Jonathan English

Biography

Jonathan English is a British filmmaker known for his work as a director, writer, and producer, particularly within the action and historical genres.

📝 Biography and Early Career

Jonathan English grew up in London, England. His initial studies were in illustration at Art College before he pursued his passion for cinema at the Bournemouth Film and Television School. Upon graduation, he began his career producing short films for television.

In 1995, he moved into feature film production with the romantic comedy So This Is Romance. Over the next decade, England produced a range of European films, including notable titles like Emile, starring Ian McKellen, and A Good Woman, starring Scarlett Johansson and Helen Hunt.

⚔️ Directorial Breakthrough

English made his directorial debut with Minotaur (2006), a film based on Greek mythology that starred Tom Hardy.

His breakthrough came with the 2011 action film, Ironclad, which he both wrote and directed. Set against the backdrop of the Magna Carta in the 13th Century, the film focused on the siege of Rochester Castle and featured a prominent cast including Paul Giamatti, Brian Cox, Sir Derek Jacobi, and James Purefoy. Ironclad was critically noted for its graphic and realistic portrayal of medieval warfare.

He followed this success by writing and directing a sequel, Ironclad: Battle for Blood, released in 2014.

📺 Recent Work and Projects

Beyond features, English has continued to produce on a variety of projects. Recently, he has been involved as a producer on several American television series, including The Ark and The Librarians: The Next Chapter.

In a continuing directorial role, Jonathan English is involved as a writer and director for the upcoming television series Robin Hood (2025), serving as the director for multiple episodes, including the pilot.