Leigh Whannell
Writing Born Jan 17, 1977 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia 118 credits
Biography
Leigh Whannell is an Australian filmmaker and actor born on 17 January 1977. He is the writer of multiple films, including Saw (2004), Dead Silence (2007), Insidious (2010), and Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013), all of which were directed by James Wan. Whannell co-created the Saw franchise with Wan, writing the first installment and co-writing the second and third installments. He also appeared as the Adam Stanheight character in three of the installments. Whannell made his directorial debut with Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) and has since directed Upgrade (2018), The Invisible Man (2020), and Wolf Man (2025).
Advertisement
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Leigh Whannell.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Insidious: Out of the Further · CharactersInsidious: Out of the Further · Producer
Wolf ManWolf Man · Executive ProducerWolf Man · DirectorWolf Man · ScreenplayLegacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies
Insidious: The Red DoorInsidious: The Red Door · CharactersInsidious: The Red Door · ProducerInsidious: The Red Door · StorySaw X · Executive Producer
Spiral: From the Book of Saw · CharactersSpiral: From the Book of Saw · Executive Producer
The Invisible Man · StoryThe Invisible Man · DirectorThe Invisible Man · Executive ProducerThe Invisible Man · ScreenplayDirector’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man
AquamanInsidious: The Last KeyInsidious: The Last Key · WriterInsidious: The Last Key · CharactersInsidious: The Last Key · Producer
Jigsaw · Executive ProducerJigsaw · CharactersThe Bye Bye ManKeep Watching78/52
Knife of the Party · Executive Producer
Insidious: Chapter 3Insidious: Chapter 3 · WriterInsidious: Chapter 3 · DirectorInsidious: Chapter 3 · CharactersLavalantula
CootiesCooties · Executive ProducerCooties · StoryCooties · WriterThe Mule
Insidious: Chapter 2Insidious: Chapter 2 · CharactersInsidious: Chapter 2 · StoryInsidious: Chapter 2 · ScreenplayCrush
The Debt Collector
InsidiousInsidious · WriterDick Elves
Saw 3DSaw 3D · Executive ProducerSaw 3D · CharactersLegend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Saw VI · CharactersSaw VI · Executive ProducerThe Last SupperThe Last Supper · Executive Producer
Saw V · CharactersSaw V · Executive ProducerNot Quite HollywoodDying BreedDoggie Heaven
Dead Silence · WriterDead Silence · StorySaw IV · Executive ProducerSaw IV · CharactersDeath Sentence
Saw IIISaw III · ScreenplaySaw III · Executive ProducerSaw III · StorySaw III · Characters
Saw IISaw II · Executive ProducerSaw II · WriterSaw II · CharactersSaw: Rebirth · Characters
SawSaw · StorySaw · ScreenplayOne Perfect Day
The Matrix ReloadedThe RefereesSawSaw · Executive ProducerSaw · Writer
The PhanDom Menace
Stygian
Recovery
Blue Heelers
Full filmography
- Insidious: Out of the Further (2026) Characters
- Insidious: Out of the Further (2026) Producer
- Wolf Man (2025) as Dan (voice)
- Wolf Man (2025) Executive Producer
- Wolf Man (2025) Director
- Wolf Man (2025) Screenplay
- Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies (2025) as Self - (archive footage)
- Insidious: The Red Door (2023) as Specs
- Insidious: The Red Door (2023) Characters
- Insidious: The Red Door (2023) Producer
- Insidious: The Red Door (2023) Story
- Saw X (2023) Executive Producer
- Saw X (2023) Characters
- Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) Characters
- Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021) Executive Producer
- The Invisible Man (2020) Story
- The Invisible Man (2020) Director
- The Invisible Man (2020) Executive Producer
- The Invisible Man (2020) Screenplay
- Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man (2020) as Self
- Aquaman (2018) as Cargo Pilot
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018) as Specs
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018) Writer
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018) Characters
- Insidious: The Last Key (2018) Producer
- Upgrade (2018) Director
- Upgrade (2018) Writer
- Upgrade (2018) Executive Producer
- Home Shopper (2018) Story
- Home Shopper (2018) Executive Producer
- Jigsaw (2017) Executive Producer
- Jigsaw (2017) Characters
- The Bye Bye Man (2017) as Larry Redmon
- Keep Watching (2017) as Matt
- 78/52 (2017) as Self
- Knife of the Party (2016) Executive Producer
- Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) as Specs
- Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) Writer
- Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) Director
- Insidious: Chapter 3 (2015) Characters
- Lavalantula (2015) as Darren
- Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw (2015) as Self
- Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw (2015) Thanks
- Cooties (2014) as Doug
- Cooties (2014) Executive Producer
- Cooties (2014) Story
- Cooties (2014) Writer
- The Mule (2014) as Gavin Ellis
- The Mule (2014) Writer
- The Mule (2014) Executive Producer
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) as Specs
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) Characters
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) Story
- Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) Screenplay
- Crush (2013) as David
- Raze (2013) as Security Guard
- The Pardon (2013) as Clement Moss
- Insidious: Spectral Sightings (2013) as Specs
- The Debt Collector (2012) as Donovan
- Insidious (2011) as Specs
- Insidious (2011) Writer
- Dick Elves (2011) as Larry
- Saw 3D (2010) as Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Saw 3D (2010) Executive Producer
- Saw 3D (2010) Characters
- Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) as Jatt (voice)
- Saw VI (2009) Characters
- Saw VI (2009) Executive Producer
- The Last Supper (2009) as Phillip
- The Last Supper (2009) Executive Producer
- Saw V (2008) Characters
- Saw V (2008) Executive Producer
- Not Quite Hollywood (2008) as Self
- Dying Breed (2008) as Matt
- Doggie Heaven (2008) as Neil
- Doggie Heaven (2008) Screenplay
- Dead Silence (2007) Writer
- Dead Silence (2007) Story
- Saw IV (2007) Executive Producer
- Saw IV (2007) Characters
- Death Sentence (2007) as Spink
- 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments (2007) as Self
- The Making of Dead Silence (2007) as Self
- Making of Saw III (2007) as Self
- Saw III (2006) as Adam Radford
- Saw III (2006) Screenplay
- Saw III (2006) Executive Producer
- Saw III (2006) Story
- Saw III (2006) Characters
- Gregg Hoffman: In Memoriam (2006) as Self
- The Scott Tibbs Documentary (2006) as Adam Stanheight
- The Scott Tibbs Documentary (2006) Characters
- The Scott Tibbs Documentary (2006) Thanks
- Saw II (2005) as Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited)
- Saw II (2005) Executive Producer
- Saw II (2005) Writer
- Saw II (2005) Characters
- Saw: Rebirth (2005) Characters
- Hacking Away at Saw (2005) as Self
- Full Disclosure Report (2005) as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
- Saw (2004) as Adam Radford
- Saw (2004) Story
- Saw (2004) Screenplay
- One Perfect Day (2004) as Chris
- The Matrix Reloaded (2003) as Axel
- The Referees (2003) as Footy Mate
- Saw (2003) as David
- Saw (2003) Executive Producer
- Saw (2003) Writer
- Razor Eaters (2003) as Nick D.
- The PhanDom Menace (2002) as Self
- Stygian (1998) as Clown / Punk Kid
- Recovery (1996) as Self
- Blue Heelers (1993) as Jared Ryan
- The Invisible Man 2 Characters
- Untitled Saw Film Producer
- Untitled Saw Film Characters
- The Green Hornet and Kato Director