Leah McKendrick

Leah McKendrick
Born1986 or 1987 (age 39–40)[1]
San Francisco, California, U.S.
Alma materChapman University
OccupationsFilm director, screenwriter, actress
Years active2013–present

Leah McKendrick is an American film director, screenwriter, and actress. She is the writer-director of Scrambled (2023) and Voicemails for Isabelle (2026).

Early life

McKendrick was born and raised in San Francisco, California. She grew up in the Richmond District and graduated from Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory.[2][3]

While studying at Chapman University she wrote, produced, directed, and acted in a number of short films and stage plays and graduated in 2008 with a BFA in theatre performance.[4]

Career

In 2014, McKendrick wrote, produced and starred in the pop musical web series Destroy the Alpha Gammas.[5] The series was critically acclaimed, and she was made a Webby Award honoree and received a Streamy Award nomination.[6][7]

In 2017, McKendrick made her feature film debut as a writer, producer, and actress with M.F.A. at its world premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW).[8] She began writing the film in 2014.[9]

In 2019, she was hired to write Paramount’s Grease prequel, Summer Lovin', which was later cancelled.[10] In 2020, she wrote, directed and starred in the short film Pamela & Ivy, a feminist origin story for the supervillain Poison Ivy. The film premiered on Collider.[11] The film was a Webby Award honoree for best writing.[12]

In 2022, McKendrick wrote, directed and starred in the feature film Scrambled, about a broke, single 34-year-old woman that decides to freeze her eggs following a breakup. The film was based on her own experience with egg-retrieval in 2021.[13] The film premiered at South by Southwest in March 2023 and was released theatrically by Lionsgate in 2024.[14][15]

She was named one of IndieWire's "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch" in 2023.[16]

In February 2023, it was announced that McKendrick was writing a legacy sequel to the 1997 slasher I Know What You Did Last Summer for Sony Pictures.[17] McKendrick received story credits for her initial script for the 2025 film.[18]

Upcoming projects

In April 2024, McKendrick was writing a holiday-comedy film, Mrs. Claus, for Netflix; the film has Jennifer Garner attached to star, and will be produced by Reese Witherspoon and Lauren Neustadter for Hello Sunshine.[19]

In August 2024, McKendrick was attached to write and direct an untitled monster project for Atomic Monster and Universal Pictures, with James Wan and Michael Clear attached to produce.[20]

In June 2026, McKendrick was announced to write and direct Shania, a biopic about Shania Twain for Sony Pictures.[21]

Select filmography

YearFilmDirectorWriterProducer
2017 M.F.A. No Yes Yes
2023 Scrambled Yes Yes No
2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer No Story No
2026 Voicemails for Isabelle Yes Yes No

Actress

Year Title Role Notes
2016 Misconduct Amy
Bad Moms Sharon
2017 M.F.A. Skye
2019 The Turkey Bowl Brandy Best
2020 A Nice Girl Like You Honey Parker
2023 Scrambled Nellie Robinson
2025 I Know What You Did Last Summer Newscaster
2026 Voicemails for Isabelle Breeda

References

  1. ↑ Myers, Randy (2024-02-01). "SF filmmaker's egg-freezing sojourn becomes her new movie". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  2. ↑ Wakeman, Gregory (2026-06-20). "San Francisco local returns to the city to shoot a Netflix rom-com". SFGATE. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  3. ↑ Blough, Jessica (2026-06-27). "The SF native who made Netflix's No. 1 movie loves the city — and hates the Marina". San Francisco Standard. Retrieved 2026-07-01.
  4. ↑ "Alumna to Alumna". blogs.chapman.edu. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  5. ↑ "Destroy The Alpha Gammas "There Will Be Blood" Recap". popwrapped.com. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  6. ↑ "Stream On: 2014 Streamy Nominees Announced With Freddie Wong Schooling The Field". Deadline Hollywood. 18 August 2014. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  7. ↑ "4TH ANNUAL WINNERS". streamys.org. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  8. ↑ "M.F.A." schedule.sxsw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  9. ↑ "Interview With Leah McKendrick, The Creator of 'M.F.A.'". pophorror.com. 20 April 2018. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  10. ↑ "Leah McKendrick Writing "Grease" Prequel "Summer Lovin'" for Paramount". womenandhollywood.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  11. ↑ "Watch: Poison Ivy Short Film Explains the Hyper-Sexualization of the DC Character". collider.com. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  12. ↑ "Pamela & Ivy". winners.webbyawards.com. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  13. ↑ "'Scrambled' Review: Leah McKendrick Is Born a Star in Coming-of-Age Fertility Dramedy". indiewire.com. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  14. ↑ "Lionsgate Dates Leah McKendrick Egg Freezing Comedy 'Scrambled' For Early Winter". Deadline Hollywood. 22 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  15. ↑ "'Scrambled's Leah McKendrick On "Binding Together" Female Experiences – SXSW Studio". Deadline Hollywood. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  16. ↑ "28 Rising Female Filmmakers to Watch in 2023". indiewire.com. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  17. ↑ "'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Sequel In Works At Sony With Jennifer Kaytin Robinson Directing; Jennifer Love Hewitt And Freddie Prinze Jr. In Talks To Return". Deadline Hollywood. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
  18. ↑ Kit, Borys; Gajewski, Ryan (2024-07-22). "'I Know What You Did Last Summer' Reboot to Star Camila Mendes, Madelyn Cline (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
  19. ↑ "Jennifer Garner To Produce & Star In Netflix Holiday Comedy 'Mrs. Claus' From Hello Sunshine, Linden Productions". Deadline Hollywood. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  20. ↑ "Leah McKendrick To Write And Direct Untitled Monster Movie For Atomic Monster And Universal". Deadline Hollywood. 2 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  21. ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 3, 2026). "Leah McKendrick Tackling Shania Twain Biopic For Sony Pictures". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 3, 2026.
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