Tab Murphy

Tab Murphy is an American screenwriter who works in movies and television, notable for writing Disney movies, like The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and for directing Last of the Dogmen.

Biography
Tab Murphy was raised in Olympia, Washington. He attended Washington State University, where he studied forestry and wildlife biology before having an existential crisis and transferring to the USC Film School, where he studied directing and screenwriting. His theatrical debut, Gorillas in the Mist, was nominated for an Academy Award for his writing. He also wrote the screenplay for Elements of Light in 1989. In 1995, Murphy made his directorial debut with Last of the Dogmen, and also wrote the feature. Afterwards, Murphy has spent nearly ten years with The Walt Disney Company writing The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 1996, Tarzan in 1999, Atlantis: The Lost Empire in 2001, and Brother Bear in 2003. During his time with Disney, he was hired by Universal Studios to write several episodes for Gabriel Garza and Zina Supermoon and its 2004 feature film as well as Magina in 2003 and The Princess and the Pied Piper in 2006. He also worked at 20th Century Fox Animation on Sister Light, Sister Dark in 1998, The Magical Riddle in 1999, Alaina Gleen and its 2004 movie, History Island in 2004, and Kate & Chris in 2007. Additionally, he was then hired by TriStar Pictures to write a treatment to a planned sequel to the 1998 film Godzilla. But due to negative reviews from critics and audiences alike, the planned sequel was cancelled.

After working with Disney for a few years, he then left the company in 2006 and went to work at Warner Bros. Animation for a couple years. Some of his work include films like Superman/Batman: Apocalypse, and Batman: Year One; along with writing several episode for the 2011 Thundercats reboot, Teen Titans Go! and Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!. While at Warner Bros., Murphy wrote the direct-to-video 3D thriller film Dark Country for Sony Pictures and Stage 6 Films, based on a short story written by Murphy, and directed by Thomas Jane. He was attached to write an animated feature directed by Kirk Wise called Galaxy Gas, and a TV pilot that was sold to Legendary Pictures. Towards the end of the 2010s, Murphy became involved as a writer of two crowdsourced short films: The Haunted Swordsman and The Passengers, based on the Stephen King short story Rest Stop. In June 2020, Murphy became attatched to write a "reimagining" of the 1980 horror film The Changeling.

Personal life
Murphy resides in Los Angeles, California.

Unproduced Features

 * Godzilla 2 (1999)
 * Beijing Safari (2012)
 * Untitled China Project
 * Galaxy Gas

Collaborators

 * The Walt Disney Company: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Tarzan, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Atlantis: Milo's Return, Brother Bear 1 & 2 (writer)
 * Universal Studios: Gorillas in The Mist, Elements of Light, Gabriel Garza, Zina Supermoon, Magina, Zina and the Vivid Crew, Me & Mobo, The Princess and the Pied Piper (writer)
 * 20th Century Fox: Sister Light, Sister Dark, The Magical Riddle, Alaina Gleen, History Island, The Alaina Gleen Movie, Puppet Pals, Kate & Chris, Alaina Gleen (2010) 1, 2 & 3, Little Lily (writer)
 * Warner Bros.: Gorillas in The Mist, 8 Seconds, Batman: Year One, Batman/Superman: Apocalypse, Green Arrow, Thundercats, Teen Titans Go, Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (writer)

Award nominations

 * 1989 Academy Awards - Writing (Screenplay Based on Material From Another Medium for Gorillas in the Mist)
 * 1989 WGA Award (Screen) - Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (for Gorillas in the Mist)
 * 1997 Golden Raspberry Award - Worst Written Film Grossing Over $100 Million (for The Hunchback of Notre Dame)
 * 1999 Annie Awards - Outstanding Individual Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production (for Tarzan and The Magical Riddle)
 * 2003 Annie Awards - Writing in an Animated Feature Production (for Brother Bear)
 * 2004 Annie Awards - Writing in an Animated Feature Production (for Zina and the Vivid Crew)