Len Wiseman
Len Ryan Wiseman (born March 4, 1973) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work on the Underworld series (2003–2016), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), the 2012 remake of Total Recall, and Ballerina (2025). Wiseman runs the production company Sketch Films.
Also recorded as Len Ryan Wiseman
Len Wiseman

Caroline Bonarde Ucci at · Caroline Bonarde Ucci · CC BY 3.0
- Name
- Len Wiseman
- Born
- 4 March 1973
- Birthplace
- Fremont, California, U.S.
- Birth Name
- Len Ryan Wiseman
- Occupation
- Director, screenwriter, producer
- Nationality
- United States
- Education
- De Anza College · American High School
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Len Ryan Wiseman (born March 4, 1973) is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his work on the Underworld series (2003–2016), Live Free or Die Hard (2007), the 2012 remake of Total Recall, and Ballerina (2025). Wiseman runs the production company Sketch Films.
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wikidata · Q336099 · wikipedia · Len Wiseman
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Len Wiseman • Born — 4 March 1973 • Birthplace — Fremont, California, U.S. • Birth Name — Len Ryan Wiseman • Occupation — Director, screenwriter, producer • Years Active — 1994–present
Early life and education
Early life and education
Wiseman was born and raised in Fremont, California. He attended American High School and later studied film at De Anza College in Cupertino, California.
Career
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). After creating advertisements for clients including Sony, he directed music videos for artists such as Megadeth, En Vogue, Static-X & Mephisto Odyssey. 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. 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. He directed the 2012 release Total Recall, which starred Colin Farrell, Jessica Biel, and his wife Kate Beckinsale. 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). 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. 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 spin-off film titled Ballerina which was released on June 6, 2025.
Personal life
Personal life
Wiseman's first marriage was to a kindergarten teacher named Dana in 1994. They divorced in 2003 after Wiseman met actress Kate Beckinsale on the set of his 2003 release Underworld. Beckinsale also ended a relationship with her partner Michael Sheen. Wiseman and Beckinsale were married on May 9, 2004, in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California. On November 20, 2015, it was announced that they were separating and in 2016, he filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." Their divorce was finalized by November 2019. In 2023, Wiseman proposed to actress CJ Franco in Mexico after eight years of dating.
Television series
Television series
• Year(s) — Title — Director — Executive Producer — Writer — Notes • 2010 — Hawaii Five-0 — Episode: Pilot • 2013–2017 — Sleepy Hollow — Story — Creator and executive producer: 62 episodes / Director and story: Pilot / 2nd unit director: This Is War • 2015–2018 — Lucifer — Director: Pilot / Executive producer: 35 episodes • 2017 — APB — Director: Hard Reset / Executive producer: 10 episodes • 2017–2018 — The Gifted — Director: rX / Executive producer: 15 episodes • 2019 — Swamp Thing — Director: Pilot & Worlds Apart / Executive producer: 10 episodes
Music videos
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
Commercials
• Sony • PlayStation • Nintendo DS • Metroid Prime Hunters

If you're wondering what you do at a premiere when you're Kate Beckinsale's husband, you mill around. Len Wiseman at the premiere of Nothing But the Truth, Toronto Film Festival 2008.
GabboT · Len Wiseman01
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1973
Len Wiseman born at Fremont.
Films
• Year — Title — Director — Producer — Writer • 2003 — Underworld — Story • 2006 — Underworld: Evolution — Executive — Story • 2007 — Live Free or Die Hard • 2009 — Underworld: Rise of the Lycans — Story • 2012 — Underworld: Awakening • Total Recall — Executive • 2016 — Underworld: Blood Wars • 2025 — Ballerina • 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
References
Citations
References
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reference work
Wikidata, structured authority record Q336099: Len WisemanWikimedia Foundation
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Len Wiseman is recorded as screenwriter, film producer, writer, executive producer and director.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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