JT Mollner

Jeffrey Tyler Mollner is an American filmmaker and former actor. He is best known for writing and directing the Western film Outlaws and Angels and the thriller film Strange Darling (2023). He also wrote the screenplay for the Stephen King film adaptation The Long Walk (2025).

Early life JT Mollner was born in Las Vegas, the son of former singer Ginnie and former dancer Duke Mollner. His parents met while working at the Dunes in the 1960s, where Duke later became a card dealer. Mollner has an older brother named Daniel. He was a cinephile from an early age, and was also interested in adult novels and writing. He has said that he always knew he wanted to be a filmmaker, though he felt it was not an option for him as his older brother had already attended the UCLA Film School. Mollner had become involved with the company by the age of five, later stating in 2015 that "it was a great household to be from, because you're instantly the most popular kid in school". To this day, Mollner takes three months off from filmmaking around Halloween each year to return to Las Vegas and help his family run the business.

Career In 2005, after ending a year-long starring role in a stage production of Tony n' Tina's Wedding at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas, Mollner moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in the film industry. Believing his dream to direct films was a long shot, he did not pursue it immediately, instead taking small acting jobs to pay the bills while writing screenplays in his spare time.

Mollner began writing a script for his first feature film in 2010, with the intention of making a film reminiscent of 1970s Westerns. Deciding to wait until he could cast well-known actors, while insisting on using film stock and vintage cameras rather than digital cameras, Outlaws and Angels would be in the development stage for nearly five years. It was featured as Sundance's midnight selection.

Mollner next wrote and directed the thriller film Strange Darling (2023), which was released to positive reviews.

In February 2026, it was reported that Mollner is attached to direct a television series based on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre for A24. Mollner said of the project: "I’m not interested in remaking perfect films, and the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a perfect film. Tobe Hooper and Kim Henkel created something bold, transgressive and truly seminal that holds up even today as the gold standard for horror. When the opportunity for a longform exploration into this world arose, I saw it as a fresh way in, as well as a way to honor the existing folklore."

Also in February 2026, it was reported that Mollner will write and direct a feature film called Skeletons for Sony. The film is described as a "creature feature", which will be "told from the perspective of a young boy who slowly begins to discover that his beloved parents are hiding a disturbing secret about his mother’s true nature." Skeletons will be produced by J.J. Abrams and is set to star Brie Larson. Principal photography is scheduled for summer 2026.

Filmography +Feature films Year Title Director Writer Producer 2016 Outlaws and Angels 2023 Strange Darling 2025 The Long Walk 2027 Skeletons

+Short films Year Title Director Writer Producer 2008 The Red Room 2009 Henry John and the Little Bug 2011 Sugartown 2015 Flowers in December 2019 After Emma