Trey Edward Shults

Trey Edward Shults (born October 6, 1988) is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. He is best known as the director and writer of the drama Krisha, the psychological horror film It Comes at Night (2017), the drama Waves (2019), and the thriller Hurry Up Tomorrow (2025).

Life and career

Shults was born in Montgomery, Texas, the son of Robyn (Fairchild) and William Shults.

In 2010, he made his directorial debut in the short film Mother and Son, which he also wrote, edited, and produced. It starred Krisha Fairchild and Lucas Quintana. In 2011 and 2012, Shults variously served as film loader, post-production intern, and intern, on three of Terrence Malick's films, Song to Song, Voyage of Time, and The Tree of Life. At the time, Shults was a business management student but dropped out to work on films and study films himself. The following year, he directed, wrote, and acted in a feature-length adaptation of the same name, which premiered at South by Southwest in March 2015, winning the Grand Jury Award. The film is based upon a real-life incident involving Shults's cousin, who experienced a relapse at a family reunion. It was acquired by A24 and released in 2016.

In March 2015, Shults signed with William Morris Endeavor. Shults also served as the camera PA on the 2016 film Midnight Special. starring Joel Edgerton. He followed this film with the critically acclaimed drama Waves, which was released on November 15, 2019. His most recent film, Hurry Up Tomorrow, starring Abel Tesfaye, Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan, was released in May 2025 by Lionsgate and was widely panned by critics and audiences.

Shults next began work on an untitled Hockey series from producer Shawn Levy, of which Shults will direct the first two episodes.

Filmography Short film Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes 2010 Mother and Son 2011 Two to One 2014 Krisha Role: Trey

Feature film Year Title Director Writer Producer Editor Notes 2015 Krisha Role: Trey 2017 It Comes at Night 2019 Waves 2025 Hurry Up Tomorrow

Television Year Title Notes 2023 Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty Episode "The Magic Is Back" 2026 Cape Fear Episode "Possum"