Lord Danger is doubling down on comedy, chaos, and culturally sharp filmmaking with the addition of three-time Emmy-winning director Christopher Werner to its creative roster.
The Los Angeles production company, recently named to Ad Age’s A-List, announced the signing this week as it continues to build a reputation for visually ambitious comedy and unconventional branded storytelling. Werner joins the company following years of directing some of the most memorable digital comedy work on television, including recent viral shorts for Saturday Night Live.
Since 2023, Werner has directed SNL Digital Shorts alongside fellow SNL director and Lord Danger co-founder Mike Diva. His recent work includes the Sabrina Carpenter-starring mock trailer Plans, Flamin’ Hot Preparation H with Jack Black, and the viral Harry Styles sketch MAHAspital.
Before joining SNL, Werner spent more than eight seasons at Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, eventually rising to Supervising Producer while directing nearly 50 episodes for the HBO late-night series. His work there earned multiple Emmy wins, Producers Guild Awards, and three DGA nominations.
“I’m really excited to be joining Lord Danger,” Werner said in the announcement. “There’s a shared instinct around pushing comedy visually while keeping the work smart and culturally sharp, which is exactly the space I want to be working in.”
That combination of cinematic style and internet-aware absurdity has increasingly become part of Lord Danger’s identity. The company’s recent output includes Mike Diva’s Cannes favorite branded short “Fruithead” for Gushers, starring Bradley Whitford, as well as holiday work for Amazon featuring Benedict Cumberbatch and creative partnerships tied to Fortnite.
Mike Diva described Werner as the kind of filmmaker who can jump between styles and tones without losing his comedic voice.
“Working with Chris at SNL, you realize pretty quickly he can kind of do anything,” Diva said. “He’s got real instincts, a strong point of view, and he brings a great energy to everything he does.”
Werner’s signing also arrives as Lord Danger marks its 10th anniversary and reshapes its creative business model amid ongoing industry changes. According to co-founder and executive producer Josh Shadid, the company has intentionally shifted away from scale-focused production models in favor of more selective creative partnerships.
“Chris Werner is one of the more underutilized comedic directors in the commercials space,” Shadid said. “His ability to blend cinematic visual ambition with sharp, culturally resonant comedy makes him an explosive addition to our roster.”
Beyond television and branded work, Werner has also directed the horror-comedy short The Sacrifice starring Josh Radnor and Aya Cash, which is currently screening on the festival circuit.
At a time when comedy advertising increasingly risks feeling algorithmically flattened, Werner’s addition feels strategically aligned with Lord Danger’s larger mission: make weird things, make them cinematic, and make them impossible to ignore.
Click here to watch Werner’s work. Reel 360 News wishes Christopher the best of luck.
REELated:
The Directors Bureau signs Agostina Gálvez
