Leigh Whannell
Birthdate: Jan 17, 1977
Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Leigh Whannell grew up in Melbourne, Australia, where, at the age of four, he developed an obsession with telling stories. Whether it be through acting, writing or filmmaking, his primary love was getting a reaction from an audience. In 1995, at the age of 18, he was accepted into the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology's prestigious Media Arts course, where he met fellow filmmaker James Wan. In his second year of college, he landed the role of "film guy" on a Saturday morning TV show aimed at teens called Recovery (1996). Filmed totally live in the studio and hosted by actual teenagers, the ground-breaking show was hugely popular down under and was the first to bring "alternative culture" to Australia's TV screens, featuring live performances from bands like Sonic Youth, Weezer, Public Enemy, Ben Harper, Pulp and hundreds more. Hosting the film component of the show, Leigh was lucky enough to interview people like Tim Burton, Peter Jackson, Russell Crowe, George Clooney, and eventually went on the host the show in 1999. After graduating from college, Leigh found himself working more and more as a "host" or "presenter" on Australian TV - all the while hatching a plan with James Wan to finally fulfill his dream of making a film. Small acting roles cropped up from time to time (including one in The Matrix Reloaded (2003), which Leigh has said was "the most fun I've ever had in my life") and, along with those, some frustrating near-misses (and not so near-misses: like his cringe-inducing audition for "Lord Of The Rings", in which he paid $90 to have "hobbit ears" grafted onto his head, turning up at the casting office dressed as a hobbit - needless to say he didn't get the role). However, it was missing out on a role in Alex Proyas Australian film Garage Days (2002) that finally broke the camel's back. He called Wan and told him that if they wanted to get a film made, they would have to pay for it themselves. Saw (2004) was born. After nine months of writing, Leigh had written the screenplay for what he thought would be a self-financed, "Blair Witch"-style feature, with him starring and James directing. The script gained so much attention that soon enough, they were shopping it around Hollywood....and the rest is history.
Filmography
director
Upcoming (1)
writer
Previous (2)
- 2023 | Insidious: The Red Door
Insidious: The Red Door
The Lamberts must go deeper into The Further than ever before to put their demons to rest once and for all.
- 2013 | Insidious: Chapter 2
Insidious: Chapter 2
The Lamberts believe that they have defeated the spirits that have haunted their family, but they soon discover that evil is not beaten so easily.
actor
Previous (19)
- 2020 | The Invisible ManasWriter
The Invisible Man
When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspects his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia works to prove that she is being hunted by someone nobody can see.
- 2018 |
- 2018 |
- 2018 | Insidious: The Last KeyasSpecs
Insidious: The Last Key
Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet, as she is drawn back to her ghostly childhood home where the terror began.
- 2017 | Keep WatchingasMatt
Keep Watching
A family become imprisoned in their home by intruders who force them to play a life and death game where the mysterious rules become clear as the night unfolds.
- 2017 |
- 2017 | The Bye Bye ManasLarry Redmon
The Bye Bye Man
Three friends stumble upon the horrific origins of a mysterious figure they discover is the root cause of the evil behind unspeakable acts.
- 2016 | The Green Hornet and Kato
- 2015 | Insidious: Chapter 3asSpecs
Insidious: Chapter 3
A prequel set before the haunting of the Lambert family that reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity.
- 2014 | Cootiesas Doug
- 2014 | Saw: 10th Anniversary ReleaseasAdam Faulkner-Stanheight
Saw: 10th Anniversary Release
Two strangers awaken in a room with no recollection of how they got there, and soon discover they're pawns in a deadly game perpetrated by a notorious serial killer.
- 2013 | The Pardonas Clement Moss
- 2010 | Insidiousas Specs
- 2008 | Dying Breedas Matt
- 2007 | Dead Silence
- 2006 | Saw III
- 2005 | Saw II
- 2004 | Sawas Adam
- 2004 | SawasAdam
Saw
Two men awaken to find themselves on the opposite sides of a dead body, each with specific instructions to kill the other or face consequences. These two are the latest victims of the Jigsaw Killer.
