David Leitch
David Leitch | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S.[2] | November 16, 1975
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1995–present |
Spouse |
Kelly McCormick (m. 2014) |
David M. Leitch (born November 16, 1975)[1] is an American filmmaker, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He made his directorial debut on the 2014 action film John Wick with Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited.[3] Leitch then directed the 2017 thriller film Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron, and 2018's Deadpool 2. In 2019, he directed Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off of the Fast & Furious franchise, and in 2022 directed Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt.
Early life and education[edit]
Leitch was born in Kohler, Wisconsin, to Leroy and Zona Leitch. As a kid, he had passion of Martial arts, so he trained himself in garage with no school. Leitch had a degree in International Relations and Education, he chose to take a teaching job and open a martial arts school right out of college.
Career[edit]
Leitch was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times and two times for Jean-Claude Van Damme.[citation needed] Leitch and his crew won two awards for The Bourne Ultimatum at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[4] He also shared a 2008 Taurus World Stunt Award with fellow stunt-person Kai Martin for high work.[5]
He wrote and starred in Confessions of an Action Star, a parody of action films and the action film industry released in 2009.[6][7]
Leitch and Chad Stahelski opened an action design production company called 87Eleven in 1997. In 2009, Stahelski and Leitch were second-unit directors and stunt co-ordinators on Ninja Assassin. The two co-directed the 2014 film John Wick,[8] although Leitch himself was not credited as co-director. Leitch executive produced the three John Wick sequels, which Stahelski solo directed.
He moved on to direct films such as Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw with his wife and creative partner Kelly McCormick serving as a producer. In 2022, he also directed Brad Pitt in the action-thriller Bullet Train.
Upcoming projects[edit]
In January 2019, Leitch signed on to direct Undying Love, based on the limited comic book series by Tomm Coker and Daniel Freedman, for Studio 8.[9] In September 2020, Leitch signed on to direct and produce stuntman drama The Fall Guy for Universal Pictures, with Drew Pearce writing the screenplay and Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt starring; the film, based on the 1980s television series of the same name, is scheduled for release on May 3, 2024.[10][11][12][13] In November 2022, Leitch became attached to direct spy thriller Red Shirt, based on a pitch by Simon Kinberg and with Channing Tatum set to star; by the end of the month, the project was picked up by Amazon Studios.[14][15]
Leitch was set to direct the action thriller Fast & Loose for Netflix and STXfilms, with Will Smith set to star, but by March 2022, he left the project to focus instead on The Fall Guy.[11][16] Leitch was in discussions to direct a new Jurassic Park film[17] scheduled for July 2, 2025,[18][19] but left the project over creative differences.[20][21]
Personal life[edit]
Leitch was married to producer Kelly McCormick since 2014, and was a stepfather to his wife’s two sons from a previous marriage.[citation needed]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | John Wick | Uncredited | Yes | Co-directed with Chad Stahelski |
2017 | Atomic Blonde | Yes | No | |
2018 | Deadpool 2 | Yes | No | |
2019 | Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw | Yes | No | |
2021 | Nobody | No | Yes | |
2022 | Bullet Train | Yes | Yes | |
Violent Night | No | Yes | ||
2024 | The Fall Guy † | Yes | Yes | |
2025 | With Love † | No | Yes | Filming |
As second unit director[edit]
Writer
Executive producer
- John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)
- John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019)
- Kate (2021)
- John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023)
Short film
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2017 | Deadpool: No Good Deed | |
2019 | Snowbrawl | Shot on iPhone 11, sponsored by Apple Inc.[22] |
Acting credits[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | The Order | Det. Mike Moran | |
2002 | Nine Lives | Paul | |
2003 | In Hell | Paul | |
2005 | V for Vendetta | Convenience Store V | |
Confessions of an Action Star | Frank Sledge | ||
The Dukes of Hazzard | Puncher | ||
2007 | Fetch | John "Fetch" Fetcher | Short film |
2009 | Ninja Assassin | Europol Door Guard | |
2010 | The King of Fighters | Terry Bogard | |
2011 | The Mechanic | Sebastian | |
2012 | The Bourne Legacy | The Driver | |
2013 | Escape Plan | Ship Captain | |
2018 | Deadpool 2 | Cain Marko / Juggernaut Ground Church Mutant |
Leitch provided motion-capture performance on-set, while Ryan Reynolds provided facial motion-capture and voice performances |
2019 | Hobbs & Shaw | Helicopter Pilot | |
2022 | Bullet Train | Jeff Zufelt |
Television[edit]
Stunts[edit]
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1995 | Sherman Oaks | Season 1 |
1996 | 7th Heaven | |
1997-2001 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 18 episodes |
1998 | CHiPs '99 | TV movie |
1999 | The Practice | Episode: "Day in Court" |
The Strip | ||
2000 | The President's Man | TV movie |
2001 | The Pretender 2001 | |
