Leigh Whannell
50 movies · 3 TV shows
- Known for
- Writing
- Born
- Jan 17, 1977 (age 49)
- Place of birth
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Biography
Leigh Whannell (/ˈli ˈwɑːnɛl/; born 17 January 1977) is an Australian filmmaker and actor. He has written multiple films that were directed by his friend James Wan, including Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), Insidious (2010), and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013). Whannell made his directorial debut with Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and has since directed three more films, Upgrade (2018), The Invisible Man (2020) and Wolf Man (2025).
Whannell and Wan are the creators of the Saw franchise. Whannell wrote the first installment, co-wrote the second and third installments, was the producer or executive producer for all the films, and appeared as the Adam Stanheight character in three of the installments. He was also the writer of the Saw video game (2009) and co-writer of the film Cooties (2014).
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Known for
Leigh Whannell: movies and TV shows
Acting (38)
- 2026 Insidious: Out of the Further
as Specs (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2025 Wolf Man
as Dan (voice)
- 2023 Insidious: The Red Door
as Specs
- 2018 Aquaman
as Cargo Pilot
- 2018 Insidious: The Last Key
as Specs
- 2017 Keep Watching
as Matt
- 2017 The Bye Bye Man
as Larry Redmon
- 2015 Lavalantula
as Darren
- 2015 Insidious: Chapter 3
as Specs
- 2014 Cooties
as Doug
- 2014 The Mule
as Gavin Ellis
- 2013
- 2013 Insidious: Chapter 2
as Specs
- 2013 Raze
as Elevator Guard
- 2013 The Pardon
as Clement Moss
- 2013 Crush
as David
- 2012 The Debt Collector
as Donovan
- 2011 Dick Elves
as Larry
- 2011 Insidious
as Specs
- 2010 Saw 3D
as Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited)
- 2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
as Jatt (voice)
- 2009 The Last Supper
as Phillip
- 2008 Doggie Heaven
as Neil
- 2008 Dying Breed
as Matt
- 2007 Death Sentence
as Spink
- 2006 Saw III
as Adam
- 2006 The Scott Tibbs Documentary
as Adam Stanheight
- 2005 Full Disclosure Report
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
- 2005 Saw II
as Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited)
- 2004 Saw
as Adam
- 2004 One Perfect Day
as Chris
- 2003 Saw
as David
- 2003 Razor Eaters
as Nick D.
- 2003 The Matrix Reloaded
as Axel
- 2003 The Referees
as Footy Mate
- 1998 Stygian
as Clown / Punk Kid
- 1993
- 1985
Behind the camera (33)
- Upcoming The Green Hornet and Kato
Director
- Upcoming Untitled Saw Film
Producer, Characters
- Upcoming The Invisible Man 2
Characters
- 2026 Insidious: Out of the Further
Characters, Producer
- 2025 Wolf Man
Executive Producer, Director, Screenplay
- 2023 Saw X
Executive Producer, Characters
- 2023 Insidious: The Red Door
Characters, Producer, Story
- 2021 Spiral: From the Book of Saw
Characters, Executive Producer
- 2020 The Invisible Man
Story, Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay
- 2018 Upgrade
Director, Writer, Executive Producer
- 2018 Home Shopper
Story, Executive Producer
- 2018 Insidious: The Last Key
Writer, Characters, Producer
- 2017 Jigsaw
Executive Producer, Characters
- 2016 Knife of the Party
Executive Producer
- 2015
- 2015 Insidious: Chapter 3
Writer, Director, Characters
- 2014 Cooties
Executive Producer, Story, Screenplay
- 2014 The Mule
Writer, Executive Producer
- 2013 Insidious: Chapter 2
Characters, Story, Screenplay
- 2011 Insidious
Writer
- 2010 Saw 3D
Executive Producer, Characters
- 2009 Saw VI
Characters, Executive Producer
- 2009 The Last Supper
Executive Producer
- 2008 Doggie Heaven
Screenplay
- 2008 Saw V
Characters, Executive Producer
- 2007 Saw IV
Executive Producer, Characters
- 2007 Dead Silence
Writer, Story
- 2006 Saw III
Screenplay, Executive Producer, Story, Characters
- 2006 The Scott Tibbs Documentary
Characters, Thanks
- 2005 Saw II
Executive Producer, Writer, Characters
- 2005 Saw: Rebirth
Characters
- 2004 Saw
Story, Screenplay
- 2003 Saw
Executive Producer, Writer
Talk shows and appearances (16)
- 2025
- 2024 Grave Conversations
1 episode
- 2020
- 2018 Eli Roth's History of Horror
5 episodes
- 2017 The Core
1 episode
- 2017
- 2009 The Project
1 episode
- 2008
- 2007 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments
2 episodes
- 2007
- 2006
- 2006
- 2005
- 2003 The Panel
1 episode
- 2002
- 1996 Recovery
17 episodes