In 1997, he and the filmmaker Juanita Wilson, whom he married a year later, set up Metropolitan Film Productions with a mind to developing Irish films for the international market.
Flynn died on 11 February 2023, at the age of 57 following a short illness.[3][4][5]
In a statement, Irish president Michael D. Higgins said "over the course of his career, James Flynn made a remarkable contribution to the Irish film industry, both in terms of fostering the development of films by the Irish film community itself, and in bringing so many international projects to this island".
Neil Jordan, who worked with him on films such as Ondine and Greta, praised his honesty. "Very few producers have that quality to that extent," he said. "He was absolutely honourable in all his dealings, and if he gave his word that was it."