David Leitch

David Leitch (; born November 16, 1975) He later also directed the films Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2 (2018), Hobbs & Shaw (2019), Bullet Train (2022), The Fall Guy (2024) and How to Rob a Bank (2026).

Education

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

Career 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 Brad 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 November 13, 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 Year TitleDirectorProducer Notes 2014 John Wick Chad Stahelski 2017 Atomic Blonde 2018 Deadpool 2 2019 Hobbs & Shaw 2022 Bullet Train 2024 The Fall Guy 2026 Post-production 2027 Filming

Producer only Nobody (2021) Violent Night (2022) Love Hurts (2025) Nobody 2 (2025) Over Your Dead Body (2026) Violent Night 2 (2026)

Writer Confessions of an Action Star (2005)

Executive producer John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) Kate (2021) John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) Pretty Lethal (2026)

Short film Year Title Notes 2017 No Good Deed 2019 Snowbrawl Shot on iPhone 11, sponsored by Apple Inc.

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

Perfect Target (1997) Orgazmo (1997) Almost Heroes (1998) BASEketball (1998) Blade (1998) Out in Fifty (1999) Fight Club (1999) The Right Hook (2000) Big Momma's House (2000) Yup Yup Man (2000) Bad Seed (2000) Men of Honor (2000) The Substitute: Failure Is Not an Option (2001) The Score (2001) The Mexican (2001) Replicant (2001) Ocean's Eleven (2001) Spy Game (2001) One Night at McCool's (2001) Ghost of Mars (2001) Corky Romano (2001) The Order (2001) Serving Sara (2002) Daredevil (2003) In Hell (2003) Seabiscuit (2003) S.W.A.T. (2003) The Matrix Reloaded (2003) The Matrix Revolutions (2003) Stuck on You (2003) Troy (2004) In Enemy Hands (2004) Van Helsing (2004) Constantine (2005) XXX: State of the Union (2005) Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005) The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) Serenity (2005) V for Vendetta (2005) Underworld: Evolution (2006) When a Stranger Calls (2006) Beerfest (2006) 300 (2006) Next (2007) The Bourne Ultimatum (2007) The Invasion (2007) I Am Legend (2007) The Gene Generation (2007) Mama's Boy (2007) Jumper (2008) Speed Racer (2008) The Midnight Meat Train (2008) Bangkok Dangerous (2008) Angels & Demons (2009) X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) The Hangover (2009) Tron: Legacy (2010) The Mechanic (2011) Conan the Barbarian (2011) In Time (2011) Movie 43: "Happy Birthday" segment (2013) Jupiter Ascending (2015)

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 2008 Speed Racer Gus Gustaferson Uncredited 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 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"

Awards and nominations Year Association Nominated work Category Result 2007 Screen Actors Guild Awards 300 Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture The Bourne Ultimatum