M. J. Bassett

M. J. Bassett (born Michael J. Bassett) is a British film and television writer, director, and producer. She began her career directing the cult horror films Deathwatch (2002) and Wilderness (2006). She also directed the dark fantasy Solomon Kane (2009) and the video game adaptation Silent Hill: Revelation (2012). Since 2012, she has worked as a director, writer, and producer on television series such as Strike Back, Ash vs Evil Dead, Power, and Altered Carbon. She is transgender, and came out in 2017.

M. J. Bassett
Born
Newport, Shropshire, England
Occupation(s)Screenwriter, film director, television director, television producer, television writer, film producer
Children3

Early life

Bassett grew up in Newport, Shropshire, in the West Midlands, where she was educated at Adams Grammar School. Here she enjoyed a life which she has described as a "safe, unremarkable childhood". Here she developed an obsession with wildlife and nature; Bassett's fascination with films would not arise until much later. Bassett's childhood aspirations were to be a wildlife veterinarian in Africa. Because of her grades in school, a veterinary career became out of the question, and at the age of 16, Bassett left school and became a wildlife filmmaker's assistant, where she would spend 18 months learning photography and film making.

Career

After her time as an assistant, Bassett decided to go back to school to do A-Levels in the hopes of getting a Zoology degree. Once back in school, Bassett wrote to a variety of TV producers, looking for work as a nature presenter. Eventually, Bassett was contacted by Janet Street Porter, shortly after which she began working as a presenter on the children's show Get Fresh,[1] where she presented the science and nature segments. She left to work on other programs, but as work stopped coming in, she was losing interest. At this point, Bassett realized that she wanted to make films. Since moving into film-making would entail substantial risk, Bassett worked for a year animating and voicing the puppet Scally the Dog on Children's ITV while she considered the career change.

Bassett then produced several short films, as well as a 16 mm piece for broadcast television. All the while, Bassett worked on feature scripts which she used to try to catch producers' attention. After a period of years, Bassett's screenplay titled No Man's Land generated significant interest. Many studios offered to purchase the script, but Bassett was determined to direct the film of her screenplay. Eventually, one production company consented to this, and the film was retitled Deathwatch.[2]

She is the current director of Red Sonja, after it had been reported Hannah John-Kamen and Joey Soloway had departed from the film.[3]

Personal life

In 2017, Bassett came out as trans.[4] She has two daughters, Maddie and actress Isabel,[5] and one son, Tom.[6]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
2002 Deathwatch Yes Yes Associate Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver
Nominated – International Fantasy Film Award for Best Film
Nominated – Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Gold
Nominated – Molodist Festival Award for Best Feature Fiction Film
Nominated – Neuchâtel Narcisse Award for Best Feature Film
Nominated – Sitges Maria Award for Best Film
The Abduction Club 2nd unit No No
2006 Wilderness Yes Yes No
2009 Solomon Kane Yes Yes No Fantasporto Audience Jury Award
2012 Silent Hill: Revelation Yes Yes No Nominated- Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Film
2019 Inside Man: Most Wanted Yes No No
2020 Rogue Yes Yes Yes Wrote the screenplay with her daughter, Isabel
2021 Endangered Species Yes Yes Yes Wrote the screenplay with her daughter, Isabel
2024 Red Sonja Yes Yes No

As a film crew

Television
Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes
1998 Bugs No Yes No 3 episodes
2012–18 Strike Back Yes Yes Executive 15 episodes
2013 Da Vinci's Demons Yes No No 2 episodes
2015 The Player Yes No No 2 episodes
2015–16 Ash vs Evil Dead Yes Yes No 4 episodes
2015–18 Power Yes No No 4 episodes
2018 Taken Yes No No Episode: "Imperium"
Iron Fist Yes No No Episode: "Target: Iron Fist"
Nightflyers Yes No No Episode: "Greywing"
2019 Altered Carbon Yes No No 2 episodes
2020 Motherland: Fort Salem Yes No No Episode: "Bellweather Season"
2022 Reacher Yes No No Episode: "Pie"
2022 The Terminal List Yes No No Episode: "Consolidation"
2023 Quantum Leap Yes No No Episode: "The Lonely Hearts Club"

References
  1. Biography Archived 30 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "EAT MY BRAINS! – Interview with M.J. Bassett, Director of Wilderness – Feature Article". eatmybrains.com.
  3. "RED SONJA Reportedly Finds A New Director As ANT-MAN AND THE WASP Star Hannah John-Kamen Drops Out". Comic Book Movie. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  4. "Director MJ Bassett".
  5. "Isabel Bassett". IMDb. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  6. Collis, Clark (20 July 2020). "Megan Fox's mercenary takes on a lethal lion in trailer for action movie Rogue". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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