87Eleven Entertainment
87Eleven Entertainment is an American independent film production and stunt coordination company.
Last updated August 24, 2026
Overview
87Eleven Entertainment is an American independent film production and stunt coordination company whose roots are in the specialist action-design business 87Eleven Action Design. The company was established in 1997 by stunt professionals and filmmakers Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and Damon Caro. Its original identity centered on planning, coordinating, and performing complex physical action for screen productions, including stunt work, fight choreography, movement design, and related production support. The company developed within a film industry environment in which increasingly elaborate action sequences required coordination across performers, directors, cinematographers, editors, safety teams, and visual-effects departments. Its value proposition has therefore extended beyond the provision of individual stunt performers: the business has been associated with the design and execution of complete action set pieces and with the practical filmmaking expertise needed to integrate those sequences into feature films and other screen productions. 87Eleven later expanded from a primarily stunt-focused operation into film production. A production studio arm was developed in December 2019, and the business adopted the 87Eleven Entertainment identity. This expansion represented a move toward greater involvement in the development and production of projects rather than limiting the company’s role to action coordination. The company’s history is closely connected to the career development of its founders, who moved between stunt performance, action choreography, second-unit work, directing, and producing. David Leitch departed in 2019 to establish a separate production company, 87North Productions. Although the two organizations share historical origins, they are distinct companies and should not be treated as the same brand. 87Eleven Entertainment continued as an independent film and action-production entity after the separation. In 2024, Alex Young, a former co-president of 20th Century Fox, was hired to co-lead the film business. His appointment indicated an effort to strengthen the company’s studio and production capabilities alongside its established action-design expertise. Publicly available reference material identifies the company primarily through its film production and stunt-coordination activities; detailed information about its current headquarters, ownership structure, financial performance, release slate, and operating footprint is not established here.
History
87Eleven Entertainment originated in 1997 as 87Eleven Action Design, founded by Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and Damon Caro. The founders came from the stunt and action-filmmaking community, and the company was built around the specialized requirements of designing and coordinating physically demanding screen action. Its work encompassed the planning and execution of stunts, fights, movement, and other practical action material for film productions. The company’s development reflected the growing importance of sophisticated action craft in mainstream cinema. Action sequences require more than isolated stunt performance: they involve choreography, rehearsal, performer preparation, camera planning, safety supervision, coordination with directors and second units, and integration with editorial and visual-effects work. 87Eleven’s identity was consequently tied to a production-oriented form of stunt expertise in which practical action design could be treated as a central creative component of a film. During its early period, the organization was known as 87Eleven Action Design. It later used the 87Eleven Productions name for a period identified in reference material as 2014–2019. In December 2019, the company expanded its activities by developing a production studio arm. This broadened the business from providing action services to participating more directly in film development and production, and the company became associated with the 87Eleven Entertainment name. The year 2019 also brought a significant organizational change. David Leitch left the company and founded 87North Productions elsewhere in Hollywood. The new company had historical links to 87Eleven through Leitch, but it became a separate production entity. This distinction is important because the two names can appear in related discussions of action-oriented filmmaking while representing different businesses. The company’s later direction included a stronger emphasis on film production. In 2024, Alex Young, who had previously served as co-president of 20th Century Fox, was hired to co-lead the film business. His appointment added senior studio experience to a company whose original reputation was grounded in action design and stunt coordination. Available reference material does not provide a complete account of 87Eleven Entertainment’s current corporate ownership, headquarters, financial results, production slate, or detailed filmography. The documented history supports describing it as an American independent film-production and stunt-coordination company that evolved from a specialist action-design firm into a broader entertainment-production business.
- 2024Alex Young joins the film business
Former 20th Century Fox co-president Alex Young is hired to co-lead the company’s film business.
- 2019David Leitch departs
Co-founder David Leitch leaves 87Eleven to establish the separate production company 87North Productions.
- 2019Production studio arm is developed
In December, the company expands its business by developing a production studio arm and adopts the broader 87Eleven Entertainment identity.
- 2014Use of the 87Eleven Productions name
Reference material identifies a period from 2014 to 2019 in which the company operated under or was credited as 87Eleven Productions.
- 199787Eleven Action Design is founded
Chad Stahelski, David Leitch, and Damon Caro establish the stunt and action-design company that later develops into 87Eleven Entertainment.
Products and positioning
An independent screen-production company differentiated by specialist expertise in action design, stunt coordination, and practical filmmaking, with an expanded focus on film production.
Film productionFilm production2019
87Eleven Entertainment develops and produces film projects through the production-studio side of the business introduced after the company’s expansion in 2019. The available reference material does not identify a complete slate or provide enough detail to describe individual titles reliably.
Stunt coordination and action designProduction services1997
The company’s foundational offering is the design and coordination of screen action, including stunt planning, fight choreography, performer preparation, rehearsal, and practical execution. These services support productions that require coordinated physical action and close integration among performers, camera teams, directors, and safety personnel.
Brand decisions
- 2024Strengthen film-business leadershipStrategy
Following the development of its production-studio arm, the company sought experienced leadership for its film activities.
What changed. Alex Young, formerly co-president of 20th Century Fox, was hired to co-lead the film business.
Aftermath. The appointment added senior major-studio experience to the company’s independent production operation.
- 2019Expand from action services into film productionStrategy
The company had been established primarily as a stunt and action-design operation and sought a broader role in screen entertainment.
What changed. In December 2019, it developed a production studio arm and operated under the 87Eleven Entertainment identity.
Aftermath. The move positioned the company as both an action-specialist supplier and an independent film-production business.
- 2019Separation of David Leitch and 87ElevenOther
Co-founder David Leitch left the company during its transition toward a broader production identity.
What changed. Leitch established the separate production company 87North Productions.
Aftermath. 87Eleven and 87North continued as distinct companies despite their shared historical connection through Leitch.
Leadership
| Name | Title | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| Alex Young | Co-leader of the film business | 2024– |
| Chad Stahelski | Co-founderformer | 1997– |
| Damon Caro | Co-founderformer | 1997– |
| David Leitch | Co-founderformer | 1997–2019 |
Recent events
- 2024Alex Young hired to co-lead the film business
Alex Young, formerly co-president of 20th Century Fox, joined the company to co-lead its film business.
Leadership change - 201987Eleven develops a production studio arm
The company expanded beyond its established stunt-coordination activities by developing a film production studio arm in December 2019.
Other - 2019David Leitch leaves 87Eleven to establish 87North Productions
Co-founder David Leitch departed 87Eleven and established a separate production company, 87North Productions.
Leadership change
Sources
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