David Webb Peoples (born February 9, 1940) is an American screenwriter who co-wrote Blade Runner (1982), and later wrote Unforgiven (1992) and 12 Monkeys (1995). He has been nominated for Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA awards. Peoples won the best screenplay awards from the L.A. Film Critics (1991) and National Society of Film Critics (1992) for Unforgiven.
Early life Peoples was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Ruth Clara (née Levinger) and Joe Webb Peoples, a geologist. He studied English at the University of California, Berkeley.
Career Peoples worked as a film editor in the 1970s while writing screenplays, but his writing career took off after being hired as co-writer on Blade Runner by director Ridley Scott to rework the script written by screenwriter and Blade Runner executive producer Hampton Fancher. Following the success of Blade Runner, Peoples worked on Ladyhawke (1985) and Leviathan (1989).
During the 1980s, Peoples wrote a script based on DC Comics' Sgt. Rock series. Arnold Schwarzenegger was picked to play the title role; the project was revived three decades later in 2010 involving Joel Silver and Easy Company, although with the expectation to set the narrative in a place other than the battlefields of World War II to distinguish the project from the earlier script.
Other Peoples screenplays were purchased during the 1980s, many after studio development prior to production: Unforgiven, Soldier, and The Blood of Heroes. The Blood of Heroes was directed by Peoples, and starred Rutger Hauer.
Peoples received his greatest recognition for Unforgiven (1992). He had originally written the script in 1976, then entitled The William Munny Killings. Peoples' screwball comedy Hero was filmed and released in 1992, the same year as Unforgiven.
Later in 1992, Peoples worked with his wife, Janet, on 12 Monkeys (1995), a science fiction fable about time travel inspired by Chris Marker's experimental short film La Jetée.
In 1998, Soldier was filmed by British director Paul W. S. Anderson, although it was re-written by Anderson.
Personal life Peoples and his wife, Janet, have two daughters.
Filmography Year Title Writer Editor Director Notes 1969 How We Stopped the War Himself Short films 1971 Tricia's Wedding Milton Miron 1973 Steel Arena Mark L. Lester Bizarre Devices Paul Aratow and Barry J. Spinello 1974 Lucifer's Women Paul Aratow 1976 The Joy of Letting Go John Gregory 1977 Who Are the DeBolts? John Korty Documentary films 1981 The Day After Trinity Jon H. Else 1982 Blade Runner Ridley Scott 1985 Ladyhawke Richard Donner Script revisions 1987 Predator John McTiernan 1989 Leviathan George P. Cosmatos The Blood of Heroes Himself 1990 Fatal Sky Frank Shields Credited as "Anthony Able" 1992 Unforgiven Clint Eastwood Hero Stephen Frears 1995 12 Monkeys Terry Gilliam 1998 Soldier Paul W. S. Anderson
Unproduced screenplays Title Director Description My Dog's on Fire Tony Scott A comedy about a punk rock band Sgt. Rock Various An adaptation of the DC Comics character Pair-A-Dice Lawrence Kasdan A "weird desert island relationship picture" To the White Sea Coen brothers An adaptation of the novel by James Dickey Stompanato Various A biopic on the life of gangster Johnny Stompanato Vengeance An adaptation of the novel by George Jonas The Lone Ranger An adaptation of the radio serial character The Prisoner Christopher Nolan An adaptation of the 1960s espionage series The Grabbers A "new version" of The Treasure of the Sierra Madre Mandrake the Magician Etan Cohen An adaptation of the comic strip character Lone Wolf and Cub Justin Lin An adaptation of the Japanese manga series
Awards Peoples' highest accolades are for Unforgiven. It received Oscar, Golden Globe and British Academy nominations, and won L.A. Film Critics (1991) and National Society of Film Critics (1992) awards for best screenplay. He was presented with the Distinguished Screenwriter Award at the 2010 Austin Film Festival.
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External links
Cinequest Film Festival - Interview with Janet and David Webb Peoples