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Bryan Singer

Bryan Singer is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for directing The Usual Suspects, the first two X-Men films, Superman Returns, Valkyrie, Jack the Giant Slayer, and Bohemian Rhapsody.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Bryan Singer is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter best known for directing The Usual Suspects, the first two X-Men films, Superman Returns, and Bohemian Rhapsody. Born in New York City in 1965, he began his career with short films and independent features before moving into major studio filmmaking.

Early life and education

Bryan Jay Singer was born in New York City on September 17, 1965. He studied at the University of Southern California, where he developed his early filmmaking experience and made short films such as Lion's Den.

Career

Singer made his feature debut with Public Access and gained major attention with The Usual Suspects. He later directed X-Men and several other studio films, building a career that moved between comic-book adaptations, historical dramas, and musical biography.

X-Men franchise

Singer is closely associated with the X-Men film series, having directed the first two films and later returning for X-Men: Days of Future Past and X-Men: Apocalypse. The franchise became one of the central superhero properties of the 2000s and 2010s.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Singer directed Bohemian Rhapsody, the Queen biographical film released in 2018, but he was removed from the production during the final weeks of filming. The film remained one of his best-known later projects.

Key facts

  • Singer is widely known for The Usual Suspects and for helping launch the modern superhero film cycle with X-Men.
  • He attended the University of Southern California and made early short films including Lion's Den.
  • He directed X-Men (2000) and X2: X-Men United (2003), then later returned to the franchise with X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014) and X-Men: Apocalypse (2016).
  • His other major films include Superman Returns (2006), Valkyrie (2008), Jack the Giant Slayer (2013), and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018).
  • Singer was fired from Bohemian Rhapsody during its final weeks of filming, according to the cited sources.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Bryan Singer?
Bryan Singer is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter known for The Usual Suspects, X-Men, Superman Returns, and Bohemian Rhapsody.
When was Bryan Singer born?
He was born on September 17, 1965.
What is Bryan Singer best known for?
He is best known for The Usual Suspects and for directing major superhero films, especially the X-Men series.
Did Bryan Singer direct Bohemian Rhapsody?
Yes. He is credited as the director, although sources note that he was fired during the final weeks of filming.
What was Bryan Singer's first film?
His early short film was Lion's Den, and his first feature film was Public Access.
What production company is Bryan Singer associated with?
He is associated with Bad Hat Harry Productions.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Singer
    Supports: Filmography, including Valkyrie, X-Men: First Class, Jack the Giant Slayer, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Bohemian Rhapsody; notes that he was fired during the last weeks of filming Bohemian Rhapsody.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001741/
    Supports: American film director and producer; education at USC; early short film work; directing credits including X-Men, Superman Returns, Valkyrie, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Jack the Giant Slayer.
  3. Apple TV — https://tv.apple.com/us/person/bryan-singer/umc.cpc.35huvl6hvlp8mzoxphohlcjep
    Supports: Born in New York City; USC studies; Lion's Den; feature debut Public Access; later filmography and removal from Bohemian Rhapsody during production.
  4. Encyclopedia.com — https://www.encyclopedia.com/journals/culture-magazines/singer-bryan
    Supports: Full name Bryan Jay Singer; born September 17, 1965 in New York City; University of Southern California; selected film credits and Bad Hat Harry Productions.
  5. Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q220751
    Supports: Canonical name, date and place of birth, and occupations.