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.
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 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 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.
Filmography
Films +YearTitleDirectorProducerWriter2003Underworld2006Underworld: Evolution2007Live Free or Die Hard2009Underworld: Rise of the Lycans2012Underworld: AwakeningTotal Recall2016Underworld: Blood Wars2025 Ballerina +Other creditsYearTitleRoleNotes1993Quest of the Delta KnightsMiniature effectsDirect-to-video1994StargateProperty assistant1996Independence DayAssistant props1997Men in BlackProperty assistantUncredited1998GodzillaProps2011Underworld: Endless WarCharactersAnimation short, uncredited
Television series +Year(s)TitleDirectorExecutive ProducerWriterNotes2010Hawaii Five-0Episode: ''Pilot''2013–2017Sleepy HollowCreator and executive producer: 62 episodes / Director and story: ''Pilot'' /2nd unit director: ''This Is War''2015–2018LuciferDirector: ''Pilot'' / Executive producer: 35 episodes2017APBDirector: ''Hard Reset'' / Executive producer: 10 episodes2017–2018The GiftedDirector: ''rX'' / Executive producer: 15 episodes2019Swamp ThingDirector: ''Pilot'' & ''Worlds Apart'' / Executive producer: 10 episodes
Music videos YearPerformerNameAlbum1999Kiss Destination"Dedicated to You"GravitySoak"Shuttergut (Caroline)"SoakMegadeth"Crush 'Em"Risk"Insomnia"Vega"Let Me Get It"Life on EarthSecond Coming"Vintage Eyes"Second Coming2000En Vogue"Riddle"Masterpiece Theatre2001Static-X"Black and White"MachineMephisto Odyssey featuring Static-X"Crash"The Deep Red ConnectionBrooke Allison"The Kiss-Off (Goodbye)"Brooke Allison2002Rufus Wainwright"Across the Universe"I Am SamQuarashi"Stick 'Em Up"Jinx
Commercials Sony PlayStation Nintendo DS Metroid Prime Hunters
References
External links