James McNamara

James McNamara is the creator, head writer, and executive producer of the critically-acclaimed international Disney+ and Hulu series, THE ARTFUL DODGER (starring Thomas Brodie-Sangster, David Thewlis, and Maia Mitchell). Season 1 was nominated for seven Australian Academy Awards (AACTAs) and McNamara was nominated for an Australian Writers’ Guild Award for writing the pilot episode. Season 2 premieres on 10 February, 2026. McNamara’s work as a writer and showrunner is defined by language-driven, actor-centred drama. His formation includes conservatory training in writing, directing, and classical performance at the National Institute of Dramatic Art and the Bell Shakespeare Company, screenwriting training at Australia’s national film school, the Australian Film Television and Radio School, and a PhD in English Literature from the University of Oxford. Alongside his creative practice, McNamara is an Associate Professor of Film and Media Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.