime.^[15]

Also in 2022, Saunders produced Darby and the Dead starring Riele Downs and Auli'i Cravalho for 20th Century Studios. The film was directed by Silas Howard, shot in Cape Town, South Africa and was released on December 2, 2022 on Hulu.^[16][17]

In 2023, Saunders signed on to star in the comedy Re-Election, alongside Tony Danza and Bex Taylor-Klaus.^[13] Re-Election was Saunders' second directorial effort. The film was set in Richardson, Texas and shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.^[6] The film was distributed theatrically by Picturehouse and was released on October 10, 2025. The film debuted in New York City at the Regal Union Square, Angelika in Dallas and the Springs Cinema in Atlanta.^[18][19]