David Leitch
Birthdate: Nov 16, 1975
Birthplace: Kohler, Wisconsin
Former stuntman/stunt coordinator/actor David Leitch transitioned to directing in 2014 with an uncredited co-directing credit on the action hit, John Wick (2014), with Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Bridget Moynihan, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, and Willem Dafoe. It $86 worldwide gross set up sequels, John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) and Chapter 3--Parabellum (2019), for which Leitch served as executive producer.
The success of the John Wick franchise set up Leitch for major directing assignments in his specialized genre, action movies, starting with Atomic Blonde (2017), which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival, starring Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman, Eddie Marsan, and Toby Jones. Earning an estimated $100 million gross worldwide, the film launched Leitch’s plans for a sequel starring Theron as well as a John Wick-Atomic Blonde crossover film, both of which are in development.
David Leitch directed the sequel to the R-rated MCU hit, Deadpool 2 (2018), with Ryan Reynolds, Josh Brolin, Morena Baccarin, and Zazie Beetz, outgrossing the original with a worldwide take of $785 million. Leitch jumped to another blockbuster franchise, directing the spinoff Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019), the ninth entry in the Fast & Furious series with Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba, Vanessa Kirby, Cliff Curtis, and Helen Mirren, and once again delivered a blockbuster box-office success which earned over $760 million worldwide.
In 2021, Leitch took a break from directing to produce the Bob Odenkirk-starring action comedy, Nobody (2021), with Odenkirk (also producer, with Leitch), Connie Nielsen, RZA, and Christopher Lloyd. Leitch returned to directing, replacing Antoine Fuqua, on Bullet Train (2022), an Americanized adaptation of Japanese author Kotaro Isaka’s novel with the distinctly non-Japanese cast of Brad Pitt (for whom Leitch used to stunt double), Sandra Bullock, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brain Tyree Henry, Zazie Beetz, and Michael Shannon.
Japanese or Japanese-ethnic cast members include Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, and Karen Fukuhara, but the film has been accused of casting “white-washing” what had originally been a Japanese story for a movie that remains set in Japan. Leitch was director/producer of the $125-million feature version of the 1980s-era TV series, The Fall Guy (2024), starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, with Winston Duke, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, and Stephanie Hsu, and which premiered at the South by Southwest Film Festival before a Universal Pictures release.
Leitch was then director/producer of Warner Bros.’ long-in-the-making feature version of Tom Coker’s and Daniel Freedman’s Image Comics book series, Undying Love (date to be announced), and which was produced by Jeff Robinson, Kelly McCormick, and Stephen L’Heureux.
David Leitch’s work as a producer includes such projects as Tom Clancy’s The Division (2022), with Jake Gyllenhaal and Jessica Chastain; With Love (2025), starring Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, and Daniel Wu under the helming of debuting director Jonathan Eusebio, and which was released by Universal Pictures; the Vicky Jewson-directed thriller Ballerina Overdrive (date to be announced), co-starring Isabela Merced, Lena Headey, Lana Condor, Iris Apatow, Yara Shahidi, and Millicent Simmonds; and the crime drama Fast and Loose (date to be announced), starring Will Smith and written by Erich Hoeber and Jon Hoeber.
Personal Details
David Leitch was born in Kohler, Wisconsin, and raised by parents Bryon and Zona Leitch. Leitch graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.A. degree in International Relations and Education. After graduation, he opened a martial arts school. He is married to film producer Kelly McCormick. Leitch’s height is 5’ 11”.
Awards
Nominee, Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media, Grammy Awards (2019); Nominee, Variety Piazza Grande Award, Locarno Film Festival (2017); Winner, Best Motion Picture Stunt Ensemble, Screen Actors Guild Awards (2008).
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Actor
Screen Actors Guild Awards
Filmography
producer
Upcoming (2)
- 2025 |
- 2025 | Love Hurts
Love Hurts
A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully bu...
Previous (3)
- 2022 | Violent Night
Violent Night
An elite team of mercenaries breaks into a family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone hostage. However, they aren't prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus is on the grounds, and he's about to show why this Nick is n...
- 2021 |
- 2014 |
director
Previous (5)
- 2024 | The Fall Guy
The Fall Guy
A stuntman, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?
- 2022 | Bullet Train
Bullet Train
Five assassins aboard a swiftly-moving bullet train find out that their missions have something in common.
- 2019 | Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Lawman Luke Hobbs and outcast Deckard Shaw form an unlikely alliance when a cyber-genetically enhanced villain threatens the future of humanity.
- 2018 | Once Upon a Deadpool
Once Upon a Deadpool
Foul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (a.k.a. Deadpool) assembles a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with supernatural abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg Cable.
- 2017 | Atomic Blonde
Atomic Blonde
An undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.
actor
Previous (3)
Some Facts About David Leitch
The Stuntman: David Leitch has been a stunt double for Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Martial Artist: Leitch has fighting skills in various martial arts such as Muay Thai, and Kung Fu, as well as shoot wrestling, wrestling, kickboxing, and boxing.
