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David Leitch

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For other people named David Leitch, see David Leitch (disambiguation).
David Leitch
Leitch at the 2024 WonderCon
Born (1975-11-16) November 16, 1975 (age 48)[1]
Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S.[2]
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actor
  • stunt performer
  • stunt coordinator
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Kelly McCormick
​
(m. 2014)​

David Leitch (/liːtʃ/;[3] born November 16, 1975)[1] is an American filmmaker, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He made his directorial debut on the action film John Wick (2014) with Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited.[4] He later also directed the films Atomic Blonde (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Bullet Train (2022), and The Fall Guy (2024).

Career

[edit]

Leitch graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations in 1993.[5]

Leitch was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times and twice for Jean-Claude Van Damme.[citation needed] Leitch and his crew won two awards for The Bourne Ultimatum at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[6] He also shared a 2008 Taurus World Stunt Award with fellow stunt-person Kai Martin for high work.[7]

He wrote and starred in Confessions of an Action Star, a parody of action films and the action film industry released in 2009.[8][9]

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,[10] 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 Pitt in the action-thriller Bullet Train.

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, was released in the United States on May 3, 2024.[11][12][13][14]

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.[15] In July 2022, it was announced Leitch would direct the television miniseries Hot Air, starring Andrew Garfield as Richard Branson, based on the book Dirty Secrets by Martyn Gregory.[16] 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.[17][18]

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.[12][19] Leitch was in discussions to direct a new Jurassic Park film[20] scheduled for July 2, 2025,[21][22] but left the project over creative differences; the film was ultimately directed by Gareth Edwards.[23][24][25]

Personal life

[edit]

Leitch dated actress Maggie Q from 2009 to 2011.

He has been married to executive producer Kelly McCormick since 2014.

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 Hobbs & Shaw Yes No
2022 Bullet Train Yes Yes
2024 The Fall Guy Yes Yes

Producer only

Writer

Executive producer

Short film

Year Title Notes
2017 No Good Deed
2019 Snowbrawl Shot on iPhone 11, sponsored by Apple Inc.[26]

2nd unit director

Year Title Director
2003 In Hell Ringo Lam
2008 The Midnight Meat Train Ryuhei Kitamura
2009 Ninja Assassin James McTeigue
2010 The King of Fighters Gordon Chan
2011 The Mechanic Simon West
Conan the Barbarian Marcus Nispel
In Time Andrew Niccol
2013 Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters Tommy Wirkola
Parker Taylor Hackford
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Adam McKay
The Wolverine James Mangold
Escape Plan Mikael Håfström
2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Jonathan Liebesman
2015 Hitman: Agent 47 Aleksander Bach
Jurassic World Colin Trevorrow
2016 Captain America: Civil War Russo Brothers
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows Dave Green

Stuntwork

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

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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"

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 [27]
The Bourne Ultimatum Won [6]
2019 Grammy Awards Deadpool 2 Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Nominated [28]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "David Leitch". AlloCiné. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  2. ^ "5 questions with "Hobbs & Shaw" director - and Wisconsin native - David Leitch". OnMilwaukee. August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  3. ^ Murphy, Mekado (May 17, 2018). "Anatomy of a Scene | 'Deadpool 2'". The New York Times. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  4. ^ "John Wick' Filmmakers on How to Direct Action, DGA, Keanu Reeves' Advice, and More". The Film Stage. October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  5. ^ Johnson, Laura (2024-11-01). "Life on the Other Side of Fear". College of Liberal Arts. Retrieved 2024-11-11.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "Interview with David Leitch (Matrix, 300, Wolverine, Bourne Ultimatum, Confessions of an Action Star) Pt. 1". Action Flick Chick. May 15, 2009.
  9. ^ "Interview with David Leitch (Part 2)". Action Flick Chick. June 16, 2009.
  10. ^ "Keanu Reeves, 'John Wick' Directors on How Their 'Matrix' Past Helped With Assassin Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 October 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (30 January 2019). "David Leitch To Helm 'Undying Love;' Graphic Novel Moves To Studio 8". Deadline. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 15, 2022). "Andrew Garfield To Star As Richard Branson In 'Hot Air' Limited Series; David Leitch To Direct For Universal Int'l Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 22, 2024.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Burton, Carson (April 2, 2022). "Netflix Pumps Brakes on Will Smith Action Film ' Fast & Loose'". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  20. ^ Kit, Borys; Gajewski, Ryan (February 5, 2024). "David Leitch in Talks to Direct New 'Jurassic World' Movie". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  21. ^ Kit, Borys (January 22, 2024). "New 'Jurassic World' Movie in the Works with David Koepp Writing (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  22. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 5, 2024). "'Jurassic World' New Movie Eyes Summer 2025 Release". Deadline. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  23. ^ Couch, Aaron (2024-02-09). "'Jurassic World' Loses Director David Leitch". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-02-09.
  24. ^ 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)
  25. ^ Kit, Borys (February 20, 2024). "New 'Jurassic World' Movie Enlists Director Gareth Edwards". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Snowbrawl – Impressive iPhone 11 Pro Short Movie by David Leitch". Cinema5D. December 3, 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  27. ^ "List of Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees and Winners". The New York Times. January 27, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  28. ^ "David Leitch". The Recording Academy. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
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