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.

Early life Bassett grew up in Newport, Shropshire, in the West Midlands, where she was educated at Adams Grammar School. Bassett described this as a "safe, unremarkable childhood". 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 went 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,Biography 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.

She directed Red Sonja (2025), after it had been reported Hannah John-Kamen and Joey Soloway had departed from the film.

Personal life In 2017, Bassett came out as trans. She has two daughters and a son.

Filmography

Film Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes2002DeathwatchGrand Prize of European Fantasy Film in SilverNominated – International Fantasy Film Award for Best FilmNominated – Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in GoldNominated – Molodist Festival Award for Best Feature Fiction FilmNominated – Neuchâtel Narcisse Award for Best Feature FilmNominated – Sitges Maria Award for Best FilmThe Abduction Club2006Wilderness2009Solomon KaneFantasporto Audience Jury Award2012Silent Hill: RevelationNominated – Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Best Film2019Inside Man: Most Wanted2020Rogue Wrote the screenplay with her daughter, Isabel2021Endangered Species Wrote the screenplay with her daughter, Isabel2025Red Sonja Did rewrite the script based on original script by Tasha Huo.

As a film crew Shooting Fish (1997) (Electronic Press Kit Producer) Waking Ned (1998) (Electronic Press Kit Director/Producer) Gabriel & Me (2001) (Electronic Press Kit Director) Close Your Eyes (2002) (Electronic Press Kit)

Television Year TitleDirectorWriterProducer Notes1998Bugs3 episodes2012–18Strike Back15 episodes2013Da Vinci's Demons2 episodes2015The Player2 episodes2015–16Ash vs Evil Dead4 episodes2015–18Power4 episodes2018TakenEpisode: "Imperium"Iron FistEpisode: "Target: Iron Fist"NightflyersEpisode: "Greywing"2019Altered Carbon2 episodes2020Motherland: Fort SalemEpisode: "Bellweather Season"2022ReacherEpisode: "Pie"2022The Terminal ListEpisode: "Consolidation"2023Quantum LeapEpisode: "The Lonely Hearts Club"2024The EqualizerEpisode: "The Whistleblower"2025FUBAREpisode: "Dam It"2025NCIS: Tony & Ziva2 episodes2026Neagley2 episodes

References

External links

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