Scrubs | ||
2006 | 2006 MTV Movie Awards | TV special; Stunt double |
General Hospital | Episode 10967 |
Acting credits[edit]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1998 | Martial Law | David Hasbro | Episodes "Diamond Fever", "Dead Ringers", "Funny Money" and "Trackdown" |
2000 | Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue | Brian | Episode "Up to the Challenge" |
2001 | Walker Texas Ranger | Floyd Jessop | Episode "Medieval Crimes" |
2003 | L.A. County 187 | Earnest Cop | TV movie |
2004 | Charmed | Innocent | Episode "There's Something About Leo" |
2019 | Songland | Himself | Episode "Aloe Blacc" |
Video games[edit]
Year | Title | Credited as | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1999 | Tomorrow Never Dies | Stunts | Sony PlayStation release Developed by Black Ops Entertainment Co-published by Electronic Arts and MGM Interactive |
2000 | HBO Boxing | Stunt coordinator | Sony PlayStation release Developed by Acclaim Sports and Osiris Studios Published by Acclaim Entertainment |
Awards and nominations[edit]
Year | Association | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | 300 | Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture | Nominated | [23] |
The Bourne Ultimatum | Won | [4] | |||
2019 | Grammy Awards | Deadpool 2 | Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media | Nominated | [24] |
References[edit]
- ^ a b "David Leitch". AlloCiné. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- ^ "5 questions with "Hobbs & Shaw" director - and Wisconsin native - David Leitch". OnMilwaukee. August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
- ^ "John Wick' Filmmakers on How to Direct Action, DGA, Keanu Reeves' Advice, and More". The Film Stage. October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- ^ a b "Final 14th Annual SAG Awards Recipient Press Release". Screen Actors Guild. January 27, 2008. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
- ^ "Taurus World Stunt Award Winners and Nominees 2008". Taurus World Stunt Award. 2008. Archived from the original on 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2018-06-12.
- ^ "Interview with David Leitch (Matrix, 300, Wolverine, Bourne Ultimatum, Confessions of an Action Star) Pt. 1". Action Flick Chick. May 15, 2009.
- ^ "Interview with David Leitch (Part 2)". Action Flick Chick. June 16, 2009.
- ^ "Keanu Reeves, 'John Wick' Directors on How Their 'Matrix' Past Helped With Assassin Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 October 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (30 January 2019). "David Leitch To Helm 'Undying Love;' Graphic Novel Moves To Studio 8". Deadline. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (2020-09-23). "Universal Lands Hot One: Stuntman-Turned-Director David Leitch To Helm Untitled Stuntman Drama To Star Ryan Gosling; Entertainment 360, 87North and Gosling Producing". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
- ^ a b Kroll, Justin (July 27, 2021). "Netflix Acquires Hot Package 'Fast & Loose' From STXfilms With Will Smith Starring And David Leitch Directing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 12, 2022). "Emily Blunt Joins Ryan Gosling In Universal's 'The Fall Guy' Movie; Studio Sets Release Date". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
- ^ Zee, Michaela (November 14, 2023). "'The Fall Guy' Release Date Moved to May, Stakes Out 'Deadpool 3' Slot". Variety. Archived from the original on November 29, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (November 17, 2022). "Hot Package: Channing Tatum Teams With Simon Kinberg And David Leitch On 'Red Shirt'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 28, 2022). "Amazon Studios Lands Hot Package 'Red Shirt' From Channing Tatum, David Leitch And Simon Kinberg". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
- ^ Burton, Carson (April 2, 2022). "Netflix Pumps Brakes on Will Smith Action Film ' Fast & Loose'". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Kit, Borys; Gajewski, Ryan (February 5, 2024). "David Leitch in Talks to Direct New 'Jurassic World' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Kit, Borys (January 22, 2024). "New 'Jurassic World' Movie in the Works with David Koepp Writing (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 5, 2024). "'Jurassic World' New Movie Eyes Summer 2025 Release". Deadline. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (2024-02-09). "'Jurassic World' Loses Director David Leitch". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
- ^ Jr, Justin Kroll,Mike Fleming; Kroll, Justin; Jr, Mike Fleming (2024-02-05). "New 'Jurassic World' Movie At Universal Circling David Leitch To Direct–The Dish". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Snowbrawl – Impressive iPhone 11 Pro Short Movie by David Leitch". Cinema5D. December 3, 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- ^ "List of Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees and Winners". The New York Times. January 27, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
- ^ "David Leitch". The Recording Academy. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
External links[edit]
- Living people
- 1975 births
- American male film actors
- American film directors
- American stunt performers
- American male television actors
- American parodists
- Comedy film directors
- Parody film directors
- Action film directors
- 21st-century American male actors
- People from Kohler, Wisconsin
- Film producers from Wisconsin