John Lee Hancock

John Lee Hancock Jr. (born December 15, 1956) is an accomplished American filmmaker best known for directing critically acclaimed films like 'The Rookie' (2002), 'The Alamo' (2004), 'The Blind Side' (2009), 'Saving Mr. Banks' (2013), 'The Founder' (2016), 'The Highwaymen' (2019), 'The Little Things' (2021), and 'Mr. Harrigan's Phone' (2022). He also wrote the screenplay for 'A Perfect World' in the year 1993. Born in Longview, Hancock grew up in Texas City, where his father, John Lee Hancock Sr., was a local football coach, and his mother, Sue Hancock, was an English teacher. Hancock, the eldest of four children, pursued an education at Baylor University, earning both a Bachelor's degree in English and a J.D. degree from Baylor Law School. **

After working in a law firm in Houston for four years, Hancock moved to Los Angeles to follow his passion for screenwriting. His breakthrough came when Clint Eastwood noticed one of his scripts, which became 'A Perfect World,' a film directed by Eastwood himself. Hancock also wrote the screenplay for 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.' He directed 'The Alamo,' a remake of the 1960 film, which featured Dennis Quaid, Billy Bob Thornton, among others. Hancock's other major achievements include 'The Blind Side,' which received Academy Award nominations and grossed over $309 million, and 'Saving Mr. Banks,' a film about P.L. Travers' struggles with Walt Disney. He also directed Netflix's movie 'The Highwaymen.' His latest work includes the 2021 neo-noir crime thriller 'The Little Things' and 2022's 'Mr. Harrigan's Phone,' based on Stephen King's short story.**