James Watkins (director)
James Watkins | |
|---|---|
 Watkins in 2017 | |
| Born | 20 May 1973 Nottingham, England |
| Occupation | Filmmaker |
James Thomas Watkins (born 20 May 1973) is an English filmmaker. He is best known for horror films such as Eden Lake (2008), The Woman in Black (2012), and Speak No Evil (2024). He has also directed episodes of series such as Black Mirror (2016) and The Ipcress File (2022), and was the creator, writer, director, and executive producer of the series McMafia (2018). He directed the DC Universe film Clayface which is scheduled to be released in 2026.
Early life
Watkins was born in Nottingham on 20 May 1973.[1]
Career
Film
Watkins co-wrote the horror films My Little Eye (2002) and Gone (2007). In his directorial debut, he wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Eden Lake (2008).[2]
It won Best Horror Film at the 2009 Empire Awards,[3] the Special Jury Prize at the Sitges Film Festival,[4] and Best Director at Fantasporto.[5] Watkins was also nominated for the Douglas Hickox Award at the 2008 British Independent Film Awards.[6]
Watkins was the co-writer and second unit director of The Descent Part 2 (2009). He directed the horror film The Woman in Black (2012)[7][8] and co-wrote and directed the action thriller film Bastille Day (2016). He wrote and directed the horror-thriller film Speak No Evil (2024).[9] Before moving into directing, Watkins had a first-look writing deal with Working Title Films from 2001 to 2007, under which he wrote several screenplays, including My Little Eye. He has also written screenplays for Warner Bros., Pathé, Film4 and BBC Films.[10]
Watkins will next direct the DC Universe horror superhero film Clayface (2026).[11]
Television
Watkins directed the Black Mirror episode "Shut Up and Dance" (2016). He directed all six episodes of The Ipcress File (2022) and served as an executive producer.[12] He co-created and co-wrote McMafia (2018) with Hossein Amini and directed all eight episodes.[13][14]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Director | Writer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | My Little Eye | No | Yes |
| 2007 | Gone | No | Yes |
| 2008 | Eden Lake | Yes | Yes |
| 2009 | The Descent Part 2 | 2nd unit | Yes |
| 2012 | The Woman in Black | Yes | No |
| 2016 | Bastille Day | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | Speak No Evil | Yes | Yes |
| 2026 | Clayface | Yes | No |
Television
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Creator | Executive Producer |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Black Mirror | Yes | No | No | No | Episode: "Shut Up and Dance" |
| 2018 | McMafia | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 8 episodes |
| 2022 | The Ipcress File | Yes | No | No | Yes | 6 episodes |
References
- ↑ "James Watkins". TV Insider. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "James Watkins interview: Eden Lake, modern horror & The Descent 2". Den of Geek. 23 January 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ↑ "Best Horror – Eden Lake". Empire. Bauer Consumer Media. 2009. Archived from the original on 6 November 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Awards 2008". Sitges Film Festival. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "Filme animado de Bill Plympton vence Fantas". Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 1 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Ward, Audrey (28 October 2008). "Nominations for British Independent Film Awards announced". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Gingold, Michael (4 February 2019). "Q&A: Director James Watkins' Dark Directions For THE WOMAN IN BLACK". Fangoria.
- ↑ Mellor, Louisa (9 February 2012). "James Watkins, Jane Goldman & Susan Hill interview: The Woman In Black, Hammer and more". Den of Geek.
- ↑ "James Watkins - United Agents". United Agents. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
- ↑ "McMafia case study at Content London". C21Media. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Kit, Borys; Couch, Aaron (21 February 2025). "DC's 'Clayface' Lands 'Speak No Evil' Director James Watkins (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ Daniels, Nia (10 December 2020). "The Ipcress File to shoot in Liverpool and Croatia". Screen Global Production. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ Hughes, Sarah (30 December 2017). "English toffs and Russian gangsters make McMafia a TV drama with global ambition". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 August 2026.
- ↑ "AMC and BBC Worldwide North America announce co-production deal for new scripted original drama series McMafia with BBC and Cuba Pictures". AMC Global Media. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2026.