John Hyams

Last updated
John Hyams
Occupations
  • Film director
  • screenwriter
  • cinematographer
Years active1986–present

John Hyams is an American screenwriter, director and cinematographer, best known for his involvement in the Universal Soldier series, for which he has directed two installments. Hyams is the son of director Peter Hyams.

Contents

Career

Hyams graduated from Syracuse University School of Visual and Performing Arts, becoming a noted painter and sculptor exhibiting and selling work in New York and Los Angeles. [1] He became known in Hollywood in 1997 after writing, producing, and directing the critically acclaimed One Dog Day. The film debuted at the Taos Talking Picture Film Festival. After that, Hyams directed several documentaries, most notably The Smashing Machine , which follows the life of fighter Mark Kerr. Hyams also directed several episodes of ABC Television's NYPD Blue .

In 2009, Hyams took over the Universal Soldier franchise, directing the film Regeneration , starring Jean-Claude Van Damme and Dolph Lundgren. It was shot mostly in Bulgaria on a budget of $9 million. [2] Then, in 2012, he wrote and produced a sequel called Day of Reckoning , [3] which also featured Van Damme and Lundgren. It was shot in 3D with a budget of $8 million.

Over the course of 2014 and 2015, Hyams directed several episodes of the horror series Z Nation , including the pilot. Hyams has also directed for numerous other TV series, including Chicago P.D. , Chicago Fire , and Chucky , and acted as showrunner for the Z Nation spin-off Black Summer . In 2018 he returned to feature work with the independent comedy-drama All Square , starring Michael Kelly. In 2020 he directed the thriller Alone , and in 2022 the Kevin Williamson-scripted, Blumhouse-produced horror film Sick.

Filmography

Films

TitleYearCredited asNotes
DirectorProducerWriter
One Dog Day1997YesYesYes
The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr 2002YesCo-No Documentary film, also editor
Fight Day2003YesNoNo Featurette, also editor
Rank2006YesYesNoDocumentary film, also editor
Cowtown: Bull Riding Sessions2006YesYesNoFeaturette
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt 2009NoAssociateNo
Universal Soldier: Regeneration 2009YesNoNoAlso editor
The Razzle Dazzle2009YesCo-No Short film
The Ignorant Bliss of Sun and Moon2010YesNoNoShort film, also editor, cinematographer and sound editor
Dragon Eyes 2012YesNoNo
Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning 2012YesNoYesAlso editor
Days of Reckoning: The Making of Universal Soldier 42013NoYesNoFeaturette
Skin Trade 2014NoNoNoUncredited script revisions
All Square 2018YesNoNo
Alone 2020YesNoNoAlso editor
Sick 2022YesNoNo

Television

The numbers in directing and writing credits refer to the number of episodes.

TitleYearCredited asNetworkNotes
CreatorDirectorProducerWriterExecutive
producer
NYPD Blue 2003–2005NoYes (4)YesNoNo ABC Producer (season 12)
Blind Justice 2005NoYes (1)NoNoNo
Z Nation 2014–2017NoYes (9)Co-Yes (5)Co- Syfy Co-producer (season 1; 8 episodes)
Co-executive producer (season 2; 13 episodes)
The Originals 2016–2017NoYes (3)NoNoNo The CW
12 Deadly Days 2016NoYes (1)NoNoNo YouTube Red Anthology series
Chicago P.D. 2017–2019NoYes (4)NoNoNo NBC
Chicago Fire 2017NoYes (1)NoNoNo
Legacies 2019NoYes (1)NoNoNoThe CW
Black Summer 2019–2021YesYes (9)NoYes (5)Yes Netflix Also showrunner
Roswell, New Mexico 2022NoYes (1)NoNoNoThe CW
Chucky 2022–2023NoYes (3)NoNoNoSyfy
USA Network
Teacup 2024NoYes (2)NoNoNoPeacock
The Rookie 2025NoYes (1)NoNoNoABC
The Recruit 2025NoYes (1)NoNoNoNetflix

References

  1. "John Hyams". imdb. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  2. Daniels, Hunter (December 7, 2012). "Director John Hyams Talks UNIVERSAL SOLDIER: DAY OF RECKONING, Plus the Top 11 Things to Know About Hyams and His Film". collider.com. Retrieved March 24, 2013.
  3. Antosca, Nick. "Masterpiece Theatre: Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning". Paris Review. Retrieved March 24, 2013.