David Leitch

David Leitch (born November 16, 1975)[1] is an American filmmaker, actor, stunt performer and stunt coordinator who 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, the sequel to the 2016 film. In 2019, he directed Hobbs & Shaw, a spin-off of the Fast & Furious franchise, and in 2022 directed Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt.

For other people named David Leitch, see David Leitch (disambiguation).
David Leitch
Leitch at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born (1975-11-16) November 16, 1975[1]
Kohler, Wisconsin, U.S.[2]
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • actor
  • stunt performer
  • stunt coordinator
Years active1995–present
Spouse
Kelly McCormick
​
(m. 2014)​

Career

Leitch was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times and two times for Jean-Claude Van Damme. 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

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 March 1, 2024.[10][11][12] 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.[13][14]

Leitch was set to direct 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][15]

Filmography

Film
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
2022 Bullet Train Yes Yes
2024 The Fall Guy † Yes Yes Post-production

Writer

Producer & executive producer

Short film

Year Title Notes
2017 Deadpool: No Good Deed
2019 Snowbrawl Shot on iPhone 11, sponsored by Apple Inc.[16]

Second-unit director

Stuntwork

Acting credits
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

Stunts
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
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
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
Year Association Nominated work Category Result Ref.
2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards 300 Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture Nominated [17]
The Bourne Ultimatum Won [4]
2019 Grammy Awards Deadpool 2 Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Nominated [18]

References
  1. "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. "John Wick' Filmmakers on How to Direct Action, DGA, Keanu Reeves' Advice, and More". The Film Stage. October 21, 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  4. "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.
  5. "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.
  6. "Interview with David Leitch (Matrix, 300, Wolverine, Bourne Ultimatum, Confessions of an Action Star) Pt. 1". Action Flick Chick. May 15, 2009.
  7. "Interview with David Leitch (Part 2)". Action Flick Chick. June 16, 2009.
  8. "Keanu Reeves, 'John Wick' Directors on How Their 'Matrix' Past Helped With Assassin Film". The Hollywood Reporter. 24 October 2014. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  9. Fleming, Mike Jr. (30 January 2019). "David Leitch To Helm 'Undying Love;' Graphic Novel Moves To Studio 8". Deadline. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  10. 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.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. Burton, Carson (April 2, 2022). "Netflix Pumps Brakes on Will Smith Action Film ' Fast & Loose'". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  16. "Snowbrawl – Impressive iPhone 11 Pro Short Movie by David Leitch". Cinema5D. December 3, 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
  17. "List of Screen Actors Guild Award Nominees and Winners". The New York Times. January 27, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  18. "David Leitch". The Recording Academy. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
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