Leslye Headland is the writer and director of IFC Films’ romantic comedy "Sleeping with Other People" starring Jason Sudeikis, Alison Brie, Adam Scott, Amanda Peet, Natasha Lyonne and Jason Mantzoukas. Financed by Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and produced by Jessica Elbaum for Adam McKay and Will Ferrell’s sister label, Gloria Sanchez, the film premieres this fall.
Headland is an established playwright, screenwriter, and director, and holds a BFA in Drama from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. Headland started her writing for the theater, with such plays as "Bachelorette" (Second Stage), "Assistance" (Playwrights Horizons), and the rest of the "Seven Deadly Plays" series (IAMA Theatre Company). Several of these plays would later serve as the basis for her film and television projects.
In 2010, Headland became a staff writer for FX’s television series "Terriers," created by Ted Griffin and Shawn Ryan, starring Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James. Two years later, her play "Assistance" was acquired by NBC for television. The pilot was executive produced by Headland, Ferrell, and McKay for Gary Sanchez Productions, and starred Krysten Ritter.
In 2012, Headland broke out in features, when she made her directorial debut with another of her plays, "Bachelorette," starring Kirsten Dunst, Rebel Wilson, Isla Fisher, Lizzy Caplan, James Marsden, and Adam Scott. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, was subsequently sold to the Weinstein Company, and went on to become one of the most successful VOD releases to date. Off of that feat, Headland set up her next script, "About Last Night," at Screen Gems. Kevin Hart and Michael Ealy star in the film directed by Steve Pink. The film opened at #2 and grossed over $50 million domestically.
