Len Wiseman

Len Ryan Wiseman (born March 4, 1973[1]) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work on the Underworld series, Live Free or Die Hard, and the 2012 film Total Recall. Wiseman runs the production company Sketch Films.

For the chemist, see Leonard Albert Wiseman.

Len Wiseman
Wiseman in 2007
Born
Len Ryan Wiseman

(1973-03-04) March 4, 1973
Fremont, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, producer
Years active1994–present
Spouses
Dana
​
​
(m. 1994; div. 2003)​
    ​
    ​
    (m. 2004; div. 2019)​

    Early life and education

    Wiseman was born and raised in Fremont, California.[1] He attended American High School and later studied film at De Anza College in Cupertino, California.[2]

    Career

    Wiseman began his career in film as a property assistant on a number of Roland Emmerich films: Stargate (1994); Independence Day (1996); and Godzilla (1998).[2] After creating advertisements for clients including Sony, he directed music videos for artists such as Megadeth, En Vogue and, Static-X. He received a Best Art Direction nomination for Quarashi's "Stick 'Em Up" at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards and a Best Director nomination for Rufus Wainwright's "Across the Universe" at the Music Video Production Association (MVPA) Awards.[2]

    In 2003, Wiseman co-created and directed the film Underworld. Despite receiving generally negative reviews from critics, the film did well at the box office. He directed the 2006 sequel Underworld: Evolution, and produced the follow-ups Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Underworld: Awakening, and Underworld: Blood Wars.

    In 2007, he directed the fourth installment of the Die Hard series, Live Free or Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, which opened to generally favorable reviews and box office success.[3] He directed the 2012 release Total Recall, which starred Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, and his wife Kate Beckinsale.[4] In 2013, it was announced that Wiseman would direct a live action film version of the comic book series The Darkness (though no updates have been announced as of March 2016).[5]

    Wiseman has also directed the pilot episodes of three television series—the 2010 launch of CBS's Hawaii Five-0, the 2013 pilot of Fox's Sleepy Hollow, and the 2016 pilot of Fox series Lucifer.[6][7] All three series were picked up for ongoing production, though Wiseman was not involved in further episodes.

    It was announced on October 8, 2019 that Wiseman will direct the John Wick female-centric spinoff film titled Ballerina.[8]

    Personal life

    Wiseman's first marriage was to a kindergarten teacher named Dana.[9] They divorced in 2003 after Wiseman met actor Kate Beckinsale on the set of his 2003 release Underworld.[9] Beckinsale also ended a relationship with her partner Michael Sheen.[10]

    Wiseman and Beckinsale were married on May 9, 2004, in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California.[11] On November 20, 2015, it was announced that they were separating[12] and in 2016, he filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences".[13] As of November 2019, their divorce was finalized.[14]

    Filmography

    Films
    Year Title Director Producer Writer
    2003 Underworld Yes No Story
    2006 Underworld: Evolution Yes Executive Story
    2007 Live Free or Die Hard Yes No No
    2009 Underworld: Rise of the Lycans No Yes Story
    2012 Underworld: Awakening No Yes Yes
    Total Recall Yes Executive No
    2016 Underworld: Blood Wars No Yes No
    2024 Ballerina Yes No No
    Other credits
    Year Title Role Notes
    1993 Quest of the Delta Knights Miniature effects Direct-to-video
    1994 Stargate Property assistant
    1996 Independence Day Assistant props
    1997 Men in Black Property assistant Uncredited
    1998 Godzilla Props
    2011 Underworld: Endless War Characters Animation short, uncredited

    Television series
    Year(s) Title Director Executive Producer Writer Notes
    2010 Hawaii Five-0 Yes Yes No Episode: ''Pilot''
    2013–2017 Sleepy Hollow Yes Yes Story Creator and executive producer: 62 episodes / Director and story: ''Pilot'' /
    2nd unit director: ''This Is War''
    2015–2018 Lucifer Yes Yes No Director: ''Pilot'' / Executive producer: 35 episodes
    2017 APB Yes Yes No Director: ''Hard Reset'' / Executive producer: 10 episodes
    2017–2018 The Gifted Yes Yes No Director: ''rX'' / Executive producer: 15 episodes
    2019 Swamp Thing Yes Yes No Director: ''Pilot'' & ''Worlds Apart'' / Executive producer: 10 episodes

    Music videos
    Year Performer Name Album
    1999 Kiss Destination "Dedicated to You" Gravity
    Soak "Shuttergut (Caroline)" Soak
    Megadeth "Crush 'Em" Risk
    "Insomnia"
    Vega "Let Me Get It" Life on Earth
    Second Coming "Vintage Eyes" Second Coming
    2000 En Vogue "Riddle" Masterpiece Theatre
    2001 Static-X "Black and White" Machine
    Mephisto Odyssey featuring Static-X "Crash" The Deep Red Connection
    Brooke Allison "The Kiss-Off (Goodbye)" Brooke Allison
    2002 Rufus Wainwright "Across the Universe" I Am Sam
    Quarashi "Stick 'Em Up" Jinx

    Commercials

    References
    1. "California Births, 1905–1995". Familytreelegends.com. Archived from the original on July 23, 2012. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
    2. "Len Wiseman Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
    3. "Live Free or Die Hard". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
    4. Rich, Katey. "Colin Farrell Confirmed For Total Recall Remake, Which Shoots in May". CinemaBlend.
    5. Wright, Eddie (July 19, 2013). "SDCC 2013: Witchblade Will Be Part Of 'The Darkness' Movie [EXCLUSIVE]". MTV News. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
    6. Moore, Debi (February 19, 2015). "Len Wiseman Set to Direct Lucifer Pilot for Fox". Dread Central. Retrieved February 19, 2015.
    7. "Features Director Len Wiseman Heads for "Hawaii Five-0" Pilot". alexoloughlinrocks.com. January 27, 2012. Archived from the original on September 17, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
    8. Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 8, 2019). "Len Wiseman Set To Direct Female-Centric 'John Wick' Spinoff 'Ballerina'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
    9. "Kate Beckinsale | Beckinsale Branded Home-Wrecker". WENN. May 18, 2004. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013 – via Contactmusic.com.
    10. Kate Beckinsale. "Kate Beckinsale Biography". People. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
    11. "Beckinsale marries in US ceremony". BBC News. May 11, 2004. Archived from the original on January 28, 2012. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
    12. Bacardi, Francesca (November 20, 2015). "Kate Beckinsale and Husband Len Wiseman Separate After 11 Years of Marriage". E!.
    13. Miller, Mike (October 25, 2016). "Kate Beckinsale's Husband Len Wiseman Files for Divorce". People. Retrieved December 24, 2016.
    14. Hautman, Nicholas (November 5, 2019). "Kate Beckinsale and Len Wiseman Finalize Divorce 4 Years After Split". Us Weekly. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
    15. Harris, Craig (March 10, 2006). "Wiseman Directs Samus". IGN. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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