6.9
Movie
Writing
Leigh Whannell
- Born
- (age 49)
- Birthplace
- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Credits
- 71 titles
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).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Leigh Whannell, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Signature work
Known For
6.9
Movie
7.1
Movie
The Matrix Reloaded
7.4
Movie
Saw
7.0
Movie
Insidious
7.1
Movie
The Invisible Man
6.6
Movie
Saw II
7.5
Movie
Upgrade
6.4
Movie
Saw III
6.7
Movie
Insidious: Chapter 2
6.2
Movie
Saw IV
6.2
Movie
Jigsaw
6.2
Movie
Saw V
6.3
Movie
Insidious: Chapter 3
6.3
Movie
Saw VI
6.0
Movie
Saw 3D
6.3
Movie
Insidious: The Last Key
6.8
Movie
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
6.5
Movie
Dead Silence
Acting credits 55
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Insidious: Out of the Further Film | Specs (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2025 | Legacy of Screams: The Evolution of Horror Movies Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2025 | Wolf Man Film | Dan (voice) |
| 2024 | Grave Conversations TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 2023 | Insidious: The Red Door Film | Specs |
| 2020 | Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man Film | Self |
| 2018 | Aquaman Film | Cargo Pilot |
| 2018 | Eli Roth's History of Horror TV | Self (5 ep) |
| 2018 | Insidious: The Last Key Film | Specs |
| 2017 | The Core TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 2017 | 78/52 Film | Self |
| 2017 | Keep Watching Film | Matt |
| 2017 | The Bye Bye Man Film | Larry Redmon |
| 2015 | Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw Film | Self |
| 2015 | Lavalantula Film | Darren |
| 2015 | Insidious: Chapter 3 Film | Specs |
| 2014 | Cooties Film | Doug |
| 2014 | The Mule Film | Gavin Ellis |
| 2013 | Insidious: Spectral Sightings TV | Specs (3 ep) |
| 2013 | Insidious: Chapter 2 Film | Specs |
| 2013 | Raze Film | Elevator Guard |
| 2013 | The Pardon Film | Clement Moss |
| 2013 | Crush Film | David |
| 2012 | The Debt Collector Film | Donovan |
| 2011 | Dick Elves Film | Larry |
| 2011 | Insidious Film | Specs |
| 2010 | Saw 3D Film | Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| 2010 | Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Film | Jatt (voice) |
| 2009 | The Project TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 2009 | The Last Supper Film | Phillip |
| 2008 | Doggie Heaven Film | Neil |
| 2008 | Not Quite Hollywood Film | Self |
| 2008 | Dying Breed Film | Matt |
| 2007 | 30 Even Scarier Movie Moments TV | Self (2 ep) |
| 2007 | Death Sentence Film | Spink |
| 2007 | The Making of Dead Silence Film | Self |
| 2006 | Saw III Film | Adam |
| 2006 | The Scott Tibbs Documentary Film | Adam Stanheight |
| 2006 | Gregg Hoffman: In Memoriam Film | Self |
| 2006 | Going to Pieces: The Rise and Fall of the Slasher Film Film | Self (archive footage) |
| 2005 | Full Disclosure Report Film | Adam Faulkner-Stanheight |
| 2005 | Saw II Film | Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited) |
| 2005 | Hacking Away at 'Saw' Film | Self |
| 2004 | Saw Film | Adam |
| 2004 | One Perfect Day Film | Chris |
| 2003 | Saw Film | David |
| 2003 | The Panel TV | Self (1 ep) |
| 2003 | Razor Eaters Film | Nick D. |
| 2003 | The Matrix Reloaded Film | Axel |
| 2003 | The Referees Film | Footy Mate |
| 2002 | The PhanDom Menace Film | Self |
| 1998 | Stygian Film | Clown / Punk Kid |
| 1996 | Recovery TV | Self (17 ep) |
| 1993 | Blue Heelers TV | Jared Ryan (2 ep) |
| 1985 | Neighbours TV | Stuart Maughan (2 ep) |
Crew credits 34
| Year | Title | Job |
|---|---|---|
| TBA | The Green Hornet and Kato Film | Director |
| TBA | Untitled Saw Film Film | Producer, Characters |
| TBA | The Invisible Man 2 Film | Characters |
| TBA | Home Shopper Film | Story |
| 2026 | Insidious: Out of the Further Film | Characters, Producer |
| 2025 | Wolf Man Film | Executive Producer, Director, Screenplay |
| 2023 | Saw X Film | Executive Producer, Characters |
| 2023 | Insidious: The Red Door Film | Characters, Producer, Story |
| 2021 | Spiral: From the Book of Saw Film | Characters, Executive Producer |
| 2020 | The Invisible Man Film | Story, Director, Executive Producer, Screenplay |
| 2018 | Upgrade Film | Director, Writer, Executive Producer |
| 2018 | Home Shopper Film | Story, Executive Producer |
| 2018 | Insidious: The Last Key Film | Writer, Characters, Producer |
| 2017 | Jigsaw Film | Executive Producer, Characters |
| 2016 | Knife of the Party Film | Executive Producer |
| 2015 | Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw Film | Thanks |
| 2015 | Insidious: Chapter 3 Film | Writer, Director, Characters |
| 2014 | Cooties Film | Executive Producer, Story, Screenplay |
| 2014 | The Mule Film | Writer, Executive Producer |
| 2013 | Insidious: Chapter 2 Film | Characters, Story, Screenplay |
| 2011 | Insidious Film | Writer |
| 2010 | Saw 3D Film | Executive Producer, Characters |
| 2009 | Saw VI Film | Characters, Executive Producer |
| 2009 | The Last Supper Film | Executive Producer |
| 2008 | Doggie Heaven Film | Screenplay |
| 2008 | Saw V Film | Characters, Executive Producer |
| 2007 | Saw IV Film | Executive Producer, Characters |
| 2007 | Dead Silence Film | Writer, Story |
| 2006 | Saw III Film | Screenplay, Executive Producer, Story, Characters |
| 2006 | The Scott Tibbs Documentary Film | Characters, Thanks |
| 2005 | Saw II Film | Executive Producer, Writer, Characters |
| 2005 | Saw: Rebirth Film | Characters |
| 2004 | Saw Film | Story, Screenplay |
| 2003 | Saw Film | Executive Producer, Writer |