J Blakeson is a film director, screenwriter and producer.

Most recently J made the critically acclaimed 8-part limited TV series CULPRITS  which was released in late 2023 on Disney+ and Hulu. J created the show, was an executive producer, wrote 4 episodes and directed 5 episodes.

Previously J wrote and directed the feature film I CARE A LOT  – a dark satirical thriller starring Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage, Dianne Wiest, Eiza Gonzáles and Chris Messina. The film was produced by J with Teddy Schwarzman, Ben Stillman and Michael Heimler of Black Bear Pictures.

Rosamund Pike won the Golden Globe Award for best actress (Comedy or Musical) for her performance in I CARE A LOT.

The film was released by Netflix (USA) and Amazon Prime (UK). On its release, the film was number 1 on Netflix USA and the number 1 film on Netflix internationally. In the first 28 days on Netflix, 56 Million people viewed the film.

Press reactions to I CARE A LOT:

“J Blakeson has made the rare suspense film that’s truly about something: the wages of power…  I’m here to say: He’s a major talent”  – Variety

“Hugely entertaining” – Indiewire

“A Deliciously Nasty Piece of Work” – Collider

In 2017 J directed GUNPOWDER – a three part drama mini-series written by Ronan Bennett for Kudos productions, BBC One and HBO. The series stars Kit Harington, Liv Tyler, Mark Gatiss and Peter Mullan. J directed all three episodes.

In 2015 J directed THE 5TH WAVE for Columbia Pictures/Sony. The film is based on Rick Yancey’s best-selling novel and stars Chloe Grace Moretz, Liev Schreiber and Maria Bello.

J made his feature debut with THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ALICE CREED, a highly acclaimed kidnap thriller. J wrote and directed and directed the film which has spawned three remakes.

J lives in London and currently has TV and film projects in the works on both sides of the Atlantic.

AS DIRECTOR & SCREENWRITER:

Culprits (2023) Character 7 / Disney+. Limited TV Series. Crime thriller staring Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Gemma Arterton, Kirby, Niamh Algar and Eddie Izzard.

I Care A Lot (2020) Black Bear Pictures. Thriller starring Rosamund Pike, Eiza Gonzáles and Peter Dinklage.

The Disappearance of Alice Creed (2009) CinemaNX. Kidnap thriller starring Gemma Arterton, Eddie Marsan and Martin Compston.

Press for The Disappearance of Alice Creed:

“Taut, superbly executed and consistently engrossing, The Disappearance of Alice Creedmarks an auspicious feature debut for writer-director J Blakeson.” – The Hollywood Reporter

A terrifically enjoyable British film from debut writer-director J Blakeson, who on the tightest of budgets delivers a professionally honed thriller… Blakeson is a name to watch” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

“The Disappearance of Alice Creed is a tense kidnap film that breaks the rules of the genre: it’s British, small and perfectly formed” – Cosmo Landesman, The Sunday Times

AS DIRECTOR:

Gunpowder (2017) Kudos / BBC1. Three-part drama about the Gunpowder plot. Written by Ronan Bennett. Produced  by Laurie Borg. Starring Kit Harrington, Liv Tyler, Mark Gatiss and Peter Mullan.

The 5th Wave (2016) Columbia Pictures. A GK Films & Material production. YA Thriller based on the bestselling novel by Rick Yancey. Produced by Graham King, Tobey Maguire, Lynn Harris and Matthew Plouffe.

AS SCREENWRITER:

The Descent: Part 2 (2009) Celador Films. Feature film written in collaboration with James McCarthy. Sequel to 2005 horror hit The Descent. Produced by Christian Colson.