David Leitch


David Leitch is an American filmmaker, stunt performer, stunt coordinator, and actor. He made his directorial debut on the action film John Wick with Chad Stahelski, though only Stahelski was credited. He later also directed the films Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Hobbs & Shaw, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy.

Career

Leitch graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations in 1993.
Leitch was a stunt double for Brad Pitt five times and twice for Jean-Claude Van Damme. Leitch and his crew won two awards for The Bourne Ultimatum at the Screen Actors Guild Awards. He also shared a 2008 Taurus World Stunt Award with fellow stunt-person Kai Martin for high work.
He wrote and starred in Confessions of an Action Star, a parody of action films and the action film industry released in 2009.
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, 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.

Upcoming/unrealized projects

In July 2018, Leitch was in early talks to direct a remake of Enter the Dragon, but on April 22, 2019, it was reported to be a sequel, rather than a remake. 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. 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. In August 2022, Leitch was attached to direct a Netflix adaptation of the Dark Horse comic series Bang!, with Idris Elba set to star. 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. In January 2024, Leitch was onboard to direct a feature-length adaptation of Kung Fu for Universal Pictures, with Donnie Yen set to star. In May 2024, Leitch was attached to produce and possibly direct a television series adaptation of Button Man for Fifth Season. In January 2025, he entered early talks to direct Ocean's 14, a sequel to the Ocean's franchise.
Leitch was once attached to direct The Division, based on the video game of the same name, but he stepped down due to scheduling conflicts with Bullet Train. He was also 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. He would continue to be involved as producer with Michael Bay in talks to replace him as director. Leitch was in discussions to direct a new Jurassic Park film scheduled for July 2, 2025, but left the project over creative differences; the film was ultimately directed by Gareth Edwards.
In May 2025, it was announced Leitch would direct the crime action thriller How to Rob a Bank, starring Nicolas Hoult, Pete Davidson, and Anna Sawai. The film will be distributed by Amazon MGM Studios and is scheduled for September 4, 2026.

Personal life

Leitch dated actress Maggie Q from 2009 to 2011.
He has been married to executive producer Kelly McCormick since 2014.

Filmography

Film

Producer only
Writer
  • Confessions of an Action Star
Executive producer
Short film
YearTitleNotes
2017No Good Deed
2019SnowbrawlShot on iPhone 11, sponsored by Apple Inc.

2nd unit director
YearTitleDirector
2003In HellRingo Lam
2008The Midnight Meat TrainRyuhei Kitamura
2009Ninja AssassinJames McTeigue
2010The King of FightersGordon Chan
2011The MechanicSimon West
2011Conan the BarbarianMarcus Nispel
2011In TimeAndrew Niccol
2013Hansel & Gretel: Witch HuntersTommy Wirkola
2013ParkerTaylor Hackford
2013Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesAdam McKay
2013The WolverineJames Mangold
2013Escape PlanMikael Håfström
2014Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesJonathan Liebesman
2015Hitman: Agent 47Aleksander Bach
2015Jurassic WorldColin Trevorrow
2016Captain America: Civil WarRusso brothers
2016Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsDave Green

Stuntwork
  • Perfect Target
  • Orgazmo
  • Almost Heroes
  • BASEketball
  • Blade
  • Out in Fifty
  • Fight Club
  • The Right Hook
  • Big Momma's House
  • Yup Yup Man
  • Bad Seed
  • Men of Honor
  • The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option
  • The Score
  • The Mexican
  • Replicant
  • Ocean's Eleven
  • Spy Game
  • One Night at McCool's
  • Ghost of Mars
  • Corky Romano
  • The Order
  • Serving Sara
  • Daredevil
  • In Hell
  • Seabiscuit
  • S.W.A.T.
  • The Matrix Reloaded
  • The Matrix Revolutions
  • Stuck on You
  • Troy
  • In Enemy Hands
  • Van Helsing
  • Constantine
  • XXX: State of the Union
  • Mr. and Mrs. Smith
  • The Dukes of Hazzard
  • Serenity
  • V for Vendetta
  • Underworld: Evolution
  • When a Stranger Calls
  • Beerfest
  • 300
  • Next
  • The Bourne Ultimatum
  • The Invasion
  • I Am Legend
  • The Gene Generation
  • Mama's Boy
  • Jumper
  • Speed Racer
  • The Midnight Meat Train
  • Bangkok Dangerous
  • Angels & Demons
  • X-Men Origins: Wolverine
  • The Hangover
  • Tron: Legacy
  • The Mechanic
  • Conan the Barbarian
  • In Time
  • Movie 43: "Happy Birthday" segment
  • ''Jupiter Ascending''

    Acting credits

Television

Stunts

Acting credits

Awards and nominations