Leigh Whannell

Leigh Whannell

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.

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Known For

Filmography

2025

Wolf Man
Wolf Man
as Dan (voice)
Movie - Released: 1/15/2025
Saw
Saw
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
TV - Released: 10/3/2025

2023

Insidious: The Red Door
Insidious: The Red Door
as Specs
Movie - Released: 7/5/2023

2020

Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man
Director’s Journal: Making The Invisible Man
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/29/2020

2018

Insidious: The Last Key
Insidious: The Last Key
as Specs
Movie - Released: 1/3/2018
Aquaman
Aquaman
as Cargo Pilot
Movie - Released: 12/7/2018

2017

78/52
78/52
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/13/2017
Keep Watching
Keep Watching
as Matt
Movie - Released: 5/4/2017
The Bye Bye Man
The Bye Bye Man
as Larry Redmon
Movie - Released: 1/12/2017

2015

Insidious: Chapter 3
Insidious: Chapter 3
as Specs
Movie - Released: 5/28/2015
Lavalantula
Lavalantula
as Darren
Movie - Released: 7/25/2015
Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw
Game Changer: The Legacy of Saw
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/14/2015

2014

Cooties
Cooties
as Doug
Movie - Released: 10/10/2014
The Mule
The Mule
as Gavin Ellis
Movie - Released: 3/10/2014

2013

Insidious: Chapter 2
Insidious: Chapter 2
as Specs
Movie - Released: 9/12/2013
The Pardon
The Pardon
as Clement Moss
Movie - Released: 3/22/2013
Crush
Crush
as David
Movie - Released: 3/13/2013
Raze
Raze
as Security Guard
Movie - Released: 4/21/2013

2012

The Debt Collector
The Debt Collector
as Donovan
Movie - Released: 3/2/2012

2011

Insidious
Insidious
as Specs
Movie - Released: 3/31/2011
Dick Elves
Dick Elves
as Larry
Movie - Released: 12/25/2011

2010

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole
as Jatt (voice)
Movie - Released: 7/10/2010
Saw 3D
Saw 3D
as Adam Stanheight (archive footage) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 10/22/2010

2009

The Last Supper
The Last Supper
as Phillip
Movie - Released: 6/26/2009

2008

Dying Breed
Dying Breed
as Matt
Movie - Released: 4/26/2008
Doggie Heaven
Doggie Heaven
as Neil
Movie - Released: 11/24/2008
Not Quite Hollywood
Not Quite Hollywood
as Self
Movie - Released: 8/28/2008

2007

The Making of Dead Silence
The Making of Dead Silence
as Self
Movie - Released: 6/26/2007
Making of Saw III
Making of Saw III
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/23/2007
Death Sentence
Death Sentence
as Spink
Movie - Released: 8/31/2007
30 Even Scarier Movie Moments
30 Even Scarier Movie Moments
as Himself
TV - Released: 10/31/2007

2006

Saw III
Saw III
as Adam Stanheight
Movie - Released: 10/26/2006

2005

Full Disclosure Report
Full Disclosure Report
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
Movie - Released: 10/31/2005
Hacking Away at Saw
Hacking Away at Saw
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/18/2005
Saw II
Saw II
as Adam Stanheight (voice) (uncredited)
Movie - Released: 10/28/2005

2004

Saw
Saw
as Adam Faulkner-Stanheight
Movie - Released: 10/1/2004
One Perfect Day
One Perfect Day
as Chris
Movie - Released: 2/19/2004

2003

The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Reloaded
as Axel
Movie - Released: 5/15/2003
Saw
Saw
as David
Movie - Released: 10/16/2003
Razor Eaters
Razor Eaters
as Nick D.
Movie - Released: 7/13/2003
The Referees
The Referees
as Footy Mate
Movie - Released: 2/15/2003

2002

The PhanDom Menace
The PhanDom Menace
as Self
Movie - Released: 1/1/2002

1998

Stygian
Stygian
as Clown / Punk Kid
Movie - Released: 10/6/1998

1996

Recovery
Recovery
as Self
TV - Released: 4/20/1996

1993

Blue Heelers
Blue Heelers
as Jared Ryan
TV - Released: 9/10/1993